a few questions about letters of rec

[Snarkalark]

---

Members don't see this ad.

academically and activity wise, i have a solid application, but i've been thinking and getting really nervous about letters of recommendation because i recently realized that i have no strong relationships with any faculty members. i've never needed help with school and i don't like to brown nose so i've never visited any professor for office hours and i'm afraid it's coming back to bite me.

fortunately i've been doing research for a year and a half and while i don't have a deep relationship with my pi, i am sure he would be able to write at least a passable letter (and i'm not applying until next year anyway so i have time to get to know him better). i've heard that most schools require two "science" letters so i'm wondering if these include research profs because that would make my life so much easier. i have been enrolled in an independant study course for the research and have received grades for all three semesters.

my other question is how and when to approach professors i don't know to ask for the other letter(s). my absolute favorite lecture prof doesn't have an office or phone number posted online, so would it be outlandish to email him with a statement of purpose and a request to set up a meeting? i assumed that i could just wait until spring semester to address these professors, but i've talked to a few people who say the earlier the better.

any advice from someone who has been in a similar situation would be much appreciated.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Regarding past teachers, you'll just have to bite the bullet and ask whoever you think may write you a good LOR.

Here's another tactic, but it requires commitment. At the beginning of a semester (preferably in an upper level course) ask the teacher if they would be willing to write you a LOR for medical school once the course is complete. If they agree then you need to become that pseudo-annoying student in the front of the class that responds frequently to the teacher's question (don't do it in a condescending manner though - I hate that guy). Plus, if you do this with a higher level course, there is a greater chance you’ll have extraneous questions that you could ask during office hours (I was never really a big office-hours guy myself).

This can work even better if the teacher you ask if someone who you've already had as a teacher in the past. If that's the case, then when you ask them at the beginning of the semester you can mention that you took ‘such and such’ course 2 semesters ago with him or her and received and A.

Also, I would get one from the PI since your options seem limited.