Academic Letters of Recommendation?

[SaintSamson]

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So I need two letters of academic recommendation for my application to the University I am transferring to.
I've decided on 2 profs to ask, but I don't know them super well... one I had for only a term and just for lab, and the other has been extremely kind and helpful to me (let me into her lecture despite my being enrolled in another lab, which is extra work for her).

Anyways, what is the best way of asking for a letter of recommendation? The university said to submit both letters, my personal statement, and another piece of documentation from another person (I've got that set up, but I don't know when it'll arrive) as a packet together. How do I ask these two profs to write it to the University but give it to me? It has been so very long since I asked, I've completely forgotten the most appropriate approach.

Also, what is a good timeline for recommendations? 3 weeks? more?

 

[sumstorm]

My experience is that the profs put their letters in sealed envelopes with a signature across the seal.

Not sure about the timeline.

 

[jglovicz]

When asking people for LORs, I was told that I should give them no less than 1 month (they could be gone at meetings/conventions/be teaching/etc). For the purpose of transferring to a university, (I may be wrong) I don't think you need to know the letter-writers incredibly well. They just need to attest to your academic abilities. That said...can you ask someone that you had for more than the lab section of 1 course (they would be able to write you a stronger letter).

 

[SaintSamson]

Unfortunately, since leaving my last University, I've never had the same prof twice, except for one (who I'm going to ask). At my old University (it has been 2+ years since I left), I struggled a lot and did not perform academically like I should have, and they fired and hired a lot of people while I was there, so I never had the same person twice, and my adviser constantly forgot I attended the school. :/

 

[justinpaws]

You definitely should give way more than three weeks. I've been told by professors and grad students that the letter itself takes not very much time to write at all, it's just getting around to it is the problem. Give them as much advance notice as possible, then send periodic reminders via email, or pay them a visit. Once it gets closer to application time, remind them again. Many forget or have too much to do.