Apply now or postpone? HELP!

[Bruce24kk]

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Edited. Delete

 

[Theslowsouthy]

The issue with applying now is you aren’t guaranteed a LOR. And worst case scenario you don’t get the letters and end up rejected from all your schools since you didn’t have a complete app. If that happens and you apply next year it’ll be harder to get in since you’d be considered a re-applicant. I would suggest going to their office hours and asking for a letter in person. That’s what I had to do lol. One of my professors ghosted me, I went to her lab two days later and she laughed cause she knew i had emailed her and knew who I was and I guess she was embarrassed about ghosting me. She eventually wrote my letter and submitted it within one week of meeting her in person.

Bottom line if you can guarantee the letters then you should apply. If not I don’t think it’s worth the risk when you could apply early next year + extra shadowing and volunteering hours.

 

[dds_2024]

I agree with @Theslowsouthy... if you get the LOR, great send it in since your stats aren’t too bad. But if you don’t get any LOR this year, you might as well save your time and money and increase your shadow/volunteer services and you’ll be a stronger applicant next year.

Maybe someone can give you insight when the best time is for you to apply by? I think if you get everything in by August you’ll be fine. But I may be wrong..

 

[B4SS]

Personal opinion/experience. If you want strong LoR, the professional and correct way to request (especially from someone several years ago) is to e-mail asking for 10 or 15 minutes of their time in person. Then you meet with them face-to-face and sell yourself for 10-15 minutes (the same way you structured your e-mail) and ask them for a recommendation. Also, it is proper to provide them 6 weeks minimum for their letter.

I'm not saying it has to be done this way, but if I was a a professor that taught you a few years ago, it is possible I wouldn't remember you very well with a photo. They may have taught several hundred students in that time. Example: one of my LoR, I went through this long formal process, and the other two I just knocked on their door and said, hey, remember me? Shoot, the dentist LoR I got, I would text him every couple days to ask where he was in the process of writing my letter.

Again, in my opinion, when choosing who you want to write you letters, you need to read the room. What is your relationship with them and how should you proceed in requesting the letter. I apologize if you read a negative tone in this message as that is not the intention. 😀 Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[setdoc7]

If you received an A in the class, ask those professors personally. During your brief meeting, you might want to explain that since you had a handle on the material, you did not think it was necessary to take up office hours which other students who needed remediation might use. In essence, go with the thought that you were not interested in wasting their time trying to butter them up. You learned what they taught, thought that appearing in their office was a waste of both of your time, but now would like a letter stating that you performed at a high level in the class without any extra coaching and that the professor believes from these facts that you will be able to handle graduate level science curriculum. Not an unreasonable request.

 

[B4SS]

I did not read a negative tone at all so no worries! I appreciate your candor!

I definitely agree with everything you said in your post. I mentioned in my email I needed a LOR within the next month (4-5 weeks). Perhaps I should extend that to 6 weeks so they (or future professors) may be more willing to write one.

Also there’s very few science professors I developed a strong connection with. I can certainly request to meet with them but I’m 99.9% sure they don’t know who I am. What would you recommend I say if granted a meeting? I can mention why I’m requesting one from them, what I learned/gained from the class. But I wouldn’t be able to offer much in regards to class participation. I can discuss extenuating circumstances that caused me to miss class/not be as involved. But this would be an appeal to emotion and I doubt it’d work. Also should I try to see if they’re okay with me writing it for them? I know some professors would have ethical concerns with this. Wondering if it’s worth the shot though

Idk really. Just trying to figure out the optimal way to approach this situation going forward. Desperate times call for desperate measures, lol.

I would probably just remind them who you are. My name is such-and-such, I took your class at this time, and earned this grade. I really enjoyed it because ___. I wouldn't discuss missing class or not being involved. Why these professors? Tell them, did their class have a particular effect on you that previous courses didn't?

 

[Mcat__cat!!!]

Like you mention, desperate times call for desperate measures! Go talk to them in person and be genuine about it. They would understand since they once asked for LOR themself.
Professor are SUPER busy in summer because of their research and grant ( I worked with a few during summer) so maybe they didn’t catch your email or might have forget it. Just think about your dream to get in dental school and you will find the courage to do anything. Best of luck!

 

[B4SS]

Oh, one other thing to consider... Professors may be busy during the summer, but they also may be on vacation! My wife is an english professor and generally the last thing she wants is to converse with students during holidays, and with July 4th just passing, they may have just finished or are finishing a vacation.