approaching old prof for lor thru email

[Kneecoal]

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i want to ask a prof i had last spring for a letter, but i don't know his current office hours.

can i email him and ask him if he'd write a letter for me and offer to meet with him? or should i just say i'm a former student, ask for his office hours and spring it on him there? he knew me by name back then from me going to his office hours, but his lectures are usually ~200 people, and it's been awhile and i'm afraid of him not remembering me so great. which is less awkward? thanks guys.

 

[hope2badentist]

hey,

I emailed my old professors for LORs. Basically I told them i was a former student, what class i took with them, as well as the semster and year I was in their class. Be professional and mention that you are willing to meet with them if necessary and to contact you if they require any more info. Hope this helps!! Best of luck!!!!

 

[austinsanity]

hey,

I emailed my old professors for LORs. Basically I told them i was a former student, what class i took with them, as well as the semster and year I was in their class. Be professional and mention that you are willing to meet with them if necessary and to contact you if they require any more info. Hope this helps!! Best of luck!!!!

That works.

 

[sleepinxlionhar]

Hrm, I did the same for two professors, they never responded back...I'd say go to their office.

 

[Kneecoal]

hey,

I emailed my old professors for LORs. Basically I told them i was a former student, what class i took with them, as well as the semster and year I was in their class. Be professional and mention that you are willing to meet with them if necessary and to contact you if they require any more info. Hope this helps!! Best of luck!!!!

thanks. now, what kinds of things are they supposed to mention in these letters (i really don't know anything)? meaning, what extra info am i supposed to give them? or do they tell me what they want?

also, i think i know the answer to this question, but in an effort to try and get the prof to remember me when reading the email, is it awkward to refer back to a conversation we had last year (we found out we're from towns 20 minutes apart in new york)? because then there's always the chance he'll have no idea what i'm talking about. i'm just afraid of getting turned down because he won't know who i am via email. thanks again

 

[Vicviper]

Don't worry, professors do this all the time. I'd suggest to go in and talk to him, that gives him a better chance of remembering you by your face. Also, bring him a CV or resume, and just a little rundown of what you've been up to. They like getting those things to help, because in my experience, professors don't like writing bland LOR's with no detail.

 

[hope2badentist]

hey

Im thinking for the professor that you seemed to have had know a little better (the one that lives 20 minutes away), perhaps you can ask to meet with him in order to talk about writing a LOR.

As for the extra info... some professors may ask for a resume. I know of one professor that ask for a short essay about why you want to do into the field of your choice and what extra curricular have you been praticipating in to show your interest in the field. Extra information may also be the address for them to send the letter to.

I would reccomend asking more professors than you need to write you a letter. I emailed 6 to get 3 letters and 4 responded and were willing to do it.

hope things have been cleared up. good luck!!