Ask for LOR before course finished?

[Nabatov]

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Hi. If this question has been answered before, I apologize, but I couldn't find it when I searched.

I want to know what you think of asking a prof for a letter of recommendation when I am only about half done with the course. Is that an obvious no-no or something that is okay? I don't urgently need a letter: this would be for a cool summer program (not med school) that requires apps to be submitted mid-September.

I didn't stand out last year enough to get a stellar LOR from an old prof. So I'm hoping to do well enough in the fall that I can ask a new prof.

Worst case scenario is that I get turned down... Not too bad. I just don't want to put my prof in an awkward situation; because I won't have completed the course, my final grade is undetermined. Why would a prof want to attach his name and positive recommendation to a student that might pull a 180 and fail?

Thanks guys,

Nabatov

 

[Janieve]

I think what matters is how well this teacher knows you. I once asked a professor to write me a recommendation before I finished a class with her. She said she'd be pleased to do it because, while she didn't usually write letters for students she hadn't had at least a full term with, she knew me very well. (She was an English professor, actually, and she still uses my papers from her class as example papers.) It wound up being possibly the best letter I've ever gotten.

On the flip side, I had a teacher I asked to write me a recommendation after three years. It was the worst letter I could've received - it essentially listed my grades and one memorable project I did. Clearly, I didn't stand out to that teacher.

So if you can bump into your teacher and you're both happy to see each other, he can see you at his door at office hours and know what you're there for, and he actually remembers your name - and preferably more - then I'd say to go for it. If not, don't.

But also keep in mind: some teachers have policies against writing letters for students they haven't had for a full term. If that's the case and he's not lenient, you just have to deal with it.

Good luck!

 

[Nabatov]

I think what matters is how well this teacher knows you. I once asked a professor to write me a recommendation before I finished a class with her. She said she'd be pleased to do it because, while she didn't usually write letters for students she hadn't had at least a full term with, she knew me very well. (She was an English professor, actually, and she still uses my papers from her class as example papers.) It wound up being possibly the best letter I've ever gotten.

On the flip side, I had a teacher I asked to write me a recommendation after three years. It was the worst letter I could've received - it essentially listed my grades and one memorable project I did. Clearly, I didn't stand out to that teacher.

So if you can bump into your teacher and you're both happy to see each other, he can see you at his door at office hours and know what you're there for, and he actually remembers your name - and preferably more - then I'd say to go for it. If not, don't.

But also keep in mind: some teachers have policies against writing letters for students they haven't had for a full term. If that's the case and he's not lenient, you just have to deal with it.

Good luck!

Hey, thanks. 🙂
I was hoping to hear of a personal experience where someone got an early LOR.