Asking for a STRONG letter

[premed67783]

I emailed a professor yesterday asking him for a rec letter. Here was my email:

Dear Dr. ______,

I wanted to ask if you would be able to fully support me in a recommendation letter for medical school. Are you available to meet anytime soon to discuss it?

PS. I have attached my resume. Let me know if you would like any other documents.

Thanks,
_________


HIS REPLY:

Hello ________,

I am willing to write a letter of recommendation for your medical school pursuit.

I am going to tell you what I tell ALL students who asks for a “strong letter” or “full support” for a recommendation: what you might have in mind as a strong letter or full support may or may not be what I write because your opinions will vary a little from mine (normal differences in perceptions), but I always write the most positive letter I can for anyone who wants a letter for their post-graduate ambitions. I used to work for the pre-health advising services and argued against advising students to ask for a “strong letter” or “full support” because, I believe from a professors perspective, it puts the writer “on-the-spot” (for some, it can seem insulting and demanding).

I am glad to provide you with a letter, if you still choose to have me do so.

Best wishes,
~~ Dr. ________

I've always been told that you have to ask for a "strong" letter or for their "full support", but maybe that's wrong? What are your thoughts?

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[jm192]

I emailed a professor yesterday asking him for a rec letter. Here was my email:

Dear Dr. ______,

I wanted to ask if you would be able to fully support me in a recommendation letter for medical school. Are you available to meet anytime soon to discuss it?

PS. I have attached my resume. Let me know if you would like any other documents.

Thanks,
_________


HIS REPLY:

Hello ________,

I am willing to write a letter of recommendation for your medical school pursuit.

I am going to tell you what I tell ALL students who asks for a "strong letter" or "full support" for a recommendation: what you might have in mind as a strong letter or full support may or may not be what I write because your opinions will vary a little from mine (normal differences in perceptions), but I always write the most positive letter I can for anyone who wants a letter for their post-graduate ambitions. I used to work for the pre-health advising services and argued against advising students to ask for a "strong letter" or "full support" because, I believe from a professors perspective, it puts the writer "on-the-spot" (for some, it can seem insulting and demanding).

I am glad to provide you with a letter, if you still choose to have me do so.

Best wishes,
~~ Dr. ________

I've always been told that you have to ask for a "strong" letter or for their "full support", but maybe that's wrong? What are your thoughts?

I've always been against asking for a STRONG letter or FULL SUPPORT. These are PhD carrying professionals. I think it's just assumed that they WILL write a strong letter. To ask them to write one that is strong implies you think they'll do a half-butt job, or won't take it seriously. I think if it were me, I'd feel like you were treating me like a child almost. And why would you want someone to write it if you HAD to reinforce it needed to be a STRONG letter?

 

[MeRLin443]

I emailed a professor yesterday asking him for a rec letter. Here was my email:

Dear Dr. ______,

I wanted to ask if you would be able to fully support me in a recommendation letter for medical school. Are you available to meet anytime soon to discuss it?

PS. I have attached my resume. Let me know if you would like any other documents.

Thanks,
_________


HIS REPLY:

Hello ________,

I am willing to write a letter of recommendation for your medical school pursuit.

I am going to tell you what I tell ALL students who asks for a “strong letter” or “full support” for a recommendation: what you might have in mind as a strong letter or full support may or may not be what I write because your opinions will vary a little from mine (normal differences in perceptions), but I always write the most positive letter I can for anyone who wants a letter for their post-graduate ambitions. I used to work for the pre-health advising services and argued against advising students to ask for a “strong letter” or “full support” because, I believe from a professors perspective, it puts the writer “on-the-spot” (for some, it can seem insulting and demanding).

I am glad to provide you with a letter, if you still choose to have me do so.

Best wishes,
~~ Dr. ________

I've always been told that you have to ask for a "strong" letter or for their "full support", but maybe that's wrong? What are your thoughts?

Always ask for a strong letter. I don't want someone who has to qualify 'strong' writing a letter that is going to decide my entire future.

 

[SweetRain]

Not every professor gives a strong letter. When I asked my PI for a letter, he told me "I can certainly write you a very strong one since you've worked with me for two years. But I normally tell students that my letter won't be very useful if I don't know them well. I try to do the world a favor by not lying about future doctors I don't know well."

So repeat: Always ask for a strong letter.

 

[Longshanks]

It depends how you ask it. You can ask anyone for a letter of recommendation, that doesn't mean it will be a strong recommendation or a glowing review. Asking if someone would strongly recommend you for ___ position, asks whether they are able to write an in-depth substantial letter in support of your career pursuits. Asking for someone to write a strong letter is implying that you expect them to right a great review of you with flying colors, whether that be the truth or not or whether they know you well enough to do so. So the professor is right that it sounds demanding. It's a subtle difference.

 

[riverjib]

Honestly, based on this reply, I'd advise against getting this professor's LOR unless you have a pre-med committee that will screen LORs and include only the top three. And in the future, I'd advise against emailing professors for LORs.

The best way to approach this is to make an appointment or go during office hours to address your professor directly. Say that you're applying to medical school, you've really enjoyed his/her class, and you want to ask for a strong LOR. If you sense any hesitation, put that professor on the bottom of your list. You want people who will say without hesitation that you are an excellent and motivated student. If you find that you're having trouble with this, in future semesters you should visit professors regularly with good and insightful questions.

My GPA is otherwise great, but I earned a B+ in one particularly tough course. When I inquired further, the professor changed my grade to an A- since I visited her weekly and always sat in the front row during our 3X/week lectures. I was still disappointed with my performance in this class, but my pre-med committee told me (despite waiving my right to see her letter) that she wrote a beautiful letter for me, and that it was actually stronger than the one coming from the department chair who gave me A's in orgo I & II. Don't underestimate time spent with your professors. And don't try doing this just for a grade or LOR--show real interest in the material, and it WILL reflect well on you in the end.

 

[flip26]

Honestly, based on this reply, I'd advise against getting this professor's LOR unless you have a pre-med committee that will screen LORs and include only the top three. And in the future, I'd advise against emailing professors for LORs.

Pre med committees can't ethically leave out any letters you have submitted to them.

OP - you will probably be OK with this guy, but the more I read that, the more I think he is kind of an ***hole - he is dodging your request for a strong letter - at least he is warning you, but it seems to me that he should be able to tell you if it will be strong or not, and this may be his roundabout way of telling it won't be strong.

My letter writers all assured me it would be a strong letter. I think it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a strong letter.

 

[Longshanks]

My GPA is otherwise great, but I earned a B+ in one particularly tough course. When I inquired further, the professor changed my grade to an A- since I visited her weekly and always sat in the front row during our 3X/week lectures. I was still disappointed with my performance in this class, but my pre-med committee told me (despite waiving my right to see her letter) that she wrote a beautiful letter for me, and that it was actually stronger than the one coming from the department chair who gave me A's in orgo I & II. Don't underestimate time spent with your professors. And don't try doing this just for a grade or LOR--show real interest in the material, and it WILL reflect well on you in the end.

What is this tangential sob story about an A- about?

 

[illegallysmooth]

This guy sounds like a douche, but I think you should be fine. He should realize, though, that these "differences in perceptions" mean that not every prof you ask to write a strong letter may be ABLE to write a strong letter, and that's the whole reason for asking.

You need a strong letter, you ask for one. If they say no, you dodged a bullet.

 

[learnmdabc]

Just give me a recommendation that will get me into med school! I don't care if it's strong enough! Then again, it's hard to tell cuz the admissions committee might have different perspectives...🙄

I'm not sure what the professor is trying to say, really.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

sounds like you kind of have to read between the lines on this one.

 

[shiftingmirage]

A) Unless it is unavoidable, never ask for a letter via e-mail. Stop by their office, and ask in person.

B) how do you know the guy? It's easy for a prof to day "bob smith got an A in my class which is hard" but your grade is already on the transcript. A letter is really about the person. If you had the guy for a class, never visited office hours, never participated in class, and just got an A, then he doesn't really have a lot to say. If you actually had encounters with him, and he got to know you, then I think you'll be fine.

C) The guy is being honest. Seems like he's had run ins before with whiny pre-meds. (Look at the forums, I assure you you will have a you've got to be kidding me moment). Perhaps he's had prior bad experiences and just wants to make sure everyone is on the same page.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Every person is different. Don't worry about the response you got.

We have a few MD's at my school who find asking for a "strong letter" insulting as well. We just spread that info around so that other students don't ask using that terminology. Their belief is that if they agree to write a letter, it will be strong....so don't ask.

Maybe letter writers are just becoming more blunt. I promote this idea because writing a "bad" letter of "recommendation" is just plain crap. If someone can't recommend you, then they shouldn't have agreed to write a letter.

 

[Chemdude]

"am going to tell you what I tell ALL students who asks for a "strong letter" or "full support" for a recommendation"

Your recommendation letter:

________ are the best student I ever had. I is recommend him to be in medical school.

/jk

 

[eatinglightning]

Like the first reply, I think that it's basically assumed you want a strong letter of recommendation. It's not like you ask a professor you've only spoken to once or twice to write you a letter. You ask the ones who you trust the most.

I feel like asking if "you could strongly support me in a letter directed towards medical schools" is really putting the professor/supervisor/whoever on the spot.

 

[ThaliaNox]

Pre med committees can't ethically leave out any letters you have submitted to them.

My undergrad pre-med advising office screened our letters and let students know if one of their letters is lukewarm or negative in some way. If the number of letters was limited for a school, they would also recommend exactly which letters to include. I think it depends on the school.

 

[flip26]

My undergrad pre-med advising office screened our letters and let students know if one of their letters is lukewarm or negative in some way. If the number of letters was limited for a school, they would also recommend exactly which letters to include. I think it depends on the school.

I think it is unethical, but what do I know. I know that my committee did nothing of the sort, and I recall signing a release form to the committee in this regard.

The school committee should not be revealing to the applicant what is contained in any letters - this seems highly unethical to me - you, the applicant, signed a release form that was given to the letter writer, through the committee, so I can't see how the committee could ethically divulge the contents or character of any letters to the applicant. Are the letter writers informed of this, or are they misled?

Committees walk a thin line between being advocates and being honest brokers objectively evaluating students. The more they advocate for their students, doing things like this, the less the letter is worth to med schools, or so I would think.

 

[Silverfalcon]

A) Unless it is unavoidable, never ask for a letter via e-mail. Stop by their office, and ask in person.

B) how do you know the guy? It's easy for a prof to day "bob smith got an A in my class which is hard" but your grade is already on the transcript. A letter is really about the person. If you had the guy for a class, never visited office hours, never participated in class, and just got an A, then he doesn't really have a lot to say. If you actually had encounters with him, and he got to know you, then I think you'll be fine.

C) The guy is being honest. Seems like he's had run ins before with whiny pre-meds. (Look at the forums, I assure you you will have a you've got to be kidding me moment). Perhaps he's had prior bad experiences and just wants to make sure everyone is on the same page.

I agree with this COMPLETELY. If you are serious about LOR, you should ask in person - that way, you can add anything you want the professor to say (e.g. would you like me to give you my resume or CV, or set up a time to sit down and talk to you so you know me better, etc..)?

Second and third point are equally crucial, and I uphold them 100%. There are some professors who only give LOR if you took at least two classes with them. But then, there are those who will give LOR to a student after just one semester if the professor-student interaction was deep. If you are asking for LOR just because this guy is like the chairman of the department or one of the senior members of the department (so he may seem more "influential" than other professors), forget about it. Pick the professor who knows you well and will write you a good LOR. This guy is pretty making clear that he will write you a LOR, but it won't be anything extraordinary. That's just how I feel.

 

[student113]

Hmm..not to be mean, but I actually think your email request (if that is the verbatim version) is a little demanding and presumptuous.

You kind of assumed he would write you one, saying "please let me know if you need more documents" instead of "please let me know if you are willing to do that."

But in any case, I think you should decide whether or not to use this letter based on your relationship with him and not necessarily in this response. It actually sounds like an honest and appropriate response to your email.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

See him in person. Talk to him. Throw in an apology and say that you didn't mean to put him on the spot or anything like that and go on to say how passionate you are about medical school and how you are very nervous about the whole application procedure and hope that everything goes just fine.

 

[christina30]

Agree with a lot on this thread - you shouldn't ask by e-mail. Too impersonal.

But I don't think you should "ask for a strong letter" - it's implied when you ask them for a letter, period. And I also think you're insinuating that you doubt them. "Please write me a strong letter - I must emphasize strong because I have a feeling you might write a ****ty one"

 

[zmb96c]

I had a prefessor say almost the exact same thing. He wrote the letter and as far as I know it was ok (I got in). Do you go to Mizzou? That was weird, his email to you was almost the exact one I got from my guy.

 

[learnmdabc]

I think of it like this.

If you are unsure whether the professor will write a strong letter, and have to ask for confirmation, you probably don't know her well enough. And you can't expect a strong letter from her anyhow.

The necessity of asking for a "strong" letter applies to students that have already resigned to getting a superb letter from a professor they know well, that need one more letter simply to fulfill requirements, but still want to preempt a letter that will sink his application. There are certainly professors who don't know you but will write the letter as formality. I hear of professors who write one sentence in their recommendations: "She got an A."

 

[bigslick]

I think the whole original intent behind asking for a "strong" letter of recommendation is that it will give professors who don't feel like they could write a strong letter a way to easily say no. Otherwise, if you just ask for a "letter of recommendation," you won't know if they would just take one of their templates and plug in your name. I actually had a professor that who outright told me that he was willing to write me a letter, but that it wouldn't be strong.

 

[premed67783]

A) Unless it is unavoidable, never ask for a letter via e-mail. Stop by their office, and ask in person.

B) how do you know the guy? It's easy for a prof to day "bob smith got an A in my class which is hard" but your grade is already on the transcript. A letter is really about the person. If you had the guy for a class, never visited office hours, never participated in class, and just got an A, then he doesn't really have a lot to say. If you actually had encounters with him, and he got to know you, then I think you'll be fine.

C) The guy is being honest. Seems like he's had run ins before with whiny pre-meds. (Look at the forums, I assure you you will have a you've got to be kidding me moment). Perhaps he's had prior bad experiences and just wants to make sure everyone is on the same page.

I know this professor pretty well. I wouldn't have asked him if I didn't. He's not an ******* at all. He's a really nice guy and a great teacher. He said he would write the most positive letter possible and I trust that. I figure he's just covering his bases against students that might whine that his letter wasn't good enough.

 

[premed67783]

Hmm..not to be mean, but I actually think your email request (if that is the verbatim version) is a little demanding and presumptuous.

You kind of assumed he would write you one, saying "please let me know if you need more documents" instead of "please let me know if you are willing to do that."

But in any case, I think you should decide whether or not to use this letter based on your relationship with him and not necessarily in this response. It actually sounds like an honest and appropriate response to your email.

I didnt say that assuming he would write the letter. I offered to provide additional documents to help him decide whether he WANTED to write my letter (it's also why i included my resume). I guess I see how that could be misinterpreted, though.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Pre med committees can't ethically leave out any letters you have submitted to them.

Of course they can and they do, as do students without pre-med committees. Most schools want a certain number of letters. You don't have to submit every letter you get.

OP, I think your email was a huge turn-off, frankly. As others have said, you don't ask for LORs in email. Second, you did assume he'd write you one. That's how it comes across. And no, you shouldn't ask for a strong letter. What you should do is ask if this person can strongly support your application for med school. If he/she says yes, then ask for a letter. Asking for a strong letter is giving them instruction on how to write it whereas asking if they can strongly support you, you're asking how they personally feel about you entering med school. There's a difference.

Also, you should get to know your professors. If you get to know them, you should have little question about whether or not they will write a strong letter. I personally didn't ask any of my letter writers to write "strong" letters and if my interviewers were any indication (since they mentioned some of my letters), they wrote glowing recommendations for me, as I knew they would since I had a relationship with them.

 

[drizzt3117]

I think it's a pretty common practice for premed committees to include the best letters from a pool of letters that a student gets.

I think it is unethical, but what do I know. I know that my committee did nothing of the sort, and I recall signing a release form to the committee in this regard.

The school committee should not be revealing to the applicant what is contained in any letters - this seems highly unethical to me - you, the applicant, signed a release form that was given to the letter writer, through the committee, so I can't see how the committee could ethically divulge the contents or character of any letters to the applicant. Are the letter writers informed of this, or are they misled?

Committees walk a thin line between being advocates and being honest brokers objectively evaluating students. The more they advocate for their students, doing things like this, the less the letter is worth to med schools, or so I would think.

 

[flip26]

I think it's a pretty common practice for premed committees to include the best letters from a pool of letters that a student gets.

Reread my post. I was addressing the issue of a premed committee telling an applicant about what is in certain letters, telling the student which letters are "bad," etc. That is unethical, a breach of the confidentiality agreement between the writer, the applicant, and the committee.

And I do not think that it is common practice for committees to leave letters out of a packet - to do so, they would have to tell the applicant that "Dr Smith's letter got left out of the packet cuz it sucked" because most of the secondaries ask for the names of the letter writers that they should expect to receive.

If you are correct and it is common, that doesn't make it ethical.

 

[apumic]

It's best to ask IF they can/will write you a strong latter, not asking them to write a strong one. In other words, it's demanding (and maybe a bit rude) to ask for a strong letter. OTOH, asking if they feel they can write a strong letter is totally acceptable as what you're really asking is "do you feel you know me well enough to write the best letter for me?" Asking them to write a strong letter is more like a demand instead of a question.

 

[morning]

Maybe "strong" is too strong a word? Perhaps a good adjective to use for these requests would be "positive" or "affirming" or just plain "supportive", some word that conjures up hearts and flowers and not muscles or Monster energy drink.

 

[BrainBuff]

Asking for a letter through email is not really impersonal these days. As a matter of fact, most communication between faculty and students occurs that way (whenever outside the classroom).

As long as the professor knows you well, I see no problem by asking through email.

I do agree that the professor the OP is asking, sounds like a major a...

 

[jm192]

Maybe I'm beating the horse to death here, but...

I really feel like if you feel you need to ask if they feel they can write a strong letter...you're asking the wrong person.

If you feel asking can you write a STRONG letter will indicates you REALLY need them to portray you in the most positive light possible...you may still be asking the wrong person. IF you think you're asking someone that needs to be encouraged to do that...either A, they don't know you well enough to do so, and they're going to have to fudge it. Or B you think they would half-@$$ it. Either way...

Again, these are PhD's. Many of them have done this before. You don't put Kobe Bryant in during game 7 and ask, do you think you can give us a STRONG game? If you need to tell them you need a STRONG letter, you're asking the wrong people. And if you're asking the right people, you probably just pissed them off by implying they wouldn't take it seriously.

 

[sm3k47]

I emailed a professor yesterday asking him for a rec letter. Here was my email:

Dear Dr. ______,

I wanted to ask if you would be able to fully support me in a recommendation letter for medical school. Are you available to meet anytime soon to discuss it?

PS. I have attached my resume. Let me know if you would like any other documents.

Thanks,
_________


HIS REPLY:

Hello ________,

I am willing to write a letter of recommendation for your medical school pursuit.

I am going to tell you what I tell ALL students who asks for a “strong letter” or “full support” for a recommendation: what you might have in mind as a strong letter or full support may or may not be what I write because your opinions will vary a little from mine (normal differences in perceptions), but I always write the most positive letter I can for anyone who wants a letter for their post-graduate ambitions. I used to work for the pre-health advising services and argued against advising students to ask for a “strong letter” or “full support” because, I believe from a professors perspective, it puts the writer “on-the-spot” (for some, it can seem insulting and demanding).

I am glad to provide you with a letter, if you still choose to have me do so.

Best wishes,
~~ Dr. ________

I've always been told that you have to ask for a "strong" letter or for their "full support", but maybe that's wrong? What are your thoughts?

Thoughts you want? For one obvious troll is obvious.

 

[anfleisch]

I asked a recent letter writer if he could write a letter focusing on a few fairly specific qualities I think I was able to demonstrate thoroughly in his class. I am a current waitlistee, so just any new letter would not be that helpful. But one that displayed positives about something that may have been perceived a a negative on my app could be helpful.

Not sure if this is a no-no, but I will see what he says.

 

[premed67783]

Thoughts you want? For one obvious troll is obvious.

Troll? how so?

 

[yamaraja808]

I emailed a professor yesterday asking him for a rec letter. Here was my email:

Dear Dr. ______,

I wanted to ask if you would be able to fully support me in a recommendation letter for medical school. Are you available to meet anytime soon to discuss it?

PS. I have attached my resume. Let me know if you would like any other documents.

Thanks,
_________


HIS REPLY:

Hello ________,

I am willing to write a letter of recommendation for your medical school pursuit.

I am going to tell you what I tell ALL students who asks for a "strong letter" or "full support" for a recommendation: what you might have in mind as a strong letter or full support may or may not be what I write because your opinions will vary a little from mine (normal differences in perceptions), but I always write the most positive letter I can for anyone who wants a letter for their post-graduate ambitions. I used to work for the pre-health advising services and argued against advising students to ask for a "strong letter" or "full support" because, I believe from a professors perspective, it puts the writer "on-the-spot" (for some, it can seem insulting and demanding).

I am glad to provide you with a letter, if you still choose to have me do so.

Best wishes,
~~ Dr. ________

I've always been told that you have to ask for a "strong" letter or for their "full support", but maybe that's wrong? What are your thoughts?

Well, first off I "do not" think you are wrong to ask him on email and then go to his office. Now, why am I saying this when half of the blog is saying otherwise. Here is why, imagine coming through the door of your professor's office when he or she has a stack of papers and tons of meetings to attend to. You look like a total ass because you are not respecting his or her time. Believe me I have stepped into my professor's office unannounced and you do not want to ask a favor when they are stressed out. So remember to ask through email first and then meet them.

It does no harm to ask for a good letter of recommendation. Of course the professor is put on the spot because this is the future of one of his or her students. So the weight of the med school committee's decision to accept or reject you is on his shoulders (somewhat). I am sure your professor understands this.

Don't be afraid of the way you asked. It seemed very professional to me. Of course professors have different opinions about LORs and so you just have to keep on their good side. That's about it. 🙂

 

[premed67783]

It's hard to please EVERYONE. What seems like a polite email to one person might seem weak to another, and an assertive one might seem pushy to some people.

I think I lucked out that this professor worked for the prehealth advising, so he knows that it's just what they TELL us to say.

 

[Jolt21]

i've never heard of a "strong" letter. sounds redundant. why would i ask you for a letter if you're going to give me a "weak" one?

 

[typhoonegator]

i've never heard of a "strong" letter. sounds redundant. why would i ask you for a letter if you're going to give me a "weak" one?

Because desperate people ask for letters all the time from faculty who are not in a good position to write a supportive one. Heck, even if you spend a lot of time with me, that doesn't mean I think the world of you and am willing to go to bat for you.

Remember, your letter writers have reputations to uphold as well. If every letter they write gives every applicant "my highest level of recommendation, with no reservations whatsoever", then the letters lose meaning, particularly if that applicant goes on to stink. I don't want to shatter anyone's dreams, but not everyone is deserving of the highest level of recommendation.

Do I write "I do not recommend this applicant"? No, most people won't do that. But they will write that you "did a good job, and I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to succeed at the next level". This is much less affirmative than the previous statement, and admissions committees are very good at decoding these less enthusiastic letters.

If people ask for a recommendation letter from me, I will write one, but it may not be my highest recommendation. If people ask me for a "strong letter", I will tell them honestly whether or not I can do that. You'd be surprised how many people still want a letter of recommendation even after I tell them that it will not be the strongest. Personally, I always go over my letters with the applicants as well, as it is a useful time for reflection and feedback, and since LORs are framed in such a positive light, it usually isn't painful to people.

I see no problem with people asking if I can write a strong letter. If you select me as a letter writer, you deserve to know my opinion of you.

 

[flip26]

I see no problem with people asking if I can write a strong letter. If you select me as a letter writer, you deserve to know my opinion of you.

I agree with this, and I am perplexed why this has caused so much consternation on this thread.

Either ask directly for a strong letter, or at least get some sort of tacit assurance from the writer that he is "very pleased to write a letter" and maybe even "enthusiastically support your app" or something like that to indicate it will be the kind of letter you want and need in this game.

 

[Narmerguy]

Because desperate people ask for letters all the time from faculty who are not in a good position to write a supportive one. Heck, even if you spend a lot of time with me, that doesn't mean I think the world of you and am willing to go to bat for you.

Remember, your letter writers have reputations to uphold as well. If every letter they write gives every applicant "my highest level of recommendation, with no reservations whatsoever", then the letters lose meaning, particularly if that applicant goes on to stink. I don't want to shatter anyone's dreams, but not everyone is deserving of the highest level of recommendation.

Do I write "I do not recommend this applicant"? No, most people won't do that. But they will write that you "did a good job, and I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to succeed at the next level". This is much less affirmative than the previous statement, and admissions committees are very good at decoding these less enthusiastic letters.

If people ask for a recommendation letter from me, I will write one, but it may not be my highest recommendation. If people ask me for a "strong letter", I will tell them honestly whether or not I can do that. You'd be surprised how many people still want a letter of recommendation even after I tell them that it will not be the strongest. Personally, I always go over my letters with the applicants as well, as it is a useful time for reflection and feedback, and since LORs are framed in such a positive light, it usually isn't painful to people.

I see no problem with people asking if I can write a strong letter. If you select me as a letter writer, you deserve to know my opinion of you.

I agree with this, and I am perplexed why this has caused so much consternation on this thread.

Either ask directly for a strong letter, or at least get some sort of tacit assurance from the writer that he is "very pleased to write a letter" and maybe even "enthusiastically support your app" or something like that to indicate it will be the kind of letter you want and need in this game.

Agreed and Agreed.

To the people that write, "You shouldn't have to specify that it's strong", that's a little naive. If you've read letters of recommendation before, there are big differences between average recommendations and strong recommendations and many professors are not prepared or willing to write the latter. If the professor assumes that your LOR is simply to fill the requirement or that a decent letter will work for you, they'll do the easier one. Some always try to go the extra mile for their students, but for others you have to state up front what type of letter you're hoping for. If they are unwilling to write that, then they can tell you, no hard feelings.

No one should be personally offended by something as routine as asking for a letter of recommendation.

 

[addo]

To the people saying you shouldnt ask for letters through email.

It also wouldn't be a good idea to just drop by their office would it? I have done this before, not to ask for lors, but for other things and sometimes they are very busy and very cranky. The issue especially arises during the summer, when they are not teaching and most likely dont have any office hours.
I was in this situation, so I asked a prof for a lor through email, and made it clear i could meet him at any time at his request.
I have to ask one more professor, so i need to know if this is ok.

 

[noshie]

Yes, he’s kind of right about your words being construed as a little pushy. I always write:

"If you are willing to write a letter in support of my application, I have attached my CV for your review and to help you in the writing process"


That way if they don’t think they want to support me then they can just say no. Also, if you don’t really know the professor that well then you shouldn’t expect a strong letter of support.

 

[Excelsius]

Yes, he’s kind of right about your words being construed as a little pushy. I always write:

"If you are willing to write a letter in support of my application, I have attached my CV for your review and to help you in the writing process"


That way if they don’t think they want to support me then they can just say no. Also, if you don’t really know the professor that well then you shouldn’t expect a strong letter of support.

👍 It's all about context. You can also ask for a strong letter, but it depends how you're asking and who're you asking. If one of the teachers is really fond of you and has known you for a while, it makes little sense to emphasize "strong" and might be awkward.

 

[235788]

I was actually turned down by one of my upper divisional biology teachers because he felt like he didn't know "me" personally. -_-. I sat in the front row and attended offices hours. I guess every situation is unique. 😕

 

[yamaraja808]

To the people saying you shouldnt ask for letters through email.

It also wouldn't be a good idea to just drop by their office would it? I have done this before, not to ask for lors, but for other things and sometimes they are very busy and very cranky. The issue especially arises during the summer, when they are not teaching and most likely dont have any office hours.
I was in this situation, so I asked a prof for a lor through email, and made it clear i could meet him at any time at his request.
I have to ask one more professor, so i need to know if this is ok.

Guess you saw my first post. You should be fine with the LORs. I asked my professors through email for LORs to get into a masters program. Then I came into their office and then just asked them to do the very best letter they can. They were very happy too and the LORs came out fantastic. The graduate chair of the program I was applying to said they were great.

 

[deleted238468]

Perhaps instead of "strong"

ask for positive... I'm assuming if they agree to positive or very positive, then it'll be a strong letter anyways..

i'd agree with some other posters in that "strong" might be a little leading or insulting..

however, reading the reply, if you don't have any other better writers, i think he's just responding to what he thinks is a better way to word it (since he's been on a committee before) and it's probably safe (-ish, since i have no knowledge of you or him) to go with him.