Asking for letters of recommendation

[muffinman853]

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Has anyone out there been out of school for a few years, only to have to go back to a professor or two and ask for a letter of recommendation?

It looks like I'm going to have to pretty much beg two professors for letters. I've been out of school for a year, and I'm kinda dreading doing this. One of my original letter writers graciously agreed to update their original letter, but one of them hasn't responded to my original e-mail, which I sent a week ago. Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions on how to request letters after being away from school for so long? Should I call, send e-mails, or write them a letter? It's spring break this week at my school - would it be a good idea to call now or wait until next week?

I'm kinda stressing out over this, so any advice is appreciated. I mean, I think most of my other credentials (MCAT, GPA, EC, etc.) are ok, and I don't mind having one subpar letter - it was bound to happen this way. And I know I'm going to have two other decent ones from my boss and my volunteer coordinator, even though I heard adcoms don't really care about them. But letters from professors are absolutely essential, and if I don't have them then I can pretty much kiss this dream goodbye. Looks like I was naive and thought life would get better after the MCAT.....🙁

 

[halekulani]

I wouldn't be so passive about asking for a LOR, but maybe that's just me. I would call them and let them know you're serious about it.

 

[DoctorDreamer]

I asked in person, even though I was out of school. I also said, "would you be willing to write me a strong letter of recommendation." That way, if they hesitated, I would know I didn't want them to write one for me.

 

[AKu2984]

I went through a similar thing...first I called, and that worked out well for me. But, I went to a small Liberal Arts college, and the profs knew me pretty well. I'd definitely try calling first, if that doesn't work...are you living close to the college campus? If you are, you could arrange to meet with the profs.

Don't worry too much, I'm sure it'll work out. Also, don't settle for anything sub-par in this process...everything counts!! Letters of rec are very important, so try and get the best you can! Hope this helps.

 

[nu2004]

i was really stressed about this, too. i had it a little easier than your situation sounds, though, because i was doing a post-bacc program and was able to ask one of my profs here for letters. my other letters were from my Organic Chemistry lab TA (who got his PhD right before I asked him for a letter) and one was from the director of the undergraduate bio labs at my school (sounds like an important title maybe, but this woman was not a PhD, just a wonderful instructor). the last letter i got from a doctor that i had worked with closely, both with shadowing and on a professional level (i had a career in IT before going into medicine, and she was one of my clients).

so in total, i had one non-research-oriented professor, one TA, one non-PhD lab instructor, and one doctor write me letters of recommendation. this is a decidedly unimpressive cohort, but you know what? almost everywhere i went to interview, my interviewer(s) mentioned how glowing my letters of recommendation were. the take-home lesson here is that i think it's much more important to get really solid LORs than to get them from people who you consider important.

as far as specific advice on how to ask, the best policy is to ask AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. profs HATE, i repeat, HATE being rushed to write these letters, and if you rush them it will be reflected in the quality of their recommendation. start off with an email, follow up with a phone call or better yet, an in-person visit.

 

[muffinman853]

Thanks for your responses, I think I'll try giving professors a call or maybe heading down to their offices this week. I had a pretty bad experience asking for a letter, which is why it stresses me out so badly. I had taken a class two years ago and the professor was my advisor, so he knew me, and I had been to his office a few times. I went to his office after the semester was over and I asked if he would write me a letter, and he said he just didn't feel comfortable writing me a letter, although he said he would write a standard "this person was in my class, he got an A" letter. Ever since then I've been really intimidated by my professors - it felt nothing was gonna be good enough to get that sterling seal of approval. Oh well, I guess I just gotta keep on trucking.

EDIT: nu2004, sounds like you got some solid recs, congrats. The only thing that freaks me out is that the schools I'm applying to require 3 letters from professors, 2 science and 1 non-science. That's why I'm so worried about getting letters from them.

 

[nu2004]

Thanks for your responses, I think I'll try giving professors a call or maybe heading down to their offices this week. I had a pretty bad experience asking for a letter, which is why it stresses me out so badly. I had taken a class two years ago and the professor was my advisor, so he knew me, and I had been to his office a few times. I went to his office after the semester was over and I asked if he would write me a letter, and he said he just didn't feel comfortable writing me a letter, although he said he would write a standard "this person was in my class, he got an A" letter. Ever since then I've been really intimidated by my professors - it felt nothing was gonna be good enough to get that sterling seal of approval. Oh well, I guess I just gotta keep on trucking.

EDIT: nu2004, sounds like you got some solid recs, congrats. The only thing that freaks me out is that the schools I'm applying to require 3 letters from professors, 2 science and 1 non-science. That's why I'm so worried about getting letters from them.

i was lucky not to have an experience like yours, but i think it is the exception and not the norm. as far as the schools' requirements, i would highly recommend calling their admissions offices (or emailing, although this gets a much slower response) and asking them point-blank what their requirements are (or better yet, asking them, 'would a letter from _______ satisfy your requirement of _______?). often the published requirements are flexible, so if for instance you had a really great TA, some schools would be willing to accept a letter from them as though it were from a professor. really, what they are looking for is someone who has worked with you in an academic environment and can evaluate your abilities as a student - a TA can definitely do this, and many times is actually a better judge if they have worked with you much more closely than a professor.

don't be nervous or shy. the worst thing they can do is say no, right? good luck!

 

[Jolie South]

i asked for all my letters 2 years after finishing school. all my recs came from professors in my master's program. two i knew really well as i did research for them, but the other academic guy couldn't even remember who i was when i called. he agreed to do it and i had confidence in it as i took three classes from the guy and got some of the highest grades in the class.

i just made sure to submit a great deal of info (transcripts, PS, resume) when I followed up with an e-mail after talking to him. I asked again in the e-mail if he would write me a favorable rec.

 

[muffinman853]

Once again, I'd like to reiterate my thanks to all who have posted. nu2004, I never even thought about calling the schools and asking if letters from TA's would suffice; that's something I'm definitely going to do this week.

 

[paranoid_eyes]

if you go to a huge public school, it is a generally accepted fact that your letter writer will probably not know you too well since the classes are like 300 students. Most people i know have gotten at least one, if not two, letters from professors who didn't know them at all. They just gave the professor their essays and other info, had an interview, and got the letter.

just another reason why it SUCKS BALLS to go to a large public school 👎

 

[rottiesrock]

Like everyone is saying - you just have to be 'bold' and do it.
2 of my 3 professor recommendations came from profs that I knew fairly well while in school although a lot of time had passed:

I asked my gen chem prof (who was also my boss when i was a TA). He was in PA and I was in NC and we hadn't been in contact for about 3 years because after I finished doing my post-bac I moved and started teaching.

Since my degree was a BA I needed one from one of my majors so I ended up emailing a history prof from undergrad (also in PA) - and we hadn't spoken for at least 5 years. After I emailed him we set up a time and spoke on the phone for a bit. I sent him a copy of my PS and activities etc. and that was it.

Both wrote me recommendations and they couldn't have been too bad because I got in.

 

[Isoprop]

if you go to a huge public school, it is a generally accepted fact that your letter writer will probably not know you too well since the classes are like 300 students. Most people i know have gotten at least one, if not two, letters from professors who didn't know them at all. They just gave the professor their essays and other info, had an interview, and got the letter.

just another reason why it SUCKS BALLS to go to a large public school 👎

except it works in your favor if you manage to stand out of 300 students. being top 5 out of a class of 300 looks a lot better than top 5 out of a class of 30.

 

[husky10501]

Does anyone know if letters from a com college prof would be frowned upon?

 

[paranoid_eyes]

except it works in your favor if you manage to stand out of 300 students. being top 5 out of a class of 300 looks a lot better than top 5 out of a class of 30.

most profs don't care about even the top student....at least at my school

 

[nu2004]

Does anyone know if letters from a com college prof would be frowned upon?

i doubt it. if the professor can convincingly convey that you were a bright and dedicated student, it shouldn't matter.

CC courses, on the other hand, may be looked down upon...

 

[daaarn]

I'm in the same situation. I've been a postbacc only for this past year and it's been kinda rough getting LoR's. I managed to ask 2 of my science profs for recs before I graduated and they agreed, so I was relieved (since TX schools only require 2 recs).

However, it's actually been hard finding a non-science recommender b/c I simply didn't think to get to know any of them at the time I took their classes. There is however, one teacher that I used to talk to a couple of times during office hours (nothing heavy, usually just questions about class). I did well in his classes and did ask questions and what not, but I'm pretty sure he won't remember me, but he's basically all I have now. How should I approach him for a LoR? I know his office hours and can go to them, but should I write an email or call first?

 

[nu2004]

I'm in the same situation. I've been a postbacc only for this past year and it's been kinda rough getting LoR's. I managed to ask 2 of my science profs for recs before I graduated and they agreed, so I was relieved (since TX schools only require 2 recs).

However, it's actually been hard finding a non-science recommender b/c I simply didn't think to get to know any of them at the time I took their classes. There is however, one teacher that I used to talk to a couple of times during office hours (nothing heavy, usually just questions about class). I did well in his classes and did ask questions and what not, but I'm pretty sure he won't remember me, but he's basically all I have now. How should I approach him for a LoR? I know his office hours and can go to them, but should I write an email or call first?

write him an email. remind him of who you are and outline your performance in his past class(es). talk (really briefly) about your desire to do medicine, and if possible how his class has helped you to reach that goal. ask him if he'd be willing to write you a rec. most professors are pretty happy to do this sort of thing.

do you know if he typically writes letters for students? whatever you do, get in touch with him soon to give him as much time as possible. keep the email short, be polite but don't sound desperate, and you'll get an honest answer.

gl

 

[ghostfoot]

You should be fine. Maybe ask a couple more prof.s than you need to in case anyone flakes out.

Also, don't settle for a "strong" letter. That's not enough anymore.

Be sure to ask if they can write "very, very special letter". That way, if they hesistate, you'll know not to send it.