Asking old profs for LORs?

[drusillaaw]

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Hi everyone,

I’m currently 2.5 years out of undergrad and I am aiming to apply to med school in 2010 (for fall 2011 matriculation). I was wondering if anyone has advice on contacting old professors for LORs? I am doing a few ad-hoc postbacc classes (like 4) to finish my requirements, but I’m aiming to get at least 2 letters from my undergraduate institution.

Does anyone have any tips on how to contact old professors? They did know me at the time, though I wouldn’t say we were super close and I have not kept in touch much (I was working in management consulting for 2 years). I was going to send out some emails to them with some information about what I’ve been up to sooner rather than later, just to see if they’d be willing, and then send them more complete information later on to actually write the rec (since the rec won’t be due for over a year).

.I know this has come up before, but any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!.

 

[menotyou7]

I had to contact a couple of old professors from undergrad because I had one school that was an absolute stickler about it. I graduated in 03, and went to a very large University. Like you, they knew me at the time, but have had a lot of students since I graduated, and I did not stay in touch after graduation.

I started by sending each of the two professors an email. I told them my maiden name, what upper level classes I took of theirs, what my grade was (of course I picked professors who gave me A's), and what all had happened since graduation. I told them that I had no intention of applying to medical school when I graduated, and what had changed my mind in the intervening time. I also tried to play my senario up to their specific interests. For example, I contacted a political science professor who does a lot of work with Feminist theory. Because I want to be an OB/Gyn, I wrote a paragraph about how my future work would benifit HER interests. Namely, that I would be able to help women have control over their reproductive lives.

I never heard back from my immunology professor. However, the email worked for the political science professor. She emailed me back and said, "I'm so sorry, I don't remember who you are, but based on your email, I like you. Call me during my office hours and lets chat and see if I can remember you." I emailed her a couple of papers I wrote for the class and sent her my application photo (a picture is worth a thousand words) and talked with her on the phone for awhile. In the end, I'm not entirely convinced that she actually remembered me from 2001, but we got to know one another again, and since she had access to some of my old course work, she wrote me a very nice letter.

Hope that helps!

 

[Deepa100]

Hi,
I had to do this too. In my case, there was a long gap after I had met the professors before I wrote to them asking about LORs. I asked them to be honest as to whether they remembered me or not. Then, I Also sent them a couple of lines about what was special about me during that time. All of my professors remembered me or were nice enough to talk to me again and write a letter. Good luck!

 

[jl2538]

I have the same problem! I've been out of school 4+ years and most professors probably don't remember me anymore. I wrote to one professor (non-science) last year nicely explaining what I want to do and why, he asked for my CV and any other information I can give him ( I wrote a long letter of intent) and he wrote me a letter. He was extremely nice and I think he would have written one whether or not he remembered the person that well. I still have to get one from science professor... what a headache!!

 

[drusillaaw]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

 

[drusillaaw]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to ask how long it took for professors to get back to you in these situations, from your experience (I've sent out some emails since I live across the country from my undergrad institution). I'm just wondering how long is appropriate to wait before following up, for those that don't respond right away.

Thank you!

 

[2008orbust]

Just wanted to share about my situation with LORs.

I had been out of school for quite a bit, so I called the medschool I wanted to attend and asked an admissions officer which they would prefer, letters from profs from long ago or letters from physicians that I work with every day right now. They said they would rather have the letters from people who know me well.

Granted, that is just one school, but the point is that some schools treat non-trads a little different and it never hurts to ask. 🙂

Good luck!