Away Rotation > LOR from Dept Chair > How to ask

[Doc412]

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I have a meeting with the Department chair of my away rotation program and want to ask him for an LOR but he doesn't know me.

How is the best way to ask for an LOR from these big name people?

Also, am I supposed to have a list of questions to ask him at the meeting (besides write me a letter)? If so, what do people ask? I guess I just feel slimy going up to a stranger and say "write me a LOR even though you don't know me but you've got a big name that'll look good on my app."

Any advice for how others have approached these types of meetings (questions they asked, how they asked the LOR question...).

Thanks

 

[NewYorkDoctors]

are you MS3 or 4? (i think you are 4 because you seem to need the letter now)

You were supposed to have buttered him/her up over the course of the year.

I suppose you could ask him/her how he/she thinks about you as a student, your performance thus far, discuss your goals, etc...


But I doubt he/she would write you a strong, glowing, powerful, commanding LOR this late in the game if he/she doesn't know you that well.


But maybe not, maybe others can you help you more

 

[Doc412]

I'm an MS4 that is on my AWAY rotation. So I didn't have much time to butter him up. Plus he was out of town for 2 weeks. So I basically got to be in the OR with him one day and half-day clinic the other. But he hardly acknowledged me. I felt like I was just another punk visiting med student (which I probably am, ha)

 

[Miss Alyssa]

you go with your personal statement and ERAS CV ready and printed out to give to him.

Tell him about how much you enjoyed the program, your interests in whatever field etc

Ask him if he can right you a strong letter OR write a composite letter from the attendings you´ve worked with. I dont really know how the composite letters work, but I´ve seen them mentioned here on SDN.

The worst thing he could say is no.

 

[Doc412]

Thanks Miss Alyssa. That's EXACTLY what I needed to know. I appreciate it.

 

[FSU2013]

you go with your personal statement and ERAS CV ready and printed out to give to him.

Tell him about how much you enjoyed the program, your interests in whatever field etc

Ask him if he can right you a strong letter OR write a composite letter from the attendings you´ve worked with. I dont really know how the composite letters work, but I´ve seen them mentioned here on SDN.

The worst thing he could say is no.

The worst thing he can do is torch you.

 

[tco]

The worst thing he can do is torch you.

Where is the poster without the letter?