CRAP! I'm screwed with my LORs.

[TurkTurkleton]

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So, my school does composite letters for us. The deadline to turn in the minimum # of recs is coming up in about a month. After the deadline, we can still add more LORs, but we still have to turn in some by the end of Feb to qualify. Obviously, at least one science professor is required. I had a perfect professor to ask, but I guess I was too late, because she says she's too busy with other LORs. I think I can still get one from her by May, but anyways.

Problem right now is that I still need a science prof to meet the requirements, and there's not a lot of time left. (I've got the other LORs thank god.) I've done okay in most of my sciences (at least a B+ in all of them), so I figure grades won't be an issue. Sadly the classes are big, and it's been a year or two since I've had most of these professors, so I doubt they'll remember me out of the hundreds of students. And I suppose there's a good chance they'll also be too busy even if they were willing.

I don't really know why I'm making a thread since I guess my only option now is to email a bunch of my professors and hope one of them will agree to meet with me and write an LOR. I'm just stressing out now (and the fact that SDN was down earlier didn't help LOL). Does anyone have another method that might increase my chances? Any other relevant advice?

Oh also, the reason I didn't ask earlier is because I was working on a rough "why dentistry" PS type thing to give to my profs. I have one written, and it covers the basics, but it sounds kind of cheesy, so I was trying to re-write it. I guess I shouldn't waste any more time with that at this point, right? Just give any willing profs what I have?

 

[dl9006]

So, my school does composite letters for us. The deadline to turn in the minimum # of recs is coming up in about a month. After the deadline, we can still add more LORs, but we still have to turn in some by the end of Feb to qualify. Obviously, at least one science professor is required. I had a perfect professor to ask, but I guess I was too late, because she says she's too busy with other LORs. I think I can still get one from her by May, but anyways.

Problem right now is that I still need a science prof to meet the requirements, and there's not a lot of time left. (I've got the other LORs thank god.) I've done okay in most of my sciences (at least a B+ in all of them), so I figure grades won't be an issue. Sadly the classes are big, and it's been a year or two since I've had most of these professors, so I doubt they'll remember me out of the hundreds of students. And I suppose there's a good chance they'll also be too busy even if they were willing.

I don't really know why I'm making a thread since I guess my only option now is to email a bunch of my professors and hope one of them will agree to meet with me and write an LOR. I'm just stressing out now (and the fact that SDN was down earlier didn't help LOL). Does anyone have another method that might increase my chances? Any other relevant advice?

Oh also, the reason I didn't ask earlier is because I was working on a rough "why dentistry" PS type thing to give to my profs. I have one written, and it covers the basics, but it sounds kind of cheesy, so I was trying to re-write it. I guess I shouldn't waste any more time with that at this point, right? Just give any willing profs what I have?

asking for reference letters is the worst.

i got a great letter from my research prof but for my academic profs i had to go talk to them(even though they didn't really remember me) and ask(well maybe borderline beg 😛) them for LOR.

if they're nice they'll ask for a resume and your personal essay and write a generic LOR based on that.

but honestly, i dont think LORs have that much weight.
as long as it's not a red flag that you're crazy and you have decent #s then you should be fine

 

[TurkTurkleton]

asking for reference letters is the worst.

i got a great letter from my research prof but for my academic profs i had to go talk to them(even though they didn't really remember me) and ask(well maybe borderline beg 😛) them for LOR.

if they're nice they'll ask for a resume and your personal essay and write a generic LOR based on that.

Yeah, I'm okay with a generic LOR just to meet the requirements by the deadline. I have a science prof who can write me a good one, but she doesn't have time to do it in the next few weeks. I can add her good letter later, but I still need a science prof for now.

And yeah, same here, I've got great letters from other activities, but I need to work on this academic (science specifically) prof.

I figure the best would be to write them a formal or semiformal email asking to make an appointment with them in person. I don't want to just drop by their office unexpectedly and put them on the spot.

 

[TedyBearSuicide]

Write them a formal letter as well and drop it off in their box. That's the way I did it and it seems to help since professors get hundreds of emails every day. I also sent them an email. One professor never responded, so I dropped by her office hours and when I mentioned who I was she remembered and pulled out my letter but never got around to opening up my email.

 

[dl9006]

problem with emailing is that it's easier to reject your request via email vs asking them face-to-face.

i would recommend just dropping by when they have office hrs.

i got rejected by email a couple of times but didn't get rejected when i went to their office myself.

 

[psi169]

.

 

[TurkTurkleton]

problem with emailing is that it's easier to reject your request via email vs asking them face-to-face.

i would recommend just dropping by when they have office hrs.

i got rejected by email a couple of times but didn't get rejected when i went to their office myself.

Did you get rejected by email and then ask the same professors again in person?

The reason I hesitate to go in person is that office hours are rarely one-on-one, and this isn't really something I want to ask about with other people around.

 

[dl9006]

Did you get rejected by email and then ask the same professors again in person?

The reason I hesitate to go in person is that office hours are rarely one-on-one, and this isn't really something I want to ask about with other people around.

asked a dif prof after i got rejected by email...

just barge in when they're free and alone.. i hated doing this but you gotta do what you gotta do.. very nerve wrecking to ask a prof that doesn't know you very well.

you have to be aggressive otherwise how else are you going to get a LOR and get into dental school?

worst that can happen is they politely say no.

it sucks but most ppl go through this

 

[TurkTurkleton]

just barge in when they're free and alone.. i hated doing this but you gotta do what you gotta do.. very nerve wrecking to ask a prof that doesn't know you very well.

Yeah, I've been reading around, and I think you're right about going in person, thanks.

 

[ffdmd4]

I dont know too many of my professors personally but did very well in biochemistry and organic 1. If i were to ask these professors for a LOR you think the best way is to just go into their office without even sending an initial email of my intentions. And when I do go in, have a personal statement of why dentistry (cover letter), resume and maybe a reference sheet? I am real nervous about getting these and appreciate any insight!

 

[TurkTurkleton]

I dont know too many of my professors personally but did very well in biochemistry and organic 1. If i were to ask these professors for a LOR you think the best way is to just go into their office without even sending an initial email of my intentions. And when I do go in, have a personal statement of why dentistry (cover letter), resume and maybe a reference sheet? I am real nervous about getting these and appreciate any insight!

I've been reading around SDN, and it seems like most people say going in person is the best way to ask for an LOR. I was thinking about stopping by and telling them I'm applying and asking to set up an appointment later so that they don't have to answer me on the spot. I've been giving LOR writers a transcript, resume of my activities, a personal statement, and a stamped envelope.

I'm nervous too because I don't really know my professors. I'm non-science major at a big state school, so it's hard to get to know professors in such huge classes. The one prof I knew well is too busy, so I'll have to go to random people. I'm hoping at least one will write me a letter. I'm sure profs know writing LORs is part of the deal, and hopefully they'll tell you if they can't write you a good one. I guess that one rejection scared me and now I'm worried about finding anyone who will say yes.

 

[dl9006]

I've been reading around SDN, and it seems like most people say going in person is the best way to ask for an LOR. I was thinking about stopping by and telling them I'm applying and asking to set up an appointment later so that they don't have to answer me on the spot. I've been giving LOR writers a transcript, resume of my activities, a personal statement, and a stamped envelope.

I'm nervous too because I don't really know my professors. I'm non-science major at a big state school, so it's hard to get to know professors in such huge classes. The one prof I knew well is too busy, so I'll have to go to random people. I'm hoping at least one will write me a letter. I'm sure profs know writing LORs is part of the deal, and hopefully they'll tell you if they can't write you a good one. I guess that one rejection scared me and now I'm worried about finding anyone who will say yes.

yea just go for an initial screening

they might agree and you can give them your resume and etc

i had a prof(did pretty well in his big lecture class, but didnt really know him that well) who told me to go look around a bit more and if i really can't find someone to write me a LOR then just come back to him


ohh boy... the hoops we have to jump through to get into dental school

good luck guys!