Extra information for LOR writer

[vin5cent0]

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I approached three professors for LORs, and all 3 of them graciously said they would do it. At the time, I handed them a transcript detailing my classes/grades, but I wasn't sure what else to include. All three of them asked for additional information so they could personalize it a little better.

I'm going to send them a copy of my resume, which outlines some of the jobs I've held throughout college (as well as some other stuff, but it isn't really relevant to a LOR). I'm also going to send them a career objectives outlining what my goals are after medical school and whatnot.

Other than that, I'm really unsure of what else to send them, but I know that's not really enough to write a solid letter on. I hate to say it, but I haven't done much over the past few years (college and working, mainly), so I don't have an extensive list of volunteer work or whatnot to put down, yet.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Ismet]

I gave a detailed resume to each of my letter writers, I think that's pretty standard. One of my writers asked for my personal statement as well, so that's something else you can include.

 

[vin5cent0]

Can you elaborate on what your detailed resume included? Mine essentially just has a short career objective, previous jobs I've held, and a list of labs I've taken / lab techniques I've learned (since I'm applying primarily for research and lab jobs right now).

 

[HipChick]

hobbies. I have unsual hobbies that make people go...hmm...

 

[percy]

If you give nothing but the same resume to each recommender, they're all going to write the same letter. I would include something about your experiences in their classes. When I asked my professors (a couple of years after taking their classes), I made sure to include some relevant details: "I really enjoyed your class because [I'm interested in...]" and "A recommendation from you would mean a lot because it would [help show this quality that I feel I conveyed in your class]." I also sent them the papers I'd written, and then I traveled back to meet with each professor one-on-one. Luckily, there had been only a handful of people in their classes, so they remembered me very well.

For the record, I did send my resume and transcript, of course, but I think your recommenders will appreciate the guidance and help in writing your letters if you subtly and tactfully offer it.

 

[StoicJosher]

Yes - definitely include the personal statement. They can choose to read it or not. By additional information, I think they mean things you would want included in your LOR. Make sure your detailed resume contains descriptions that they can read and then write about your personality, character, motivations - things like that.

I had one LOR writer send me a questionnaire asking me a lot of these questions.

 

[percy]

Yes - definitely include the personal statement.

👍👍👍

 

[vin5cent0]

If you give nothing but the same resume to each recommender, they’re all going to write the same letter. I would include something about your experiences in their classes. When I asked my professors (a couple of years after taking their classes), I made sure to include some relevant details: “I really enjoyed your class because [I’m interested in...]” and “A recommendation from you would mean a lot because it would [help show this quality that I feel I conveyed in your class].” I also sent them the papers I'd written, and then I traveled back to meet with each professor one-on-one. Luckily, there had been only a handful of people in their classes, so they remembered me very well.

That is a really excellent idea, thank you 👍 I was worried that I was going to get the same letter written by all of them. Sending them something specific to their class would really help with that.

Thanks for the help guys. I actually haven't written my PS yet I'm still knocking around ideas for that one.

 

[candav]

I gave each of my letter-writers a list of things I wanted conveyed in the letter: “Could you please mention the time I did this...” “Please describe this aspect of my final paper...” Your professors will be writing plenty of letters for plenty of people, and may not remember every significant interaction they had with you. No harm in giving them a little reminder!

 

[typicalindian]

when I asked my prof's, two of them told me to come in for a small interview so they could get to know my goals etc, and one of them went on vacation for the break so he sent me a list of questions to answer. Although they all knew me from my frequent visits to office hours throughout the year. see if your letter writers would consider an interview type thing.

 

[EBTrailRunner]

when I asked my prof's, two of them told me to come in for a small interview so they could get to know my goals etc, and one of them went on vacation for the break so he sent me a list of questions to answer. Although they all knew me from my frequent visits to office hours throughout the year. see if your letter writers would consider an interview type thing.

This is what I did. I provided each professor a copy of my CV and a sample of work I'd done for their classes. Finally, I met with each for 30-60 min to discuss my motivation for a career in medicine and answered any questions they may have had to personalize my LOR.

 

[typicalindian]

I don't mean to hijack your thread OP but I also have a question relation to LOR's. Is it rude to ask a professor to stress certain points in the letter they write about you?

 

[Ismet]

Can you elaborate on what your detailed resume included? Mine essentially just has a short career objective, previous jobs I've held, and a list of labs I've taken / lab techniques I've learned (since I'm applying primarily for research and lab jobs right now).

We had to write a paragraph about each experience in our resume for submission to our pre-professional health committee for the committee letter. We were expected to describe what we learned from the experience/why it was important/how it related to medicine/etc. I submitted that to a couple of my writers, and the others got a regular resume.

 

[EBTrailRunner]

I don't mean to hijack your thread OP but I also have a question relation to LOR's. Is it rude to ask a professor to stress certain points in the letter they write about you?

You can ask them to discuss a certain aspect of your personality or academic performance, but you can't tell them what point to make about that aspect. In other words, you could ask, "Could you please touch on my work ethic in your letter?" What you couldn't say is, "Please emphasize how diligent a student I am!"

 

[vin5cent0]

So, I wrote up a little thing on my background of wanting to get into medicine, where I was hoping to go with it in my future, and why specifically I thought a LOR from that professor/class would benefit me. It wound up being about a page, not double spaced. Is that too long, or ok? It's not long, I realize, but I'm not sure if LOR writers are used to having to read through a page of drivel or if people just usually hand them bullet points.

 

[SellerAl]

Yes - definitely include the personal statement. They can choose to read it or not. By additional information, I think they mean things you would want included in your LOR. Make sure your detailed resume contains descriptions that they can read and then write about your personality, character, motivations - things like that.

I had one LOR writer send me a questionnaire asking me a lot of these questions.

My PS was birthed from a blurb I wrote for my REC letter writers.

 

[StoicJosher]

I don't mean to hijack your thread OP but I also have a question relation to LOR's. Is it rude to ask a professor to stress certain points in the letter they write about you?

I think it would also depend on your relationship with the particular LOR writer. I had a letter writer with whom I had an informal reslationship outside of school so I did ask them to stress certain points in the letter they wrote for me. If it is a formal professor-student relationship I would follow EBTrailRunner's advice.