Getting letters of reccommendation

[HH8911]

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Hi All,

I've got two research internships lined up for the semester and a couple clinical/volunteer opportunities lined up for the summer, but my question is regarding getting letters of rec from professors....more specifically, what is the best way to go about getting a great one?

I am not too worried about research/clinical LOR because I will be working closely with my supervisors and interacting with them daily. How do I distinguish myself from my 100+ other classmates, without showing up to office hours whining about how I need an A in the class to get into medical school like those other people we all know and love ....to me, it seems intimidating to just show up and strike up a conversation.

I have several withdrawals on my transcript due to a personal situation that occurred in early 2009, but I have worked hard to get my GPA up to a solid 3.9. I am just worried those W's will come back to haunt me, and I am trying to make all other areas of my application as strong as possible.

Any input, insight or advice is appreciated! Thanks for reading!

H

 

[alwaysaangel]

Hi All,

I've got two research internships lined up for the semester and a couple clinical/volunteer opportunities lined up for the summer, but my question is regarding getting letters of rec from professors....more specifically, what is the best way to go about getting a great one?

Try to get into some smaller upper division courses next year. Sometimes this is hard because they are reserved for seniors which is why taking a year off often comes in handy for those who want to strengthen their application.

But find a few seminars or upper divs at your school (genetics, immunology lab, cell bio lab, etc. etc. etc) where there will only be 20-50 students in the class. Especially if its a lab run by the professor they usually get to know you quite well and will write you a great letter.

 

[nolookpass]

This is something else that scares me about the process. I go to NYU and these lecture classes are like 600+ Not sure about the upper level bio courses yet.

 

[Catalystik]

I have several withdrawals on my transcript due to a personal situation that occurred in early 2009, but I have worked hard to get my GPA up to a solid 3.9. I am just worried those W's will come back to haunt me

Three isolated Ws are unlikely to keep you out of med school. You can discuss it in an appropriate Secondary essay or, if asked about it at an interview, have your explanation ready.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

more specifically, what is the best way to go about getting a great one?

This is something else that scares me about the process. I go to NYU and these lecture classes are like 600+ Not sure about the upper level bio courses yet.

For the most part, professors really like students who work hard. Our professors were over-achievers when they were in school, and they like seeing us be over-achievers just like them. They pay attention to who's doing well. They want to help us succeed, and all it usually takes is getting a high grade and not being overly shy. You don't have to go reading tons of extra materials outside of class. You just have to do the work that's assigned to you (and do it well!).

Let me tell you a story...

I knew that I wanted a letter from my o-chem professor, so went to see him in the first few weeks of class. I introduced myself, explained that I was pre-med, and asked him what it takes for a student to earn a strong letter of recommendation from him.

He said that all it took was that he had to get to know me a little bit and I had to do well in the class. I paid attention to what he said, and started working my a** off.

Eight months later, I walked into his office to ask for a LOR and he knew my name without having to think about it for even a second. This was in a class of ~300 people. I did this without visiting his office more than twice each quarter, and without raising my hand in class more than once a week. I just worked my butt off, asked smart questions occasionally (and a couple of dumb ones, I'm sure), and got good grades. That's all it takes.

 

[Techmed07]

For the most part, professors really like students who work hard. Our professors were over-achievers when they were in school, and they like seeing us be over-achievers just like them. They pay attention to who's doing well. They want to help us succeed, and all it usually takes is getting a high grade and not being overly shy. You don't have to go reading tons of extra materials outside of class. You just have to do the work that's assigned to you (and do it well!).

Let me tell you a story...

I knew that I wanted a letter from my o-chem professor, so went to see him in the first few weeks of class. I introduced myself, explained that I was pre-med, and asked him what it takes for a student to earn a strong letter of recommendation from him.

He said that all it took was that he had to get to know me a little bit and I had to do well in the class. I paid attention to what he said, and started working my a** off.

Eight months later, I walked into his office to ask for a LOR and he knew my name without having to think about it for even a second. This was in a class of ~300 people. I did this without visiting his office more than twice each quarter, and without raising my hand in class more than once a week. I just worked my butt off, asked smart questions occasionally (and a couple of dumb ones, I'm sure), and got good grades. That's all it takes.

OP, quote this and frame the above. This reply is right on! One of my professor who teaches in the biggest lecture room on campus, has one requirement before even asking for a recommendation. You get an "A" (mind you only 5% of students get an A in his class). There are tons of kids that come and try to befriend him but end up getting a B which takes them automatically out of the running of getting a recommendation. When you do your work, excel and go up and beyond.. professors want to help you! Now, I am asking for recommendations at the moment and what I do is give them a resume and a personal statement. Resume on resume paper in a nice folder. It works wonders.

 

[bucks2010]

I highly recommend going for the small classes as well - I've gotten 2 LOR's secured that way. In most cases, it will be easier for you to interact with the prof's more, so they will have more material and experiences to draw from to write a good letter.

 

[greenlights]

Gauge your profs before you decide who to ask and how to approach them. My OChem prof straight up said "I know why you all come by the office all the time, and it's not because you really need my help." He then told us anyone with an A or A- would be invited to be a TA, and that that was the ticket in to a good letter. Another bio prof, on the other hand, loved just meeting students so he would hold regular lunches and insist you could just drop by office hours to chat.

I rarely see this suggested on SDN, so I wonder if it's a school-specific trend, but at my college the school offered loads of opportunities to take out your professors for lunch or coffee for free. Organizations like frats/sororities and clubs would also hold events where members could invite professors. When I was asking a professor who I wasn't sure knew me well enough, I asked to meet her over lunch. I feel that the casual setting can make it easier for profs to get to know you - but if that doesn't feel appropriate to you, sitting down with the prof in their office would be a good substitute.

 

[HH8911]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I am taking an advanced microbiology class this semester with an enrollment cap of about 25 students I think, so I will shoot for a LOR from that professor. I also really like the idea of straight-up asking "What will it take for a good LOR?...I never thought of that before.

Any more ideas, keep them coming! 🙂

 

[alwaysaangel]

I also really like the idea of straight-up asking "What will it take for a good LOR?...I never thought of that before.

i would be cautious about asking that. I could definitely some professors not appreciating it.

 

[Catalystik]

I agree with alwaysaangel. This could backfire. Get to know the professor a little bit first and try to get a feel that such an inquery won't ruffle their feathers.

 

[HH8911]

i would be cautious about asking that. I could definitely some professors not appreciating it.

I agree with alwaysaangel. This could backfire. Get to know the professor a little bit first and try to get a feel that such an inquery won't ruffle their feathers.

Yeah that is true. I was going to go to office hours for each of my professors once during the first week or two of school just to introduce myself, and I'm sure after that I will better be able to gauge how to approach the LOR topic without coming off as too brash. The last thing I want to do is ruffle feathers!!

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

I agree with alwaysaangel. This could backfire. Get to know the professor a little bit first and try to get a feel that such an inquery won't ruffle their feathers.

Yes, every situation requires a slightly different approach.

Personally, I'm not gifted at small talk, so it's easiest for me just to say what I have to say. I try not to be rude, of course 🙂

But I think o-chem professors know the score. Mine mentioned on the first day of class that he knew most of the ~300 people in class were pre-med/dent/pharm, so I felt he was safe to be blunt with.

This also seems to be the sentiment reflected by greenlights:

My OChem prof straight up said "I know why you all come by the office all the time, and it's not because you really need my help."

With someone like that who tells you exactly what's on his mind, I feel it's safe to treat him the same way. Like Oprah says, "You teach people how to treat you by how you treat them." (I think I heard that on 30 Rock.)

Yes, with some people you risk ruffling the old feathers. But if you try to act like "Oh I'm not one of those 300 pre-meds, I really just love carboxylic acids 😍" you also run the risk of coming off as a fake. I'd rather be perceived as an honest person who's a little rough around the edges than someone who's insincere!