getting recommendation letters

[yjj8817]

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Every time I go to my professors' office hours, I usually only ask about the course material to go over unclear concepts. I usually never talk about anything else when I interact with my professors. It feels a little bit awkward talking about anything other than the course material. I get good grades in the classes but I know that it requires more than just the grades to get good recs. Any advice for getting good recs? This is my last semester of college and I want to get couple letters from my science professors. Thanks!

 

[Pacna]

Let me just say that everybody (including you) knows that you put yourself in a poor situation if you're banking on your last semester to get letters.

That said, I found that talking to them like they're people helps. What would you say to someone you want to be friends with? Gone are the days when you have to stand up when a doctor enters the room, and the distance between profs and students has shortened as well. You can just talk without being weird (as long as they want to). Most profs sit in their office hours pretty bored and would love to chat.

However, definitely keep up to speed on your course work and keep asking good questions.

 

[yjj8817]

Let me just say that everybody (including you) knows that you put yourself in a poor situation if you're banking on your last semester to get letters.

That said, I found that talking to them like they're people helps. What would you say to someone you want to be friends with? Gone are the days when you have to stand up when a doctor enters the room, and the distance between profs and students has shortened as well. You can just talk without being weird (as long as they want to). Most profs sit in their office hours pretty bored and would love to chat.

However, definitely keep up to speed on your course work and keep asking good questions.

Is it really that bad to get letters during last semester? One of my science teachers during fall semester agreed to write a letter for me but I wasn't completely sure if it would be excellent so I wanted to get more during this semester as backups just in case. I feel that the science classes I am currently signed up for are good for getting recs.

 

[justAstudent]

Is it really that bad to get letters during last semester? One of my science teachers during fall semester agreed to write a letter for me but I wasn't completely sure if it would be excellent so I wanted to get more during this semester as backups just in case. I feel that the science classes I am currently signed up for are good for getting recs.

I think what he means is that you won't have a lot of time for him to get to really know you, thus resulting in a less than stellar letter that doesn't say much other than rehashing what grade you got in his class.

 

[Pacna]

Is it really that bad to get letters during last semester? One of my science teachers during fall semester agreed to write a letter for me but I wasn't completely sure if it would be excellent so I wanted to get more during this semester as backups just in case. I feel that the science classes I am currently signed up for are good for getting recs.

You're right, it's a bit of a catch-22. You're supposed to get your letters by higher level professors, but you take those later in your career when you have fewer fall backs in the future. I think second semester junior year is a perfect time to get your letters, and if you find those lacking/absent, then you have some room still.

So at this point you really only need 1 more letter. I think you're right to try to get more than 1 still. Good luck to you.

I think what he means is that you won't have a lot of time for him to get to really know you, thus resulting in a less than stellar letter that doesn't say much other than rehashing what grade you got in his class.

I think that's true, but most lecture-only professors have templates that suffice. They know that people need LORs, and they're usually happy to embellish a bit on your behalf. In the OP's case where he/she doesn't have many other options, I think taking what he/she can get is the right option (and is very unlikely to bite you in the butt. It'd be incredibly rude if a prof wrote you an actual negative LOR. Much more likely that they'd just decline).

 

[Ismet]

Is it really that bad to get letters during last semester? One of my science teachers during fall semester agreed to write a letter for me but I wasn't completely sure if it would be excellent so I wanted to get more during this semester as backups just in case. I feel that the science classes I am currently signed up for are good for getting recs.

It's like putting all your eggs in one basket. But you already have a writer lined up so it's not as bad.

 

[yjj8817]

So what do you guys do to get good recs? I always feel kinda awkward during office hours. Should I ask him about his research interests maybe?

 

[Pacna]

So what do you guys do to get good recs? I always feel kinda awkward during office hours. Should I ask him about his research interests maybe?

Be earnest. Sure ask him about his research interests if you care to know. If not, talk about sports. Talk about the weather. Talk about what you want to do with your life!

 

[SN12357]

Sometimes you can get good letters by having them co-written by a TA and a professor. The TA actually knows you and the prof just signs off on it. I did this to get science letters from big lecture classes (as a non-trad, the only way for me to get science letters was from the basic prereqs).

 

[bunionberry]

So what do you guys do to get good recs? I always feel kinda awkward during office hours. Should I ask him about his research interests maybe?

Try to find ways to tie in what you learn in class to daily life. For example, I was kind of in your situation with my biochem professor. Hated the class, but the professor was easy to talk to and was very friendly. When we started learning about protein metabolism, I would try to come up with questions during his office hours that related to things I'm interested in. Like what kind of protein drinks are best, when they should be taken and how your body incorporates them to build muscle. Random stuff like that.

Research is also something you could discuss. Find a relatively recent and relevant news article and talk about it or ask your professor what his/her thoughts are on it. Good way to start a conversation, at least for me it was.

 

[yjj8817]

Is it rude to ask the professors during the first class session of the semester if they write recs for students? It's just that I don't want to be in a situation where I am signed up for classes in which I cannot get recs. How do you ask this in a more polite way?

 

[ItsJason]

I think the best way to get any letters of rec. from professors is to either ask them personally or through an email if you can speak to them outside of office hours/lectures. During this period, if they agree, you are bound to talk to them on a more personal level where both you and the professor can get to know each other better. Because it is awkward to simply discuss about it around other students during office hours, I find that this is the best method to speak to them where they can truly write a meaningful letter.

I would also assume that any professors would write a letter of rec depending on how well they know you. This means going to their office multiple times and have them remember your face before asking.

 

[yjj8817]

I would also assume that any professors would write a letter of rec depending on how well they know you. This means going to their office multiple times and have them remember your face before asking.

Well it's just that some of my professors including my genetics professor flat out told everyone that they don't write recs for students. If the professors don't say this to everyone, I guess I can assume that the professors would be willing to write one?