Good recommendation letters?

[Bigbirdo]

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How do you guys get a "good" recommendation letter?
Here is my situation: I am going to ask two science professors that I got As in their classes to write me letters. Both of them only taught me for one semester. I went to their office hours a lot, but I mostly only asked academic questions. One of them is my adviser, so he knew about my career goal but not that much about my personal life. The other one does not know too much about me besides that fact that I am a good and studious student. I am going to talk to them more about my goal and personal life next semester before I officially ask them to write me a letter. People said that "make friends with you professors," but I don't and I can't make friends because I want them to just write me a letter.
Hopefully you get my point now: I am a student who has good grade but bad at networking with professors even though I need them to write a good rather than generalized recommendation letter. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[mts2801]

Most professors will ask you a little about your goals/ambitions ect. Some will even ask what you want them to focus on in the letter. If they do that, don't hesitate to mention a few things but don't specifically ask them to add certain things unless they offer to. TBH though, there's not too much you can do anymore, since you didn't get to know them personally in the first place. It's pretty early though to be getting recs...could you try networking a bit more with some profs from this fall/spring semester and then get a letter from them late spring/early summer?

 

[jeffity]

Discuss this beforehand (like when you ask), but you can offer some info about yourself (like a resume, PS draft, unofficial transcript, short bio). Nothing massive. A solid letter writer at my undergrad has a very detailed set of directions for requesting letters. He knows we don't want to ask, and he doesn't enjoy doing it. But he knows the value of the letters and isn't going to write generic ones. There's not time to sit and chat with everyone (he used to...and I'm sure he's sick of these 'fake' office hours visitors now). So he tells you how to proceed, and he writes good letters. Letters are important, but for some, it's just a hoop to jump through, especially academic letters. I think 3 academic letters is a little ridiculous. I'll send you what he says about it if you want an idea.

edit: I was typing this as above poster posted. Network as much as you can, but there's not really a 'too soon' for letters. I'd get these things lined up within a couple of months. Nothing like a procrastinating professor who disappears for the summer leaving you stranded and scrambling for a letter while you watch other applicants rake in the interviews

 

[squigloo]

Bribe them.



Orrrrr... Bring your resume and personal statement to them, and ask if they would like to know anything else about you in order to write a good letter.

 

[y3nd0]

My story was similar to yours: I was bad at networking with professors because I didn't want to waste their time and seem like such a suck up (they've been in the business so long that I'm sure they can see right through the false visitors).

My tips:
- Print out all relevant documents that will help them in writing you a letter. I gave each of my letter writers instructions on how to use Interfolio (online letter storage site), my unofficial transcript, personal statement, and a list of my EC's along with the hours devoted.
- Email the professors and ask them if they are willing to write you a letter. I picked three science professors and ended up using only 2 that I felt were the "strongest" (loosely used).
- Wait for responses. If they respond by email, offer to stop by their office whenever they are free to drop off documents and for a small chat.
- If they don't respond, take all the documents and try to find them in their office. Introduce yourself and say you sent an email (they'll probably say it got lost in the hoards). Tell them what you want and that if they are willing to help, you have documents for them.
- Keep following up with them by stopping by their office for chats.

That's what I did, and I had no personal connection with any of my letter writers. Of course, you're not going to get an amazing letter when compared to someone who spent a lot of quality time with their professors, but it will do. And know that professors know how important these letters are. Have faith in them and trust that they will try to pull whatever they can to get you into school.

 

[mts2801]

edit: I was typing this as above poster posted. Network as much as you can, but there's not really a 'too soon' for letters. I'd get these things lined up within a couple of months. Nothing like a procrastinating professor who disappears for the summer leaving you stranded and scrambling for a letter while you watch other applicants rake in the interviews

Although I understand why you'd say that, I think that if he had a few more months to get to know someone personally (assuming that opportunity exists) then his letter could be way stronger. Everything I've heard about LORs is that they're only useful if they're personal; an "A" on a transcript can tell you just as much as a generic "he's bright/hardworking" letter.

 

[jeffity]

Although I understand why you'd say that, I think that if he had a few more months to get to know someone personally (assuming that opportunity exists) then his letter could be way stronger. Everything I've heard about LORs is that they're only useful if they're personal; an "A" on a transcript can tell you just as much as a generic "he's bright/hardworking" letter.

I agree with that. He just has to gauge his situation/school. For me, 500 people in a class gave little opportunity to work it without just being ridiculous and disrespectful of everyone's time. My semester also ended in early May. So I had to have them lined up early before campus became a ghost town. But sure, if he can work it, a couple of months of getting personal is better than handing them some paperwork. I just generically caution users to work on these early. After seeing some users over the years get screwed by their letter situation (delaying an application months), I'd be sure to secure generic letters in case. Collecting early and more than 4 is where interfolio and school letter services (not committee) are good.