Has a professor ever given you a tough time when you asked for a letter of recommendation?

[Mr Doc Turr]

I've never been too close to any of my professors and it's time to start working on getting some LORs. Sure, I went to their office hours a few times and got good grades in their class but I seriously don't think they would remember me if I asked them for a recommendation.

I have this friend who went to this one professor's office hours more than anyone, but when he asked her for LOR a year later, she didn't even remember him.

Any thoughts or advice on this?

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[Glandzburg]

A) Your friend should not have waited a year to ask for the LOR.
B) Your friend must not have made that strong of an impression on said professor.

Get to know some of your professors and don't disappear from their radar for a year before asking for a LOR.

 

[Psai]

well yeah you can't go a year later lol
you gotta go to their office hours and schmooze a little. tell them about yourself, give a cv, build a relationship
can't just pop in and expect someone to recommend you to be a doctor when they don't know you

 

[Shams al Deen]

I got a couple LORs from professors that didn't know me. I went to a very large undergrad, so maybe med schools were more forgiving for those letters. I basically asked other students which professors were known for writing letters without knowing the student. I found a few good candidates and emailed them politely asking. The two that agreed then asked for my personal statement, resume, and one even had his own questionnaire that he made me fill out. They both also had me come to their office to have a brief chat, which was pretty cool of them.

If you need these letters, then start asking your professors, don't be scared of rejection. If they say no, who cares--it's not like this will negatively affect you in anyway. I got turned down a bunch of times, no big deal. And obviously, you should try to get great LORs from profs who know you very well, and you should build these relationships from freshman year. But sometimes you can't make it happen, especially if you're at a large state school. Just make sure you at least get 1 great LOR and you have an otherwise strong app.

 

[Mr Doc Turr]

A) Your friend should not have waited a year to ask for the LOR.
B) Your friend must not have made that strong of an impression on said professor.

Get to know some of your professors and don't disappear from their radar for a year before asking for a LOR.

He was only a sophomore when he went to her office hours and had her as a professor, so it didn't make much sense to ask then.

And even she told him last year that he was her most frequent visitor.

 

[Mr Doc Turr]

I got a couple LORs from professors that didn't know me. I went to a very large undergrad, so maybe med schools were more forgiving for those letters. I basically asked other students which professors were known for writing letters without knowing the student. I found a few good candidates and emailed them politely asking. The two that agreed then asked for my personal statement, resume, and one even had his own questionnaire that he made me fill out. They both also had me come to their office to have a brief chat, which was pretty cool of them.

If you need these letters, then start asking your professors, don't be scared of rejection. If they say no, who cares--it's not like this will negatively affect you in anyway. I got turned down a bunch of times, no big deal. And obviously, you should try to get great LORs from profs who know you very well, and you should build these relationships from freshman year. But sometimes you can't make it happen, especially if you're at a large state school. Just make sure you at least get 1 great LOR and you have an otherwise strong app.

Great advice, thanks

 

[Mr Doc Turr]

well yeah you can't go a year later lol
you gotta go to their office hours and schmooze a little. tell them about yourself, give a cv, build a relationship
can't just pop in and expect someone to recommend you to be a doctor when they don't know you

He only went to her office hours when he had her as a professor, which was a year ago. Doesn't make sense to talk to her frequently if he isn't in a class with her.

Its a fairly large school, so maybe some professors are more lenient with LORs

 

[Glandzburg]

He was only a sophomore when he went to her office hours and had her as a professor, so it didn't make much sense to ask then.

And even she told him last year that he was her most frequent visitor.

LORs can be saved on Interfolio for when you apply later. So why would it not have made sense to ask then when he was fresh in the professor's mind?

 

[Mr Doc Turr]

LORs can be saved on Interfolio for when you apply later. So why would it not have made sense to ask then when he was fresh in the professor's mind?

Didn't think about that, I'll be sure to ask him about it. But I think he was sure that she would remember him after all the time he put in with her. He got a good grade in the class, too.

 

[cryhavoc]

I got a couple LORs from professors that didn't know me. I went to a very large undergrad, so maybe med schools were more forgiving for those letters. I basically asked other students which professors were known for writing letters without knowing the student. I found a few good candidates and emailed them politely asking. The two that agreed then asked for my personal statement, resume, and one even had his own questionnaire that he made me fill out. They both also had me come to their office to have a brief chat, which was pretty cool of them.

If you need these letters, then start asking your professors, don't be scared of rejection. If they say no, who cares--it's not like this will negatively affect you in anyway. I got turned down a bunch of times, no big deal. And obviously, you should try to get great LORs from profs who know you very well, and you should build these relationships from freshman year. But sometimes you can't make it happen, especially if you're at a large state school. Just make sure you at least get 1 great LOR and you have an otherwise strong app.

Great advice. I went to a huge school too. By the time you got through the line at office hours, you barely got a few minutes. And it seemed like every semester the office hours overlapped with another class's time.

I have heard some professors just want your resume and will talk with you briefly. I have my fingers crossed and I'm going to start asking soon.

 

[prettyNURSEtoMD]

I've personally had trouble. My professor knew me. I participated in lecture, went to office hours etc. At the end of the semester I asked for a LOR and he willingly agreed. He wanted to know my goals etc. Sent him an email with everything he asked. About three weeks went by, I sent another email. He asked for the documents again. Okay, so I resent. A month went by. Emailed him again, he said he was preparing it and would be writing it soon. Fast forward to now, two additional emails were sent and I never received my letter. That was from Fall 2013.... Oh and he's very much still alive teaching organic chemistry again.... I wish he would have just said no.

 

[Prettywoman0172]

I am an older nontrad with a big mouth. Everyone knows and remembers me and I go to a big undergrad. I guess Ive been lucky that my eccentricities have been well received and yielded excellent letters. I have had a few refusals as well as some of the "disappearing" professors who agree and say the letter is coming and then it never does. I have nine letters now, will ask for one or two more at the end of the semester and then Ill pick and choose 🙂

 

[bc65]

Always consider the possibility that someone who seems reluctant to write you a letter is trying to tell you that they won't write you a good letter.

 

[aspiringdoc134]

not to hijack this thread, but I just saw that my old neurobiology professor from undergrad submitted my LOR today. I graduated May 2013 and took a neurobio course with this professor the fall semester of my senior year then was in a small research lab (technically a course) with him in the spring. We chatted here and there during my senior year and I eventually asked him for a letter of rec right before graduation and then again a couple months after graduating (but did not ask him to write one right away - rather, wait a bit until I asked). fyi, i did very well in both of his courses and he knows neurobio is one of the major factors that persuaded me to pursue medicine

The reason why I'm slightly concerned is that I haven't exactly kept in touch with him over the past year and he never asked for my CV or personal statement. My undergrad has a pre-med committee, so when I listed him as a LOR candidate, he was notified via email (this was around Oct/Nov). I was actually planning to contact him in the next couple of weeks until I received a notification saying he submitted my letter today.

Should I be worried? I'm sure he remembers me, but I can't help to think about the fact that he never asked for my resume, etc. I'm going to email him this weekend to thank him and possibly plan a trip up to my alma mater to kick the s**t him.

Thanks guys - there is a good chance that I'm overthinking this

 

[NickNaylor]

Always consider the possibility that someone who seems reluctant to write you a letter is trying to tell you that they won't write you a good letter.

Exactly. Red flags. Red flags everywhere. Having to chase down someone to write you a letter should be setting off alarm bells. That's really not the kind of person you want "supporting" you in your application.

 

[crossingthefingers]

Area adcoms able to tell the difference between letters from professors who actually know you (like in the case of small liberal arts college grads) and professors who have you fill out surveys/barely remember you?

 

[NeuroMaster316]

A prof once made me wait 3 damn months for the letter. Then again, he's a bit of a douche to everyone so he made sure we begged lol

 

[zero0]

No, just don't be a stereotypical awkward pre-med about it. Keep cool, be succinct, maintain eye contact, and simply ask them if you can count on their support for the upcoming application cycle.

 

[kevinsword91]

It is not an easy process especially if you go to a larger university(as I did).

I needed a humanities letter and decided to go to the media analysis class I was in spring semester of my senior year. Most of our grade in the course came down to a final project/exam so I waited until I got my final grade to ask him. I asked to meet with him and we got coffee. Talked for about an hour on the course, my life/goals, his research(terribly boring, but I showed interest) and what my letter would entail(since he was new to admissions letters). He sent me a copy of the letter after submitting it and it was a very positive and descriptive recommendation.

You have to work for that letter. It may likely require a certain combination of reaching out, charisma and simply showing up to class/office hours all in an attempt to make some sort of positive impression.

 

[Styrene]

I found that the best letters are from people I never planned to ask, while those I initially planned to ask were never asked.

I'm not sure if others did/do this, but I always sent the AAMC Letter Writer Guidelines to my letter writers.

One philosophy professor; one retired MD, a biology professor at my school; one physics professor; one coordinator of volunteer program with which I've been a volunteer for 2.5 years; and a practicing MD--my PI and mentor.

 

[physicsnerd42]

Anyone who isn't eager to write you an LOR is someone you don't want writing you an LOR.

 

[Doctor Dream]

Quick question. I have a professor from a tiny (<1200 enrolled students) state college extension who I was planning on asking for a LOR. He knows me well both as a student and on a personal level. I transferred from this tiny college though to a 4-year college last year, and have had a little contact with him (used him as job reference) but other than that not much. Would you all recommend I ask him for a letter now, even though I don't plan to apply until the 2016-2017 cycle?