How do I know if somoene will write a good LOR for me?

[ravupadh]

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I've been working on my Master's thesis under a PI since November. It's a microbio lab but I'm the only person in his lab right now because of funding issues. So the PI knows me pretty well. However I'm not sure if he'll write a good and favorable LOR for me. I've made quite a number of mistakes (nothing too big, just general clumsiness) since I started doing research in the lab because a lot of the techniques and procedures are new to me. Also, until recently I was only able to show up to lab during twice or thrice a week since I was taking medical school/graduate school courses. However I don't get the feeling that he doesn't like me and he hasn't yelled at me (yet). So I'm in an ackward position. How do I make sure that he'll write a favorable opinion of me in his LOR? Btw I already have a LOR from a post-doc I did research under last year.

 

[NickNaylor]

When you ask for a LOR, SPECIFICALLY ask is he/she can write you a "positive LOR." Hopefully they'll be straight with you and give you a candid answer.

 

[ShockDoctrine]

You: "Hi Dr. ____, how are you today? I was wondering if you would be able to write me a good letter of recommendation letter for medical school?"

PI: "Yes! I will be able to do that for you. Please send me your personal statement and resume."

You: "Okay, I'll do that right away. Thank you so much."

 

[huskydock]

I've been working on my Master's thesis under a PI since November. It's a microbio lab but I'm the only person in his lab right now because of funding issues. So the PI knows me pretty well. However I'm not sure if he'll write a good and favorable LOR for me. I've made quite a number of mistakes (nothing too big, just general clumsiness) since I started doing research in the lab because a lot of the techniques and procedures are new to me. Also, until recently I was only able to show up to lab during twice or thrice a week since I was taking medical school/graduate school courses. However I don't get the feeling that he doesn't like me and he hasn't yelled at me (yet). So I'm in an ackward position. How do I make sure that he'll write a favorable opinion of me in his LOR? Btw I already have a LOR from a post-doc I did research under last year.

+1 to what everyone else said.

I asked someone, "Would you be willing to write a STRONG letter of rec for me?"
She told me that no one had ever asked in that way before, but she very much appreciated that I was up front about what kind of letter I wanted. She was happy to write that letter for me.

You want your PI to be as honest as possible. So if you ask for a positive or strong letter, I hope you and he are at least familiar enough that he would be able to politely decline if he can't provide that letter.

And don't stress! There's one PI I worked with and I definitely made my fair share of mistakes (messing up experiments, compromising sterile environment, etc...), but we had a good enough relationship that she still wrote me a strong letter!

 

[ravupadh]

+1 to what everyone else said.

I asked someone, "Would you be willing to write a STRONG letter of rec for me?"
She told me that no one had ever asked in that way before, but she very much appreciated that I was up front about what kind of letter I wanted. She was happy to write that letter for me.

You want your PI to be as honest as possible. So if you ask for a positive or strong letter, I hope you and he are at least familiar enough that he would be able to politely decline if he can't provide that letter.

And don't stress! There's one PI I worked with and I definitely made my fair share of mistakes (messing up experiments, compromising sterile environment, etc...), but we had a good enough relationship that she still wrote me a strong letter!

Oh wow that definitely provides me some encouragement! I guess I'm a perfectionist which is why I get nervous if I make a mistake in front of a superior.

But thanks for all of the responses. I'll ask him directly if he can provide me with a positive and strong letter.

 

[ManBroDude]

A sneakier way would to to have them send the confidential letter to Interfolio and then send it to your Advisor for their honest take before you send it to schools. Preserves your waiver of confidentiality and you get an honest, educated opinion on whether it's a strong or weak letter. 👍

 

[FalconSlice]

My rule is if you have to ask yourself if they will write you a strong LOR, don't ask. I usually have a very strong bond with at least one professor every semester and I keep in touch with them (it's not like I only talk to them because I want a LOR). So during one of our catch-ups I ask "hey i am applying to medical school, do you think you would be able to write me a strong LOR?" Then money in the bank