How to ask for a LOR from someone I haven't spoken to in 2 years?

[bensherman]

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Hi

I want to ask the post-doc I used to work with if he will write me a LOR for med school, but he hasn't heard from me in about 2 years. I don't think it would be too awkward contacting him after this much time has passed, but I'm having trouble starting the e-mail. Any suggestions? I was on a first name basis with him and he is a pretty chill guy.

 

[StephenMaturin]

Say that you don't mean to bug him but that you wanted to ask if he has had time to write you that letter of rec yet. He'll feel guilty about forgetting and write you a really good one to make up for it.

 

[phnerd1105]

Chances are he might not remember many details about who you are or your work ethic, etc. Essentially, anything that he would write about you in a letter. You should probably try to get a letter from someone else, probably someone you have worked with and kept in contact with for a long time.

 

[bensherman]

Say that you don't mean to bug him but that you wanted to ask if he has had time to write you that letter of rec yet. He'll feel guilty about forgetting and write you a really good one to make up for it.

I never asked him to write me one when I worked there

 

[bensherman]

Chances are he might not remember many details about who you are or your work ethic, etc. Essentially, anything that he would write about you in a letter. You should probably try to get a letter from someone else, probably someone you have worked with and kept in contact with for a long time.

I would, but working with him was the only "research" experience I had as an undergrad.

 

[phnerd1105]

How long did you work with him, and what kind of work did you do?

 

[bensherman]

How long did you work with him, and what kind of work did you do?

A little over a year. I was a lab assistant

 

[StephenMaturin]

I never asked him to write me one when I worked there

Never said you did.

 

[iceet]

I am in the same boat as you. I think the best way to approach the situation is to send him a friendly e-mail stating the following:

The benefits you obtained by working for him
What you have been up to the past 2 years
What your future plans are (medical school)
If he would be willing to meet up and discuss said plans and write you a FAVORABLE letter of recommendation

 

[Spin]

I am in the same boat as you. I think the best way to approach the situation is to send him a friendly e-mail stating the following:

The benefits you obtained by working for him
What you have been up to the past 2 years
What your future plans are (medical school)
If he would be willing to meet up and discuss said plans and write you a FAVORABLE letter of recommendation

👍👍👍

This is what I did, and it worked for most of my letter writers. Have a friend proofread the email so you don't come across as entitled or abrupt or anything.

 

[halethsonofhama]

I was having trouble coming up with a good non-science professor to write an LOR for me.

I got out most of my humanities classes before I was pre-med (and therefore LOR's was not on my mind).

3 years later I e-mailed my English professor from my first community college. I explained my situation, and stated that I would really appreciate a letter from her because It was one of the few non-science classes that I thoroughly enjoyed (a lie). SHe definitly wouldn't remember me because I was a get-in-get-out-get-on-with-my-life type of student then. I sent along my CV so she could see what I've been doing for the past 3-4 years. I even sent along my final essay that I still had saved for that class. I offered to meet with her as well (2 hour drive).

Because I acted very professional and mature, and went out of my way so she could re-meet me and see my character, she agreed. I was sure to explain that if she was not comfortable writing a glowing letter for me, that I could find someone else (My indirect way of telling her that this **** better be good)

She must have wrote a decent letter as I have received interview invites for some decent schools.


To summarize, just make sure to go out of your way to make it happen. Take the guy out for coffee to catch up. Ask about his current research. Be sure he knows that this letter be the best thing he's ever written. Generic letters don't help.

 

[bensherman]

thanks for the advice everyone!