Is three weeks enough time for getting LORs?

[Star2008]

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Hi,

I'm asking profs for letters tomorrow. I'd like to set the deadline for Aug 3...think that's enough time?

Got any advice on helping them write me a strong letter?

Thanks!

 

[boo-yeh]

Hi,

I'm asking profs for letters tomorrow. I'd like to set the deadline for Aug 3...think that's enough time?

Got any advice on helping them write me a strong letter?

Thanks!

It's pushing it a little bit. My advisor suggested about one month at the absolute minimum, two months being the upper range.

 

[shotdiscus]

Here's what you do:

First off, when you ask, ask if they will feel comfortable writing a good LOR. If they show signs of hesitation, aren't enthusiastic, or flat out say no then move on to someone else b/c you're not going to get a great letter from them.

Secondly prepare a packet for them. It should include the following:

Cover letter - Thank them for writing a LOR and tell them why you think their insight will be important. Also ask them to write about certain things that you want them to write about. Tell them who you're other letter writers are and what they're writing about. This way each letter talks about a different aspect of you and you don't have x number of homogeneous, interchangeable letters.

A copy of your CV - Straight forward. To give them a sense of your activities that they might not be aware of.

A copy of your transcript

A copy of your PS - It can be a rough draft, in fact thats a good thing. Every week or so, give them and updated copy. That way you get feedback on your PS revisions and you are reminding your prof that he has to write your letter without being blatantly annoying.

 

[barto123]

Here's what you do:

First off, when you ask, ask if they will feel comfortable writing a good LOR. If they show signs of hesitation, aren't enthusiastic, or flat out say no then move on to someone else b/c you're not going to get a great letter from them.

Secondly prepare a packet for them. It should include the following:

Cover letter - Thank them for writing a LOR and tell them why you think their insight will be important. Also ask them to write about certain things that you want them to write about. Tell them who you're other letter writers are and what they're writing about. This way each letter talks about a different aspect of you and you don't have x number of homogeneous, interchangeable letters.

A copy of your CV - Straight forward. To give them a sense of your activities that they might not be aware of.

A copy of your transcript

A copy of your PS - It can be a rough draft, in fact thats a good thing. Every week or so, give them and updated copy. That way you get feedback on your PS revisions and you are reminding your prof that he has to write your letter without being blatantly annoying.

i would advise against asking if a prof can write a "good" recommendation. a prof told me he gets pissed off when the question is framed this way. your prof either simply say no upfront or go ahead and write a good recommendation. if he/she is a complete a-hole, and says yes to writing a recommendation while actually planning to write a poor one, putting the word "good" in your request wont deter him/her (never heard of this actually happening anyways).

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Hi,

I'm asking profs for letters tomorrow. I'd like to set the deadline for Aug 3...think that's enough time?

Got any advice on helping them write me a strong letter?

Thanks!

Ever heard the expression: "A failure to think ahead on your part, does not constitute any emergency on anyone else's part"?

 

[shotdiscus]

i would advise against asking if a prof can write a "good" recommendation. a prof told me he gets pissed off when the question is framed this way. your prof either simply say no upfront or go ahead and write a good recommendation. if he/she is a complete a-hole, and says yes to writing a recommendation while actually planning to write a poor one, putting the word "good" in your request wont deter him/her (never heard of this actually happening anyways).

Thats why its important to ask in person. They probably won't say no, but by gaging their response you can tell if they're going to spend a lot of time and write a good letter, or just write you a cookie cutter letter.

 

[Bluesmurf314]

FYI, from the asking to the receiving of the letters it took a good two months.

 

[DrBowtie]

In theory yes. In practice probably not.

 

[voirlesetoiles]

I didn't give recommenders my transcripts unless they were professors from my classes.

 

[boo-yeh]

i would advise against asking if a prof can write a "good" recommendation. a prof told me he gets pissed off when the question is framed this way. your prof either simply say no upfront or go ahead and write a good recommendation. if he/she is a complete a-hole, and says yes to writing a recommendation while actually planning to write a poor one, putting the word "good" in your request wont deter him/her (never heard of this actually happening anyways).

this is really great advice. i can't tell you how many people i've heard stories from where their professors would give smartass answers to that question. awkwardness ensued.

 

[OncDoc19]

I gave my LOR packets out on 7/2 and asked for the letters to be finished 7/20, so about 3 weeks. None of my professors had a problem with this and actually one of them finished in a week, but then again I had asked them all months in advance if they could write me a letter so they knew this was coming.

 

[notdeadyet]

i would advise against asking if a prof can write a "good" recommendation. a prof told me he gets pissed off when the question is framed this way.

I wouldn't ask a professor if they could write a "good" LOR, as you're essentially asking the contents of a confidential reference.

I do think it's fair to ask if they can write you a "strong" LOR. This relates to how well the prof knows you. A professor who hardly recognizes you can write a "good" LOR based on the fact that you had perfect attendance and got an A in her class. But it won't be a "strong" one.

 

[mdm2fly]

I think if you know your letter writers well enough, they will be more than happy to write it in three weeks. Actually, I asked in April for letters because I thought asking three months in advance was the norm, but they all told me that a few weeks was alright...one week is pushing it. I got my letters in my online collection service within a few weeks. A lot of professors also prefer to get them done quickly so that they don't forget about it.

I actually think that the faster they write the letter, the more they have to say about you, because it comes freely to their head, so you shouldn't worry about it being a weak letter if you feel that you've left a good impression.