Latest to send in Letter of Recommendation?

[sprint2k]

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I was late in asking for letters of rec (asking for them now). I know professors don't like to/don't have time to do them right away, so i don't want them to feel too hurried.

What's a reasonable amount of time for me to ask them when I need the letter by? Obviously the sooner the better, but i don't wanna tell them to do it asap.

I was thinking i would tell my professors that i would need them in 6 weeks? I'm not too sure about how adea processes everything so what do you guys think?


edit: since my professors want to send it in by mail, they'll write the letter, and then once i start my dental application, i'll get the info and some barcode if i recall. do i just take a postmarked envelope with all that info and give it to my professors whenever i can? do i give it to them after they've written the letter or can I just give it to them on june 1st for example.

also, is taking the dat on/around july 31 fine? i'm gonna spend the next 2 months studying for it.

i read that the dat destroyer was a great study material but is kinda hard/dense and you should know the basics first. does that mean i should just study the kaplan blue book for example, and then use the dat destroyer? i'm a bio major but i've pretty much forgotten everything, although relearning the sciences will be much much easier this time around

thanks!!

 

[Maygyver]

I was late in asking for letters of rec (asking for them now). I know professors don't like to/don't have time to do them right away, so i don't want them to feel too hurried.

What's a reasonable amount of time for me to ask them when I need the letter by? Obviously the sooner the better, but i don't wanna tell them to do it asap.

I was thinking i would tell my professors that i would need them in 6 weeks? I'm not too sure about how adea processes everything so what do you guys think?


edit: since my professors want to send it in by mail, they'll write the letter, and then once i start my dental application, i'll get the info and some barcode if i recall. do i just take a postmarked envelope with all that info and give it to my professors whenever i can? do i give it to them after they've written the letter or can I just give it to them on june 1st for example.

also, is taking the dat on/around july 31 fine? i'm gonna spend the next 2 months studying for it.

also i read that the dat destroyer was a great study material but is kinda hard/dense and you should know the basics first. does that mean i should just study the kaplan blue book for example, and then use the dat destroyer? i'm a bio major but i've pretty much forgotten everything, although relearning the sciences will be much much easier this time around

thanks!!

Well, since you wont have your DAT until pretty late, there LOR's aren't going to hold up your application. Give them a month or 6 weeks. (You don't need 2 months to study for the DAT anyway, but if that's what makes you comfortable, it's worth it). Look at the DAT forums for that stuff.

Not sure about mailing letters in by hand, it's much easier for them to just do it electronically. I'm sure AADSAS has all the information for you though.

 

[sprint2k]

Well, since you wont have your DAT until pretty late, there LOR's aren't going to hold up your application. Give them a month or 6 weeks. (You don't need 2 months to study for the DAT anyway, but if that's what makes you comfortable, it's worth it). Look at the DAT forums for that stuff.

Not sure about mailing letters in by hand, it's much easier for them to just do it electronically. I'm sure AADSAS has all the information for you though.

thanks for the info!

yah i dont know how long i'll need to study for the DAT, but july 31st as the very latest would be acceptable right?

 

[Maygyver]

thanks for the info!

yah i dont know how long i'll need to study for the DAT, but july 31st as the very latest would be acceptable right?

I think it depends on your stats. Taking your DAT then would get your scores into AADSAS around mid August. I think you should be alright as long as your GPA and DAT score is good.

 

[sprint2k]

I think it depends on your stats. Taking your DAT then would get your scores into AADSAS around mid August. I think you should be alright as long as your GPA and DAT score is good.

yah my gpa is average (3.48, science gpa is a little higher), so i just need to focus on doing well on my DAT. i don't have that much extracurricular activities/volunteer work. is it super important? i mean would there be a point in doing volunteer work after submitting my application. out of curiosity, i did a ton of volunteer work in high school, do people put that down since it's been a while?

 

[Maygyver]

yah my gpa is average (3.48, science gpa is a little higher), so i just need to focus on doing well on my DAT. i don't have that much extracurricular activities/volunteer work. is it super important? i mean would there be a point in doing volunteer work after submitting my application. out of curiosity, i did a ton of volunteer work in high school, do people put that down since it's been a while?

Put it down if it was continued throughout college. For example, if you worked in a clinic in HS and then continued at the same place in college.

Your GPA is average I would say for acceptances, maybe a smidgen low.

As far as doing volunteer work after, I don't think it can hurt if you enjoy it. If you're at an interview, and your interviewer asks what you've been up to lately, it's a lot better to say "volunteering at X" than "edward 40 hands and hotties."

 

[dentalWorks]

I was late in asking for letters of rec (asking for them now). I know professors don't like to/don't have time to do them right away, so i don't want them to feel too hurried.

What's a reasonable amount of time for me to ask them when I need the letter by? Obviously the sooner the better, but i don't wanna tell them to do it asap.

I was thinking i would tell my professors that i would need them in 6 weeks? I'm not too sure about how adea processes everything so what do you guys think?


edit: since my professors want to send it in by mail, they'll write the letter, and then once i start my dental application, i'll get the info and some barcode if i recall. do i just take a postmarked envelope with all that info and give it to my professors whenever i can? do i give it to them after they've written the letter or can I just give it to them on june 1st for example.

also, is taking the dat on/around july 31 fine? i'm gonna spend the next 2 months studying for it.

i read that the dat destroyer was a great study material but is kinda hard/dense and you should know the basics first. does that mean i should just study the kaplan blue book for example, and then use the dat destroyer? i'm a bio major but i've pretty much forgotten everything, although relearning the sciences will be much much easier this time around

thanks!!

I would initially give them 2 weeks. And every week or so, stop by their office to do the political thing "hi, just wanted to see how things were going ~ by any chance have you started on my LOR yet?".

If they give you lip about 2 weeks being too little, try to explain your situation to them. Tell them you understand 2 weeks isn't alot, but that your applying to dental schools in June and usually early applicants are given greater considerations. Tell them this is a very expensive process and you'd wanna be as competitive as possible....Then end it with you telling them that you would really appreciate it if they can take the time from their busy schedule to help you out.

If your taking the DAT on July 31st, that means your official scores won't arrive to schools till around Mid-August. I wouldn't say your late, but you aren't early either. By then, Approx 3000-5000 applications would have been processed by AADSAS.

As far as the DAT goes, you will need some resource to review GC and Orgo (Kaplan Blue book or chads will do the trick). Then DAT destroyer to apply knowledge to problem solving.

 

[sprint2k]

one of my professors did my letter in one day!!! what an amazing guy (he was my research professor and lecturer for 3 classes).

he already wants me to give him the address to send the info

"> Where do you want your letter sent? Do you have a file number? Let
> me know ASAP."

"Your letter is done - send me the addresses of where to send it."'

He said he doesn't want to do it through e-mail but i think i'm going to tell him about that option again. Also if he wants it done through mail, then i have to wait till june 1st in order to get all the information before he can mail it out right? such as the barcode and/or file number. it looks like he wants to send it himself (since he's such a nice guy). is there any other info i need for him to send it out?

if it's done through e-mail i can just tell him that adea will send him an e-mail regarding the login procedures to send the document through the internet right?

will i only need him to send one mail/e-mail to the adea. nothing more?

thanks!!!!

my other science professor hasn't responded to my letter of rec request yet. hopefully it's just cuz it's the weekends/holidays. he's not teaching any classes this quarter. how long should i wait until i send another e-mail or find a way to contact him personally? i e-mailed him on thursday

 

[sprint2k]

i'm just curious how important ogpa is vs sgpa (i know both are important). i have like a 3.48 oga, but my sgpa is 3.57 or so. i'd say my ogpa is slightly below average while my sgpa is slightly above. do schools put an emphasis more on sgpa? (hopefully)

also i read that an A+ counts as a 4.33 for dental applications. is that true?

 

[dentalWorks]

one of my professors did my letter in one day!!! what an amazing guy (he was my research professor and lecturer for 3 classes).

he already wants me to give him the address to send the info

"> Where do you want your letter sent? Do you have a file number? Let
> me know ASAP."

"Your letter is done - send me the addresses of where to send it."'

He said he doesn't want to do it through e-mail but i think i'm going to tell him about that option again. Also if he wants it done through mail, then i have to wait till june 1st in order to get all the information before he can mail it out right? such as the barcode and/or file number. it looks like he wants to send it himself (since he's such a nice guy). is there any other info i need for him to send it out?

if it's done through e-mail i can just tell him that adea will send him an e-mail regarding the login procedures to send the document through the internet right?

thanks!!!!

my other science professor hasn't responded to my letter of rec request yet. hopefully it's just cuz it's the weekends/holidays. he's not teaching any classes this quarter. how long should i wait until i send another e-mail or find a way to contact him personally? i e-mailed him on thursday

With the first professor... if he doesn't wanna email it, then you need to honor that and just print him the LOR-matching form from AADSAS (when it opens on June 1st), take the printed copy to him and have him mail both (the LOR and the matching ~ in same envelope) to the address AADSAS gives you.

With the 2nd professor, I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but I can never understand why students email professors about such sensitive requests. You need their help, and you need it ASAP, the least you can do is stop by in person, say hello, and request it.... its more polite and professional that way. Call the biology department (or whatever department he works with) and ask for his office hours, then stop by and introduce yourself.

i'm just curious how important ogpa is vs sgpa (i know both are important). i have like a 3.48 oga, but my sgpa is 3.57 or so. i'd say my ogpa is slightly below average while my sgpa is slightly above. do schools put an emphasis more on sgpa? (hopefully)

also i read that an A+ counts as a 4.33 for dental applications. is that true?

both your GPAs are fine, your worrying about nothing.

and yes, A+ = 4.33

 

[sprint2k]

yes you're right about going in person. in hindsight i should've done that for both professors. a friend from dental school told me to just e-mail and ask for the letter literally asap since i was so late in asking for a letter. however looking at it now, i wouldnt have saved that much time and especially since asking in person is worth the slight delay

 

[sprint2k]

the second professor isn't teaching anything this quarter, he doesnt have office hours. what should i do? there's a phone number on his faculty webpage, and also the room/building he works in. i could e-mail him to ask for an appointment, but i sent an e-mail asking for a letter already to which he hasn't responded.

i'm pretty sure he would write me a letter though since i spent a good amount of time after class talking with him and i got an A- in his class.