LOR from professor

[sunnex3]

---

Members don't see this ad.

i'm looking to get a LOR from my gen chem II professor from the spring 2009 semester. i went to his office hours all the time, pretty much every week and then some, and he knew me by name out of a 200 people class. i think that i showed him that i am a hard worker in his class and would like to ask him for a LOR.

what is the best way to go about asking for a LOR from a professor who taught a class that i took in the past? also, i should note that i will not be applying until NEXT summer at the earliest. i really enjoyed this professor and his teaching so i figured i should ask him. should i email him? see him in person? i'm hoping he still remembers me from last semester.

thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[david594]

Definitely in person.

 

[psjlg2]

I would definitely NOT e-mail him. Write a letter and put the details in it, I can even send you the one I gave to my professor if you need an example of a request for recommendation letter.
Go and ask him, if he says yes, hand him the letter with the details with the deadline and a bit about you he would not have known like your hobbies and your goals. Then make sure to follow up with some sort of thank-you later on, you don't have to get a gift but a nice card with a thank you is always appreciated.

 

[sunnex3]

I would definitely NOT e-mail him. Write a letter and put the details in it, I can even send you the one I gave to my professor if you need an example of a request for recommendation letter.
Go and ask him, if he says yes, hand him the letter with the details with the deadline and a bit about you he would not have known like your hobbies and your goals. Then make sure to follow up with some sort of thank-you later on, you don't have to get a gift but a nice card with a thank you is always appreciated.

it would be great if you could give me an example of the letter you wrote.

do i just drop by his office and ask him? or do i email him first to ask him when he's available? i just feel like dropping in and just surprising him with the idea might be a little sudden.

also, since it's not due until next summer at the earliest, do i just ask him to write it and keep it in his records?

thanks!

 

[psjlg2]

I would then go to his office with or without an appointment (depending on how busy he is) and ask if he has a minute or two to talk. Then go for the proverbial jugular and say "I'm applying to veterinary school and need a LOR, would you be willing to write me one?".

When I asked my professor, I just went to his office, said "Do you have a minute" and he said "Yeah sure" and then I said "I'm applying to vet school, would you be willing to write me a letter of recommendation", and he said "Of course"

The University I go to (in Alaska) is not a suit and tie type of place, most of our professors wear hiking boots and some sort of flannel and in some cases hats with fishing-lures hanging off of them 😉. My OChem instructor wears band tee's to lecture sometimes, so we aren't by any means uber professional. He is laid-back so that is how I approached him.

If your teacher wears a suit and tie and seems to be a bit more formal, I would send an e-mail, make an appointment, and then go ask politely for a LOR. Simple as that.

 

[sunnex3]

I would then go to his office with or without an appointment (depending on how busy he is) and ask if he has a minute or two to talk. Then go for the proverbial jugular and say "I'm applying to veterinary school and need a LOR, would you be willing to write me one?".

When I asked my professor, I just went to his office, said "Do you have a minute" and he said "Yeah sure" and then I said "I'm applying to vet school, would you be willing to write me a letter of recommendation", and he said "Of course"

The University I go to (in Alaska) is not a suit and tie type of place, most of our professors wear hiking boots and some sort of flannel and in some cases hats with fishing-lures hanging off of them 😉. My OChem instructor wears band tee's to lecture sometimes, so we aren't by any means uber professional. He is laid-back so that is how I approached him.

If your teacher wears a suit and tie and seems to be a bit more formal, I would send an e-mail, make an appointment, and then go ask politely for a LOR. Simple as that.

well you make it sound so simple 😉

he's a pretty big guy in the chem department so i'll probably have to ask him for an appointment. thanks for sending me that letter by the way, very helpful!

do i just ask him to save the LOR until i need him to turn it in?

thanks

 

[psjlg2]

I would just explain that it really isn't due for another year, and if he wants to hang on to it or give you a copy it doesn't matter. I would just have him write it and then when it comes time to apply just go see him again and have him fill out the VMCAS eLOR thing-a-majig and copy/paste the letter he writes into it. He also might ask you to come bug him later about it if he doesn't want to write it so far in advance. You never know.
Plant the seed and a LOR will grow!