LOR, how to make relationships

[sc4s2cg]

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What is "close enough" relationship wise to ask for a LOR from a Professor?

1. Would it be good to ask a favorite Bio proff, if I came to ask her questions after each exam and emailed her...3 years ago?
2. Or the Nursing professor who got me through two Nursing classes, but doesn't know I dropped the major?
3. How do you get close to Professors who you like, but don't have any questions on the material? My Cell Bio Professor is really sweet, but I'm not sure I will have questions to ask/the time to ask for this class.

I am taking the MCAT in June-Julyish, applying next year when I graduate, so I'm just trying to get ready.

 

[Potatoman1800]

For the first one: Why not? I emailed a prof I had in freshman year while I was a junior. Maybe she'll remember your face. Just email her and set up an appt to meet up during her office hours.

Second: Try to get the rest of the necessary science/non-science letters first before this one. It could add an interesting twist to your app unless you don't want to keep explaining your desires to enter nursing before changing to medicine.

Third question: Try to figure out some good questions. Ask about her research. Try to be a person to her instead of just a LOR-grubbing pre-med.

If all of these fail, go for your other profs you currently have or had recently and hope for the best.

Good luck in this heinous process.

 

[NickNaylor]

In my experience, most professors know this game and understand that, in many cases, it's impractical to get to meaningfully know the professor. That said, do your best to make yourself known, whether that be by going to office hours, talking with the professor after class, etc.. In some cases, this might require making up questions just to get the face time.

1) If they can remember you and write something helpful about you, yes, I would ask. That said, I would say a more recent professor would be preferred.

2) Dropping a major shouldn't really matter. However, you would want to make sure you were clear with her about your career goals because you wouldn't want her mentioning how qualified you would be to go into... nursing.

3) See above.

 

[h9i9j9]

I slightly disagree with the two posts above. (and I admit...these two poster have had far more experience on SDN than I've had, so do take my opinion with a grain of salt).

When someone's writing a reference letter, they are using their time and energy to help you succeed. Thus, it makes sense to ask someone who know your really well and is very connected to you (ie. wants you to succeed.)
The three people you've discussed (a least from what you've said) seem rather distant. Put you're self in their shoes, would someone who's lets say a bio prof take a long time to write and correct a reference letter for you when they vaguely remember you asking some questions a couple of years earlier? They have their own research, their lecture, their life...etc....

Furthermore, what would they write about? ("so and so is a person from my class. he/she has asked great questions constantly....") This reference letter would only not help you in applying for med school but also harm you!

Not to sound dissuading, but if you have not either had really significant talks with you're prof or has done a summer of research for them, its probably better to get your LOR elsewhere (volunteering maybe?).

 

[Malice]

Crap. I thought this would be about getting LORs from people you've had "relationships" with.

On Topic: If you've talked to them a couple times outside of class, you're probably fine.

 

[Narmerguy]

Do people really not talk to their professors that much? They're usually very interesting people to get to know really and it's fun to be able to have a rapport with them outside of class.

 

[gettheleadout]

Do people really not talk to their professors that much? They're usually very interesting people to get to know really and it's fun to be able to have a rapport with them outside of class.

I think a lot of freshmen are intimidated by huge class sizes, and figure (sometimes correctly) attempts to establish normal ties with a professor because they don't have the time/have another 100 students trying to do the same.

 

[Geneticist]

Just keep in mind that you don't need to be best buds with a professor to have them write you a recommendation. You just have to know that they like you and have seen that you're capable of working hard and getting work done for them.