LOR problems

[AdemTD]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am completely devastated that I am going to be able to apply to only one school this year since I don't have the required LOR. I have one science prof letter, one from my former boss, one from a physician, yet I lack the other letter that I need from science faculty. I have asked all my profs. whom i've had over the last few years and they all said no except one. I am taking some courses this year as part of a contingency plan if I didn't get in this year, so I'll definitely make "good friends" with my profs this time around so I can get some letters from them.

Why are my chances of becoming a doctor severely compromised if I didn't have really close relationships with professors? Also, does anyone know of any schools that require only one professor's letter beside Michigan State? Thanks folks!

 

[AdmiralChz]

I only had 2 letters from faculty - don't sell yourself so short!! Work REALLY hard to get to know profs this semester (i.e. go to ALL of the rest of their office hours, and get to know them!) and you should come out with something. Do you do research - that could be an academic LOR.

 

[Spiker]

Wtf dude why do all your profs hate you? I am pretty sure I can get almost all of my prof from last 2 years to write me one...Does your school not have a premed committee?

This what you need to do....sit in front of the class!

 

[AdemTD]

Wtf dude why do all your profs hate you? I am pretty sure I can get almost all of my prof from last 2 years to write me one...Does your school not have a premed committee?

This what you need to do....sit in front of the class!

I went to their office hours every week...that's why this particularly hurts, it's not like I never had any interaction with them. We had a pre-med advisor, no committees though.

 

[AdemTD]

I only had 2 letters from faculty - don't sell yourself so short!! Work REALLY hard to get to know profs this semester (i.e. go to ALL of the rest of their office hours, and get to know them!) and you should come out with something. Do you do research - that could be an academic LOR.

Well I have attempted to get into research at my school many times and they all claim that their labs were full so I could never get in. I am not in school right now and won't be taking any classes until this fall semester. I want to apply this year but it's not looking like I should even waste the money on one school that I know only wants one academic letter.

 

[Pedsbro]

Wtf dude why do all your profs hate you? I am pretty sure I can get almost all of my prof from last 2 years to write me one...Does your school not have a premed committee?

This what you need to do....sit in front of the class!

Yeah, I thought the same thing. You asked all of your science profs and only one said they would write you a LOR for med school?? Did they give you a reason?

 

[AdmiralChz]

Wtf dude why do all your profs hate you? I am pretty sure I can get almost all of my prof from last 2 years to write me one...Does your school not have a premed committee?

This what you need to do....sit in front of the class!

Seriously - you probably need to evaluate WHY they didn't write you letters. Going to a large public school with 500+ students in your class isn't much of an excuse - I had the same problem and walked away with 2 solid letters (and only asked for 2). You claim you have gotten to know them decently well through one-on-one interactions, but yet they have all (but one) denied you. This is somewhat alarming - have you been rude in some way? Do you take on the professor and question his facts during class (some of my classmates do this... horrible!!!)? You should really think about this...

 

[AdemTD]

Yeah, I thought the same thing. You asked all of your science profs and only one said they would write you a LOR for med school?? Did they give you a reason?

They all basically said that they "didn't know me well enough" and the prof that I got a letter from was one who I had for 3 upper level bio classes and I got to know him quite well. I don't know what I have to do other than go to their office hours and BS with them after class, especially in a class of 240.

 

[vickpick]

i dont see why a porf would say no... i sat in front of the class in my core bio 1 and the prof knew my name just cuz I participated.. When I needed a letter something... I asked him and he said yes w/o hesitation... at that point he only knew my name and how i was doing in class... i had never even gone to meet him in his office..

 

[chief illiniwek]

I went to their office hours every week...that's why this particularly hurts, it's not like I never had any interaction with them.

i had a similar problem with the letters. i did not plan ahead and ended up getting both of my science LORs from TAs in lower-level classes, but i still managed an accpetance...so ask a TA if you still have no luck as the semester winds down. im pretty sure i would have gotten a interviews/acceptances at more competitive schools if i had letters from actual professors, but whatever, im gonna be a doctor.

 

[AdemTD]

Seriously - you probably need to evaluate WHY they didn't write you letters. Going to a large public school with 500+ students in your class isn't much of an excuse - I had the same problem and walked away with 2 solid letters (and only asked for 2). You claim you have gotten to know them decently well through one-on-one interactions, but yet they have all (but one) denied you. This is somewhat alarming - have you been rude in some way? Do you take on the professor and question his facts during class (some of my classmates do this... horrible!!!)? You should really think about this...

I have never called a prof out, been rude in office hours, or any of that.

 

[vickpick]

btw .. adamTD... i think no school has upper level bio classes with more than 50 students.. I think anything after cell bio would never have more 100 people max!..

 

[AdemTD]

btw .. adamTD... i think no school has upper level bio classes with more than 50 students.. I think anything after cell bio would never have more 100 people max!..

that's just not true where I went to school...my bio of aging class had close to 100...that's a 500 level course, and anything in the 300s had at least 100 in each class.

 

[Ariadne]

I don't know what to say about the current cycle, but in the future try talking to the professor about the LOR ahead of time. If you only have a single class with a professor, especially if it's large, it can be helpful to approach them part way into the semester as a heads up.

Something along the lines of, 'I've really been enjoying your class and doing well, so I'd like to ask you for a LOR at the end of the semester. Can you keep a eye on me/my work so you have a good feeling one way or another when I ask?'

It's awkward but it works.

 

[austinap]

I hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure your professors just don't like you. That, or you just haven't bothered to actually get to know them as people at all. When asking for a letter from someone, there shouldn't be a doubt in your mind whether or not they'll write it for you. You should know them well enough that you're positive they know who you are, think highly of you, and know you well enough that they can write a letter that isn't completely BS. A letter that says "Amy took my class and got an 'A'" doesn't say anything they couldn't read for a transcript.

RANT:
Forgive me, but I'm going to go on a short rant here. No doubt most of you are aware of how much a lot of professors / TAs / graduate students dislike pre-medical students. There's a pretty good reason for it. I have a hunch that this may apply to your situation.

Most of you are so concerned about your grades that you don't seem to express concern about anything else. From my fairly extensive experience, most pre-med students have almost no intellectual curiosity. The average pre-med student argues over every single point they get marked off on. They somehow don't realize that if they had bothered to actually understand the material in more than a superficial manner they wouldn't have lost the points to begin with. More often than not, students earn the grades they get.

The somewhat more outgoing pre-meds sit in the front of class and ask questions often because they think it is going to get them noticed. I'm not talking about the students that ask insightful questions, but the ones that just feel they need to say something every 10 minutes lest they go unnoticed by the professor. I'll save you the suspense: the professor notices you. In a bad way. If you ask him for a letter, he may give it to you, but it probably isn't the kind of letter you really want.

Before everyone jumps on me, I'll say that this doesn't apply to all pre-med students. I've taught some incredibly gifted students that would be excellent scientists, but they wanted to go into medicine. I completely respect that. I also understand why pre-health students are so concerned about grades. I blame the system, but that doesn't mean that you need to be an asshat to get good grades. Show some curiosity and a bit of intellect and the grades will come by themselves.

Look, if you treat your professors as a means to an end, even if it's true, they'll notice. We want you to show real interest in the class that we're teaching, otherwise don't take the class. Certainly don't come and ask us for a LOR. Best case we'll say 'no', worst case you'll get a bad one. /RANT

Ok, I feel better now.

 

[AdmiralChz]

I hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure your professors just don't like you. That, or you just haven't bothered to actually get to know them as people at all. When asking for a letter from someone, there shouldn't be a doubt in your mind whether or not they'll write it for you. You should know them well enough that you're positive they know who you are, think highly of you, and know you well enough that they can write a letter that isn't completely BS. A letter that says "Amy took my class and got an 'A'" doesn't say anything they couldn't read for a transcript.




Ok, I feel better now.

Wow! Harsh, but it sums up my feelings as well.

 

[BlueElmo]

If what you are saying is true, Adem, then I think there's something wrong with your professors, not you.

Could you get a TA to write it and have a professor co-sign it? I'm sure even your douchebag professors won't refuse you that.

 

[AdemTD]

I hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure your professors just don't like you. That, or you just haven't bothered to actually get to know them as people at all. When asking for a letter from someone, there shouldn't be a doubt in your mind whether or not they'll write it for you. You should know them well enough that you're positive they know who you are, think highly of you, and know you well enough that they can write a letter that isn't completely BS. A letter that says "Amy took my class and got an 'A'" doesn't say anything they couldn't read for a transcript.

No intellectual curiosity? I have tried like hell to get into a professors lab since declaring a bio major and I have never argued over points in a course.

 

[AdmiralChz]

No intellectual curiosity? I have tried like hell to get into a professors lab since declaring a bio major and I have never argued over points in a course.

You seem to go to a very large school. That already makes it pretty tough to get in a lab, and coupled with large slashes in grant money for research projects, people just aren't taking as much lab help as they have before. Just kinda a fact of life.

 

[scarletgirl777]

No intellectual curiosity? I have tried like hell to get into a professors lab since declaring a bio major and I have never argued over points in a course.

The TA tip is a good one. Ask TAs who know you (as in you actually showed up to the small groups) to write letters and have the professor cosign. Premeds do this successfully all the time and then it still counts as a faculty letter.

 

[AdemTD]

The TA tip is a good one. Ask TAs who know you (as in you actually showed up to the small groups) to write letters and have the professor cosign. Premeds do this successfully all the time and then it still counts as a faculty letter.

Ok thank you 🙂

 

[BlueElmo]

The TA tip is a good one. Ask TAs who know you (as in you actually showed up to the small groups) to write letters and have the professor cosign. Premeds do this successfully all the time and then it still counts as a faculty letter.

Yup.

 

[austinap]

No intellectual curiosity? I have tried like hell to get into a professors lab since declaring a bio major and I have never argued over points in a course.

Fair enough, but getting into a research lab is a different matter altogether. Depending on where you're at, it can be insanely hard. In general, undergrads are actually quite expensive for a lab. Crazy, I know. However, since you don't know what you're doing yet, you're inefficient. It doesn't matter for your time because you probably wouldn't be getting paid anyhow, but supplies are insanely expensive. In addition, you take grad students' and post-docs' time to train you. That takes time away from their research, and lowers publication rates.

Add that to the reality that you probably wouldn't be contributing much to an established lab intellectually, and it stops making sense to let undergrads join your lab.



I'm glad to hear that you haven't been arguing for grades. Something else has to be going on though. The excuse, as someone else put it, that your professors must all be douchebags isn't valid. That might work for one or two, but you should have had plenty opportunities by now. Something smells off to me if you can only find one prof you've crossed paths with in your undergrad career that is willing to write you a letter.

 

[AdemTD]

Fair enough, but getting into a research lab is a different matter altogether. Depending on where you're at, it can be insanely hard. In general, undergrads are actually quite expensive for a lab. Crazy, I know. However, since you don't know what you're doing yet, you're inefficient. It doesn't matter for your time because you probably wouldn't be getting paid anyhow, but supplies are insanely expensive. In addition, you take grad students' and post-docs' time to train you. That takes time away from their research, and lowers publication rates.

Add that to the reality that you probably wouldn't be contributing much to an established lab intellectually, and it stops making sense to let undergrads join your lab.

I'm glad to hear that you haven't been arguing for grades. Something else has to be going on though. The excuse, as someone else put it, that your professors must all be douchebags isn't valid. That might work for one or two, but you should have had plenty opportunities by now. Something smells off to me if you can only find one prof you've crossed paths with in your undergrad career that is willing to write you a letter.

I've had fine relationships with my profs...the last prof. that emailed me said he only writes letters for people who work in his lab or who has had him for multiple classes. Also, your argument about undergrads not being smart enough to contribute to a lab is ridiculous as many professors at this school had many undergrads working for them, they just had too many all the time and I could never get in.

 

[Ariadne]

I've had fine relationships with my profs...the last prof. that emailed me said he only writes letters for people who work in his lab or who has had him for multiple classes.

Honestly, this sounds like a polite brush off. Perhaps your relationships aren't what you perceive? Most professors I know, if they don't know a student well, will at least agree to write a letter with the understanding that it will be the general "Amy was in my class..."

I don't mean to criticize, but considering the situation you're in, you should probably take a good hard look at yourself and identify where the problem is...

EDIT: After reading your post, I'm wondering, did you ask all your professors over e-mail? That seems very impersonal to me. Are you sure they were able to connect a name with a face, etc.?

 

[AdemTD]

Honestly, this sounds like a polite brush off. Perhaps your relationships aren't what you perceive? Most professors I know, if they don't know a student well, will at least agree to write a letter with the understanding that it will be the general "Amy was in my class..."

I don't mean to criticize, but considering the situation you're in, you should probably take a good hard look at yourself and identify where the problem is...

What do you mean?

 

[austinap]

I've had fine relationships with my profs...the last prof. that emailed me said he only writes letters for people who work in his lab or who has had him for multiple classes. Also, your argument about undergrads not being smart enough to contribute to a lab is ridiculous as many professors at this school had many undergrads working for them, they just had too many all the time and I could never get in.

I didn't say anything at all about "undergrads not being smart enough". I said that they have no experience and they're expensive to train. In short, most undergrads are not cost effective. Often times, undergraduates end up costing as much per annum than post-docs, which in biology and chemistry typically make $40k/yr.

If undergrads join early enough that they can be in the lab for 2-3 years, they can end up being a nice addition. Some of the undergrads in my lab are brilliant. However, it's a pretty big gamble taking them that early, and it doesn't make financial sense taking them late.

Most PIs at big research institutions take undergrads because they feel it's part of their duty, or because they really do like teaching and like playing the role of mentor. However, when funding gets tight, it usually doesn't make sense to take on student researchers.

 

[AdemTD]

EDIT: After reading your post, I'm wondering, did you ask all your professors over e-mail? That seems very impersonal to me. Are you sure they were able to connect a name with a face, etc.?

I did email them, however, I asked if I could meet with them in person to discuss the possibility of having them write me a letter while offering to give them copies of my CV, Personal Statement, and whatever else they feel they could use. Also, their offices are not accessible to students who have graduated so I couldn't have possibly just popped into their office for an initial contact.

 

[austinap]

What do you mean?

She's saying that you're likely the problem, not your professors. Let's see... in a typical undergrad career, by your junior year you've probably taken at least 24 courses. Even if you get every professors twice, that still means you've had at least 12 professors. Only one of them was willing to write you a letter. Why?

 

[Ariadne]

What do you mean?

Perhaps they had some reservations about writing a letter for you specifically.

I feel very uncomfortable saying this, as I'm just a person on the internet who has no idea about your life and relationships. Perhaps you just go to a really big school where the profs are picky about writing letters. Or, perhaps you've come off negatively in some way. It's up to you to identify which it is and take steps toward fixing it in the future.

As other posters have mentioned, it is a bit odd that you got multiple negative responses to letter requests, which is why I said something. But there are so many reasons why and without understanding the circumstances, it is hard to advise you...

After rereading your posts, a couple of questions:

Did you ask professors from courses you've had recently? Or, did you ask professors you had in your first or second year? If so, have you kept in touch with those professors?

It sounds like you are out of school right now, how long have you been out?

 

[austinap]

I did email them, however, I asked if I could meet with them in person to discuss the possibility of having them write me a letter while offering to give them copies of my CV, Personal Statement, and whatever else they feel they could use. Also, their offices are not accessible to students who have graduated so I couldn't have possibly just popped into their office for an initial contact.

How are they not accessible? I'm honestly curious. I've never seen this.

As an undergrad I knew my professors quite well and could always find them in person. It wasn't a big research school, so most of them were around most of the time. In that case, I would never ask by email.

Having experienced larger research institutions, I understand that asking in person isn't always an option. I think high power academics know that they're hard to find in person, and don't think negatively about being asked for a letter over email, etc.

 

[AdemTD]

She's saying that you're likely the problem, not your professors. Let's see... in a typical undergrad career, by your junior year you've probably taken at least 24 courses. Even if you get every professors twice, that still means you've had at least 12 professors. Only one of them was willing to write you a letter. Why?

I think you've misunderstood. I didn't ask every professor I've ever had in class. I've asked only my BIO profs who I felt knew me reasonably well to write me a letter for medical school, this totals 5 individuals, of which one is willing to write me a letter, and the rest just don't want to do it.

 

[AdemTD]

How are they not accessible? I'm honestly curious. I've never seen this.

As an undergrad I knew my professors quite well and could always find them in person. It wasn't a big research school, so most of them were around most of the time. In that case, I would never ask by email.

Having experienced larger research institutions, I understand that asking in person isn't always an option. I think high power academics know that they're hard to find in person, and don't think negatively about being asked for a letter over email, etc.

well, the bio and chem. research building is locked 24/7 unless you have access to it.

 

[austinap]

I think you've misunderstood. I didn't ask every professor I've ever had in class. I've asked only my BIO profs who I felt knew me reasonably well to write me a letter for medical school, this totals 5 individuals, of which one is willing to write me a letter, and the rest just don't want to do it.

20% is still a pretty low success rate. I'm not convinced that they "just don't want to do it". How long have you been out? How large were the classes you took from them? Did you do well in the classes relative to the other students? Did you have any conflict with the department that they may have taken offense to?

 

[AdemTD]

20% is still a pretty low success rate. I'm not convinced that they "just don't want to do it". How long have you been out? How large were the classes you took from them? Did you do well in the classes relative to the other students? Did you have any conflict with the department that they may have taken offense to?

I've been out a year, some of the profs I did have more than a year before graduation, and the prof that agreed to do it is one who I had all my upper level courses with. I guess I did only have one other prof my senior year who I asked for a letter. But, when I was in their classes, I never had any arguments or negative encounters to make them think I'm a jerk.

 

[scarletgirl777]

OP, did you ask math professors as well? And you're confident you asked EVERY SINGLE BCPM teacher you ever had?

Also, perhaps timing could be an issue? I think it's good to give them about 3 months or so to work on it.

 

[AdemTD]

I think all this speculation about whether or not the OP is deficient would be helpful if the OP were still in school. Since the OP is no longer in school (and I assume is not taking any classes in the foreseeable future?), trying to figure out why he failed to get more eager professors seems besides the point...

I am taking more courses this Fall no matter what since my odds of getting in to my only option for medical school at this point are probably not that high, but who knows...it is my first choice for a school and I am an excellent fit for their program. And no scarletgirl777, I only asked my BIO profs since they were the ones with whom I actually spoke out of class.

 

[scarletgirl777]

I am taking more courses this Fall no matter what assuming that I don't get into my only option for medical school as of right now...😕

Yeah I erased my post because I saw that.

 

[austinap]

OP, did you ask math professors as well? And you're confident you asked EVERY SINGLE BCPM teacher you ever had?

Also, perhaps timing could be an issue? I think it's good to give them about 3 months or so to work on it.

See... this is the kind of mentality that drives professors / TAs / grad students crazy about premeds. I would be surprised if anybody knew every single one of their science professors well enough to be able to legitimately ask for a letter.

Another question: why are you focusing on science professors? Your scientific merits will be judged primarily on your GPA and MCAT scores, a letter shows qualities beyond that. If you know an English / History / Any other professor well enough to ask them, go for it. They can likely say as much about your intellectual ability, how you handle group situations, etc... as any science professor does.

 

[Ariadne]

I've been out a year, some of the profs I did have more than a year before graduation, and the prof that agreed to do it is one who I had all my upper level courses with. I guess I did only have one other prof my senior year who I asked for a letter. But, when I was in their classes, I never had any arguments or negative encounters to make them think I'm a jerk.

It sounds like a timing/proximity issue. If you didn't know the professors outside of one class, didn't keep it touch, and it's been two years or more since they had you, I can see them saying no based on not remembering enough about you (especially if they're the 'not-very-helpful-to-UGs' type of profs).

I'm sorry OP, this sucks for you. 🙁

I think you'll have much better luck asking your professors this fall. I'm not sure what to say about this cycle. You could try contacting schools and seeing if they would allow you to substitute an employment or volunteer letter, but I dunno...

 

[AdemTD]

See... this is the kind of mentality that drives professors / TAs / grad students crazy about premeds. I would be surprised if anybody knew every single one of their science professors well enough to be able to legitimately ask for a letter.

Another question: why are you focusing on science professors? Your scientific merits will be judged primarily on your GPA and MCAT scores, a letter shows qualities beyond that. If you know an English / History / Any other professor well enough to ask them, go for it. They can likely say as much about your intellectual ability, how you handle group situations, etc... as any science professor does.

Why focus on science professors? Because that's the requirements of the schools to which I am planning on applying!

 

[Ariadne]

See... this is the kind of mentality that drives professors / TAs / grad students crazy about premeds. I would be surprised if anybody knew every single one of their science professors well enough to be able to legitimately ask for a letter.

You know, we don't all suck, and this doesn't really help the OP. Maybe you could give it a rest.

 

[austinap]

Why focus on science professors? Because that's the requirements of the schools to which I am planning on applying!

Sorry, I missed the specification in the initial post about it having to be a science prof. I thought I remembered most schools only requiring the letters to be from professors.

This may or may not be feasible, but is there any chance that you'd be able to TA for a professor for a semester? It's a good experience, and any prof that you'd TA far, assuming you don't botch their class, would certainly write you a LOR.

 

[austinap]

You know, we don't all suck, and this doesn't really help the OP. Maybe you could give it a rest.

No, you don't all suck. However, asking every science professor you've ever had for a letter is a terrible idea.

 

[Bacchus]

No, you don't all suck. However, asking every science professor you've ever had for a letter is a terrible idea.

A lot of schools require 2 science letters and 1 nonscience letter. If you don't have these letters you're usually SOL. If you must ask every science professor you've had to secure two letters I don't see the problem in it. I do see other bases for problems, however. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[austinap]

A lot of schools require 2 science letters and 1 nonscience letter. If you don't have these letters you're usually SOL. If you must ask every science professor you've had to secure two letters I don't see the problem in it. I do see other bases for problems, however. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Ok, nevermind the fact that if you have to ask every prof you've ever had for a letter, there's almost no chance that the letters you'd get would be anything above mundane. There's still the issue that you went through an entire undergraduate career without getting to know even two of your professors well enough that they'd consider writing a letter for you.

You study for four years to become something of an expert in your field, yet you can't take the time to get to know your mentors well enough that they jump at the chance to help you out? I know this sentiment makes me unpopular here and I know I come off as a bit of an ******* to premeds, but this is why academics in general do not like premeds. They come off as people that use people to get where they want to go, which displays the exact qualities that we think are unbecoming to a physician.

The only time I can see this being a reasonable problem for someone to have is when you majored in a non-science and your only science professors are for your premed classes. In that case, yeah, life sucks.

 

[murdoc9]

there's no need to add insult to injury. it's harder for some people to get recommendations than others- i can attest to this, as i have/have had some very large upper level science classes.

OP, like other ppl have said, do what you have to do if you're stretched thin.

 

[WaterBird]

well, the bio and chem. research building is locked 24/7 unless you have access to it.

I think you need to find a way to talk to them in person, particularly if there is anyone else you can think of who might be a possibility. One of my LOR came from an older prof who said at first "i get asked this so much that i only write them for my advisees now" and I said "sure, i understand" and then we chatted for a while longer and then she said "i think i'll make an exception for you, you brought X to that class." Over email, there is no way she would have said yes.
You don't have any friends who could give you access to the building? Or a way to get a visitors pass? Or a way to contact a secretary to set up a meeting with a prof?

Anyway, I think you need to keep trying if you're going to bother applying at all this year. You don't want ALL of your letters to be from people who don't know you super well, but I suspect that many students have two great letters and one "Amy was a good student who got an A in my class" letter.

Remember, since most schools require 2 science profs and 2 non-science prof, even schools that don't have this requirement will be used to seeing it, and will probably notice that you don't have it.

 

[scarletgirl777]

Ok, nevermind the fact that if you have to ask every prof you've ever had for a letter, there's almost no chance that the letters you'd get would be anything above mundane. There's still the issue that you went through an entire undergraduate career without getting to know even two of your professors well enough that they'd consider writing a letter for you.

You study for four years to become something of an expert in your field, yet you can't take the time to get to know your mentors well enough that they jump at the chance to help you out? I know this sentiment makes me unpopular here and I know I come off as a bit of an ******* to premeds, but this is why academics in general do not like premeds. They come off as people that use people to get where they want to go, which displays the exact qualities that we think are unbecoming to a physician.

The only time I can see this being a reasonable problem for someone to have is when you majored in a non-science and your only science professors are for your premed classes. In that case, yeah, life sucks.

Let's not be harsh. The OP did get a letter from the prof who taught her upper divs. But let's face it, as for intro courses, there are lots of profs who teach those who hate doing it and only do it because they got the short end of the stick. And even if they do actually like teaching, those classes are HUGE. It is very possible for a non-sociopath to end up in the OP's situation. Probable? Maybe not. But someone is going to be the statistical improbability.

 

[AdemTD]

I think you need to find a way to talk to them in person, particularly if there is anyone else you can think of who might be a possibility. One of my LOR came from an older prof who said at first "i get asked this so much that i only write them for my advisees now" and I said "sure, i understand" and then we chatted for a while longer and then she said "i think i'll make an exception for you, you brought X to that class." Over email, there is no way she would have said yes.
You don't have any friends who could give you access to the building? Or a way to get a visitors pass? Or a way to contact a secretary to set up a meeting with a prof?

Anyway, I think you need to keep trying if you're going to bother applying at all this year. You don't want ALL of your letters to be from people who don't know you super well, but I suspect that many students have two great letters and one "Amy was a good student who got an A in my class" letter.

Remember, since most schools require 2 science profs and 2 non-science prof, even schools that don't have this requirement will be used to seeing it, and will probably notice that you don't have it.

A couple things, I requested a meeting with these profs to discuss letters of rec. and all my letters will be from people who I know well including the prof that has already committed to writing me a letter. So the only part of this involving email communication is the initial contact with them. The only problem I have as far as LOR go is getting the other science professor. And finally, the schools to which I am applying do not require non-science profs, so I don't need to worry about those. I have plenty of other people who are willing to write me non-academic letters.