Need advice about LOR!

[evusq]

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Hello everyone,
I'm still working on my SOPs and SOPHAS application. I realized I'm kinda late on the timeline and don't have too much time. But I have a problem getting my LORs and wanted to ask for advice.

I got one letter from my undergraduate prof (non-science) and one from study coordinator that I worked with as a research assistant. I was hoping to get the last one from my ochem prof, but he's not responding!🙁 Since I don't have too much time, I have to look for another option. I can either ask gchem lab or physics prof, who probably won't remember me since the classes are so big, or I can also ask a doctor who hired me some years ago and knows me pretty well. I read somewhere that two letters should be academic... but I'm not sure which would be better. Can anyone give me a (quick) advice? Thanks!!

 

[Veggie Monster]

dang, tough situation since you need at least 2 LOR from profs.
hmm, if i were you i would ask your gchem or physics profs.

however, i'm curious as to why you didn't establish a good relationship with your professors during and after a class. are you graduating this year?

 

[ms newyear]

Hello everyone,
I'm still working on my SOPs and SOPHAS application. I realized I'm kinda late on the timeline and don't have too much time. But I have a problem getting my LORs and wanted to ask for advice.

I got one letter from my undergraduate prof (non-science) and one from study coordinator that I worked with as a research assistant. I was hoping to get the last one from my ochem prof, but he's not responding!🙁 Since I don't have too much time, I have to look for another option. I can either ask gchem lab or physics prof, who probably won't remember me since the classes are so big, or I can also ask a doctor who hired me some years ago and knows me pretty well. I read somewhere that two letters should be academic... but I'm not sure which would be better. Can anyone give me a (quick) advice? Thanks!!

I was in your position when I applied last year. I had all my LOR writers but unfortunately one of my writers was being very unresponsive. I had to find a new writer fast so I contacted a professor I did not know well, but I asked him in person and brought all my materials (resume, transcript, SOP) to show him. I made sure that he got to know me in that meeting and I think it worked!

Some professor just don't like to write letters for whatever wack reason...you need to find another writer ASAP.

A professor once told me that if schools want two letters of rec from academic sources, you have to do it. I don't really believe that's true so if I were in your position I would call the schools I am applying to and find out.

Good luck!

 

[evusq]

thanks everyone. the prof actually even wrote me a letter in the past, i guess he's just way too busy now or something.

my actual question tho, was whether public health schools prefer that two letters come from academic/professors? i checked school websites but they just say three letters, and i was wondering if anybody had any idea on whether they would prefer two academic or if it would matter at all. i would definitely follow their directions but they aren't very clear as to what they want... and neither is sophas.

thanks!

 

[Veggie Monster]

thanks everyone. the prof actually even wrote me a letter in the past, i guess he's just way too busy now or something.

my actual question tho, was whether public health schools prefer that two letters come from academic/professors? i checked school websites but they just say three letters, and i was wondering if anybody had any idea on whether they would prefer two academic or if it would matter at all. i would definitely follow their directions but they aren't very clear as to what they want... and neither is sophas.

thanks!

Personally, I was about to do 1 prof and 2 work when I read that a school vaguely stated that it wants 3 LOR but I ended up with a 2nd prof only because I realized that the 2nd prof knew me better than the 2nd work person.

 

[OneDay81]

I can't really offer any advice since I am in a similar situation. I graduated college in 2008 so academic letters are pretty much impossible for me. Luckily, most of my schools don't specify a certain number of academic references, so I think I might be able to pull something off (I do have one academic and one work so far). Good luck, though!

 

[OneDay81]

however, i'm curious as to why you didn't establish a good relationship with your professors during and after a class. are you graduating this year?

Establishing relationships with professors isn't always that easy, especially at a big university. When I was at Purdue, you were simply another face in a veeeerrry large crowd. Sure, you could stop by and ask questions about the material, but that doesn't mean the prof is going to remember you considering how many students he or she has.

 

[Stories]

Show up in person to his/her office. More often than not, your email probably just got lost in the shuffle. Most professors get a ton of email a day. This is what I've always done with all my professors at every level.

 

[JMM051]

If you are straight from undergrad they are going to expect at least two. That is not to say they are going to throw out your app if you don't have it. The longer you have been out of school, the less important it is to have those two academic references. I was out of school for a few years and only had one academic rec (and there was no possibility of getting a second). I got in to a number of good programs and had no issues.