Need advice for a weird LOR situation...

[tiedyeddog]

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So, I need a second science faculty LOR. I'm now a senior but autumn of my junior year I took an organic chem class from a super hardass. I had one of the highest grades in my class but I never once talked to my professor, the class had around 350 people in it. I hardly ever went to class, either.

However, the same professor has agreed (my PI talked to him about it) to be on my senior thesis commitee. My project actually has a ton of overlap with an area he is an expert in.

Do you think I should ask him for a science LOR after he serves on my commitee and just remind him I was in his class and got a great grade in it? I'm sort of low on options at this point....

 

[bobsmith]

Could you arrange a meeting with him to talk about your thesis progress or anything? I think if you met with him a few times before you asked for the recommendation, it'd be less awkward to ask him for a strong letter of rec.

I was in a similar situation (took a class early junior year with a prof, he was on my thesis committee). I arranged a few meetings with him in the beginning of my thesis process and he actually became one of the people I would chat with about career options and random other stuff. I don't know how feasible something like this is with the amount of time you have left, but I think meeting with him would be a good place to start

 

[bravofleet4]

Well what are you really afraid of? the fact that he'll say no or that he'll write a very generic letter?

The first you shouldn't be afraid of at all b/c you lose practically nothing.

The second is what you should be afraid of and you should emphasize that you need a LOR that is glowing and emphasizes your abilities as a student and/or person. If they don't think they can do that, then don't push it. If they're willing but don't know enough about you then say you're always willing to provide them with any additional information they might want such as a bibliography, photo, transcript, or personal statement. Additionally you can just stop by and talk to him over the following months every now and then to catch up and let him know how you're doing. Since you do research in a field he is an expert in, I'm sure there's plenty of opportunities to talk.

Think hard and carefully about who you want to ask LOR's from. It's not something to take lightly. Certainly don't ask multiple people for LOR's simultaneously just to meet one LOR requirement as more than one might agree! Then you face the awkwardness or impossibility of getting the LOR you most want in the committee letter or packet from being place in.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Well that he'll write a very generic letter? QUOTE]

This.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Could you arrange a meeting with him to talk about your thesis progress or anything? I think if you met with him a few times before you asked for the recommendation, it'd be less awkward to ask him for a strong letter of rec.

I really like this idea, I think I will do this. I have a quarter before I need his actual letter so maybe I can ask if we can meet more after my commitee meeting?

Thanks for the advice.