no one to write me letter of recommendation...am i screwed?

[wattupdoc]

So I've been trying to ask different professors I've had and done well in the class for letters of recommendation. I've asked three so far via email and its been over a week and none of them have responded...so I take it as a no. So now I have no idea what to do and who to ask because I didn't really get to know any of my science professors.

I'm going to ask one of my professors this semester who I am making sure I get to know, but none of my other professors are the "letter type", as in they don't give a **** about the course, just there for a paycheck kind.

Is it too late to get to know two professors next semester and ask for letters at the beginning of May if I am applying in that cycle? Will I have to apply late?

And how can I get professors to be more receptive to writing me a good letter?

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[kyamh]

Thing one: it is part of the professor's job to write recommendations. Your job is to find people who will write good letters.

Your main mistake is asking over email. The better way to go about this is to request a meeting and ask the professor in person whether they think they will be able to write you a good letter of recommendation.

Do they have office hours? Go visit to "follow up" on your email. Don't take the silence as a rejection, they are probably busy/forgot/never really read the email. For something as important as a LOR you should take the time to ask properly.

 

[TheBossDoctor]

Ask them in person. E-mails make you look lazy. Also, its very easy for them to miss an e-mail.

Most likely, some of the professors will say yes and make you set up a meeting/interview with them before writing the letter so that they can get to know you and your goals. Will the letter suck? Probably. But you have to have letters to apply, so you might as well just take what you can get. Make up for it by getting good letters from supervisors for research/other activities.

 

[Birdie89]

So I've been trying to ask different professors I've had and done well in the class for letters of recommendation. I've asked three so far via email and its been over a week and none of them have responded...so I take it as a no. So now I have no idea what to do and who to ask because I didn't really get to know any of my science professors.

I'm going to ask one of my professors this semester who I am making sure I get to know, but none of my other professors are the "letter type", as in they don't give a **** about the course, just there for a paycheck kind.

Is it too late to get to know two professors next semester and ask for letters at the beginning of May if I am applying in that cycle? Will I have to apply late?

And how can I get professors to be more receptive to writing me a good letter?

I think part of the problem is you haven't asked them for letters in person. I would go to their office and ask them. I also don't think it would hurt to get to know some other professors, whether that be this semester or next semester. It wouldn't be too late to ask a professor you have next semester in about April for a letter, giving you plenty of time to make sure they know who you are and can write a decent LOR.
Just remember that professors love to be honest. Make sure whoever you ask will have positive things to say, and if you ask professors that you just did well in their course and they do not know who you are, they may just comment on your grades and can write a rather cold and weak letter. You can completely fill out AMCAS and await verification without your letters, so as long as they are submitted sometime next summer, you will be fine.

 

[Doctor Strange]

NEVER ask for something as important as a letter of recommendation over e-mail. Always do it in person. You should plan to come prepared and give the professor a folder with your personal statement, transcript, and resume if they choose to write you a letter. Let them know when you'd like it by (common courtesy is 4-6 weeks), and don't forget to write a thank you note to them afterwards.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

NEVER ask for something as important as a letter of recommendation over e-mail. Always do it in person. You should plan to come prepared and give the professor a folder with your personal statement, transcript, and resume if they choose to write you a letter. Let them know when you'd like it by (common courtesy is 4-6 weeks), and don't forget to write a thank you note to them afterwards.

This is only true if you're still on or near campus. If you're currently far away from campus and won't be coming back anytime soon (eg: you're an alumni who has since moved to another city or state), an email is completely reasonable. That was my situation and I had no problem getting seven LOR writers, five of which I asked through email.

 

[wattupdoc]

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

I'm going to "follow-up" on my email to one of the professors. I emailed them yesterday so I'll give them tomorrow to respond to the email, if not, I'll stop by there office Thursday.

At this point, I just want A letter that doesnt say anything bad about me. I'm getting desperate lol.

 

[pietachok]

So I've been trying to ask different professors I've had and done well in the class for letters of recommendation. I've asked three so far via email and its been over a week and none of them have responded...so I take it as a no. So now I have no idea what to do and who to ask because I didn't really get to know any of my science professors.

And how can I get professors to be more receptive to writing me a good letter?

1) If it has only been a week, they may just not have an opportunity to decide or even read your email yet. For some, this was just a 3 day weekend. On top of that professors are busy.

2) Do they know you by name? They may need to take time to review your performance in the course before they offer to write you a LOR, and this may also contribute to the delay in response to you. Face to face requests can be helpful b/c they can jog the professor's memory when a name does not.

At some big schools, science classes are huge and you may not have the opportunity to have a small, intimate science class, especially if you didn't do more than the pre-reqs. If this is your case, professors will probably be used to writing LORs for students they couldn't pick out of a line up. The LOR will be very matter-of-fact and impersonal . . . but sufficient as long as you have other LORs that are from people who know you well. If that's the kind of LOR you'll need to settle for, you should also offer a portfolio of any impressive work you did in that class so they can make specific references to your work rather than just generalizations about the criteria for earning the grade you got. If you are not from one of the huge state schools where this class size and restriction issue happens, it is even less favorable to have one of these impersonal letters.

3) Did you use your professional email address (.edu account) or otherwise an account via which you had previously communicated with them? And had you done well in the course?

4) Professors typically politely decline rather than just give the silent treatment with regards to LOR requests. However, if you're at a school where there are some seemingly disinterested instructors, maybe they're also unprofessional in this way. Writing LORs and turning away requests you cannot support is part of the job description of a professor.

5) What else did you give them? Did you just send an email asking for a LOR? That's not proper LOR request etiquette. You should provide them with a packet, which may include some combo of the following (necessary items bolded): CV (you can put a professional picture of yourself on your CV if you think it will help jog their memory), Personal Statement (if not written, you can write directly to them about why you want to go into medicine), transcripts or written evaluations (at least for related coursework), waiver of right to read the LOR (at least just in writing if not giving the official form until after they say "ok"), submission of any impressive coursework you would like to remind them of (research paper, A+ exam, etc.), MCAT score if available.

With regards to getting a LOR from a future professor:
Pay attention, ask questions, go to office hours, be engaged, do well in the course. You can let them know ahead of time that you are hoping to perform well enough for a LOR and ask what they expect/require.

 

[Doctor Strange]

This is only true if you're still on or near campus. If you're currently far away from campus and won't be coming back anytime soon (eg: you're an alumni who has since moved to another city or state), an email is completely reasonable. That was my situation and I had no problem getting seven LOR writers, five of which I asked through email.

Okay, obviously if there are extenuating circumstances... Still, a phone call would perhaps be more appropriate in that situation. But that's beside the point, since OP is still in college.

 

[karayaa]

Find out what a LOR typically looks like, write a rough draft, talk to them in person and offer to send it to them to get them started so they don't have to spend as much time on it.

 

[pietachok]

Find out what a LOR typically looks like, write a rough draft, talk to them in person and offer to send it to them to get them started so they don't have to spend as much time on it.

I hope this is just a joke.
Absolutely do not do this. This is presumptuous and arrogant. Some professors ask you to do this after they have agreed to write the LOR, but not the majority. Even those that do ask for such pre-writing are likely to be put off by this if they haven't requested it. And if your attempt looks childish or like you have poor insight into your actual strengths/weaknesses that's going to reflect poorly when they sit down to write your actual LOR.

 

[CW 2010]

Find out what a LOR typically looks like, write a rough draft, talk to them in person and offer to send it to them to get them started so they don't have to spend as much time on it.

Oh, no. Your professors have probably written tons of recommendation letters and have some templates saved. So, just as others have said, go talk to them in person. Ask if they would be able to write you a strong letter. Of not, move on.

 

[gtbROX]

So I've been trying to ask different professors I've had and done well in the class for letters of recommendation. I've asked three so far via email and its been over a week and none of them have responded...so I take it as a no. So now I have no idea what to do and who to ask because I didn't really get to know any of my science professors.

I'm going to ask one of my professors this semester who I am making sure I get to know, but none of my other professors are the "letter type", as in they don't give a **** about the course, just there for a paycheck kind.

Is it too late to get to know two professors next semester and ask for letters at the beginning of May if I am applying in that cycle? Will I have to apply late?

And how can I get professors to be more receptive to writing me a good letter?

Are you someone that frequents office hours and interacts with the professor? If not, do so in your next set of classes and you'll have letters for sure. Aim to go to all of the office hours for at least one of your classes. If you have extra time, get to know the TAs because they talk to professors a lot. Also, upper division classes usually have less students and professors are often more willing to write letters for students in those classes.

I do agree with everyone else that asking for letters should be done in person.

 

[CarlosDanger]

The thing you need to know about professors is they are notoriously TERRIBLE about answering emails, and even if they know you extremely well it may take a long time to get a response - another reason to just drop by their office in person. Start early though, because you're going to have to do a ton of follow up to make sure they write the letters on time. I suggest asking them to have the letter written at least a month before you actually need it. I think part of getting tenure actually requires professors to be poor email responders.

 

[PreMedMaverick]

Regardless, getting letters is not enough. You need good letters. If you haven't gotten to know a professor, then your letter will look like this,

"So and so always showed up to class on time. They seemed like a nice person, even though I never talked with them for more than a few minutes at a time. They got an A in this course."

These letters will not get you an interview. You have to go out of your way to form a relationship with professors. The three professors I got letters from are professors I a) did research for, b) volunteered with, or c) TA'd for. These people will have some insight as to who you are as a person. They will write much more passionately on your behalf.

 

[Goro]

Strongly concur. Just approach them with this script in mind:

"Dr Goro, do you think you know me well enough to write a good letter of recommendation for my application to medical school?"

OR

"Dr Goro, I'm applying to medical school next year. Do you think you know me well enough to write a good letter of recommendation?"

That ought to do it. Good luck!

Thing one: it is part of the professor's job to write recommendations. Your job is to find people who will write good letters.

Your main mistake is asking over email. The better way to go about this is to request a meeting and ask the professor in person whether they think they will be able to write you a good letter of recommendation.

Do they have office hours? Go visit to "follow up" on your email. Don't take the silence as a rejection, they are probably busy/forgot/never really read the email. For something as important as a LOR you should take the time to ask properly.