So, I'm planning to get more letters of recommendations since I'm taking a few more classes. Since tomorrow is the first day of class, should I go to office hours? I don't want to be THAT person who goes on the first day... Or is it a good idea to introduce myself and tell the professor that I am eventually looking for a LOR?
Office hours
- Thread starter megaman1
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2012
- Messages
- 3,226
- Reaction score
- 2,490
Just like how you wouldn't pull out a ring during the first few minutes of a first date, you don't want to be too hasty with the conversations. Start off slowly. Don't just waltz in and scream "I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR".
Introduce yourself and express how you're excited to take this class. Ask questions about the course and how he/she is going to approach the class. Then go from there. You don't have to get it all out in one day. Keep coming back to his/her office hours each week. If the conversations become casual enough (and they most likely will if you are a regular visitor), then continue talking more about future plans.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2013
- Messages
- 2,371
- Reaction score
- 621
If you can find something interesting to talk to the professor about or have made your self-known in the first class and showed genuine interest in his subject matter by all means go the first day. I've done that a few times and it can show pretty well for you it's genuine and the prof has a good attitude (careful though some professors are very idiosyncratic).
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2013
- Messages
- 8,599
- Reaction score
- 19,864
Try to find out about their work and if you have any interests similar to their field work that in. It's a great ice breaker and shows the prof that you dont just walk in blind into situations.
Also, do you guys think it's worthwhile to go to a professor's office hours if there are two professors teaching the course together? That means I only get 5 weeks of interaction with one professor, and I don't know if that's enough time for them to get to know me well enough.
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2013
- Messages
- 999
- Reaction score
- 1,650
I picked a prof I wanted to give me an LOR, then went to his office the semester before taking him so he could "talk me into" taking his class. Then I went by his office every week or two to talk about the course, asked him questions after class each day, put in extra lab hours, and maintained a high average. He wrote me a great LOR. It took quite a while before he consistently remembered my name, but the effort was worth it.
Not to be rude, but how did you know it was a great LOR? Did you have an academic advisor read it or did it have everything it "should" have in a strong letter? Thanks!
That's plenty of time. Especially if you continue going to office hours regularly. Ask good questions and get interested in the material beyond the course (randomly search google on course topic and see if course professor has anything to add). Also, my school had this awesome take your professor out to lunch program. So lunch is always a good way to get to know your prof better. If you feel awkward going one on one with the professor, bring another motivated student with you and chat about anything and everything. I took a prof out to lunch last year and we talked about my involvement in research, volunteering outside of school, ncaa basketball, his research, and his interested. Get interested in the prof, and the prof will be interested in you. At the end of our lunch he said "wow, you are the first person to take me out to lunch, I really appreciate it. If you need anything ever, let me know and I will be happy to help". since then, I've chatted with him a couple times and was able to talk about my motivations, random ecs not many profs know about, and talk about some of my worries about applying, etc. At our last meeting, I suggested we grab a beer sometime during lunch, to which the professor smiled and said "that would be awesome, let's do it before you leave for the summer". Granted, this professor was cool as F, but I think they appreciate when you are human with them and not being fake with your motivations. If you are only after a rec, cool. But if you are after a lifelong relationship and mentor who can help you beyond college and med school, then befriending professors and treating them like any other friend is exactly what you should do.
Definitely don't ask everyone to lunch (or to grab a beer for that matter). But ask professors you are genuinely interested in getting to know and it will be a rewarding experience. And don't feel intimidated, professors are people too and were once in your feet.
Take my advice with a grain of salt, I was lucky because I'm a pretty cool person (lol, is that ok to say without sounding like a d-bag?). But it worked for me and could work for you. Good luck with everything!
I've been asking good questions in office hours and asked brief questions about my professors' interests, how they got to where they are today, but that's about it. It feels like I'm invading their personal space by asking questions not related to class, but I know I should in order to get to know them better. Thing is that our conversations usually die out, and I just thank them and leave until next time. Also, my professors seem very "serious" and I want to break the ice. Any additional advice not mentioned above?
Ok. So one of my professor's office hours are over (course taught by 2 professors). I've been going to her office hours each week and asking questions. Should I ask her now for the LOR or wait until 75% of the quarter has passed?
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2012
- Messages
- 3,226
- Reaction score
- 2,490
You're going to ask them for a letter of recommendation only after talking to them for a few weeks? Don't fall into the greedy premed mentality. Get to know them. They are a person. Your letter won't be very strong if you ask them without really getting to know them that well.
It's been once a week for 5 weeks. I don't want to sound greedy, but I'm going to graduate after this quarter and won't be within the area.. 🙁
Do you suggest that I keep going to her office hours even though she's not teaching anymore and probably don't have office hours after the other professor starts teaching? Or do you suggest a "keep in touch" method that I don't know about yet?
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2012
- Messages
- 3,226
- Reaction score
- 2,490
Will you be applying to medical schools this upcoming cycle?
Won't that seem kind of awkward to ask for extra office hours even though she's no longer teaching the latter part of the course?
Nope. Next cycle.
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2012
- Messages
- 3,226
- Reaction score
- 2,490
Then asking for a letter of rec now would be too premature. Keep in contact with him and ask next year.
You CAN invite your professor to lunch...
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2014
- Messages
- 1,814
- Reaction score
- 1,826
But she's still one of the professors for this course right? regardless you can still talk to her about what you're learning and ask her questions.
Even if I don't plan on being in this area ever again, it would still be wise to keep in contact and ask next year? What does this accomplish? I'm not being rude, but I can't grasp how this will work out for me. Looking forward to your intelligent response.
I don't want to seem like a pest to her. I'll keep this in mind.
