One more science letter still needed, please advise!

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Sean Lee

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I've started the process of gathering letters of recommendation, and things are going pretty well.

However, I still need one more letter from a science professor. I emailed 2 science professors already, but have heard no responses from them. Moving forward, I plan to call their offices/cell-phones in order to establish contact with them. I graduated from my state school (I am currently living in the same state) last year, but my home is quite a bit away from my school, making a physical visit very difficult.

Am I doing the right thing by calling the professors?
 
A little more information: when I sent my emails requesting a letter, I followed all proper email etiquettes!
 
I've started the process of gathering letters of recommendation, and things are going pretty well.

However, I still need one more letter from a science professor. I emailed 2 science professors already, but have heard no responses from them. Moving forward, I plan to call their offices/cell-phones in order to establish contact with them. I graduated from my state school (I am currently living in the same state) last year, but my home is quite a bit away from my school, making a physical visit very difficult.

Am I doing the right thing by calling the professors?

I was in a pretty similar situation to you regarding distance from school. Even though my profs were great about email correspondence, I knew it was best to see them in person to catch up a little and so they could recognize your face if it has been a while since they had you in class, rather than getting an email requesting they write a letter. I found out when their office hours were and made the trip, even though I had to take off work to do it.

It is easy for people to ignore emails. If you can, make the trip. If not, I think calling would be better than email. Just my thoughts.
 
I was in a pretty similar situation to you regarding distance from school. Even though my profs were great about email correspondence, I knew it was best to see them in person to catch up a little and so they could recognize your face if it has been a while since they had you in class, rather than getting an email requesting they write a letter. I found out when their office hours were and made the trip, even though I had to take off work to do it.

It is easy for people to ignore emails. If you can, make the trip. If not, I think calling would be better than email. Just my thoughts.

Thanks.

It's just that I know one of the professors very well, and I did him a favor of sorts last year (of course I didn't mention it in my emails). He hasn't responded to any of my email requests regarding LOR. I called his lab today, and no one was there.
 
Thanks.

It's just that I know one of the professors very well, and I did him a favor of sorts last year (of course I didn't mention it in my emails). He hasn't responded to any of my email requests regarding LOR. I called his lab today, and no one was there.

To find out office hours of my former profs, I called the department office and asked the secretary. They always knew, maybe it would be the same for your situation. If it's only been a couple days since you emailed them, I'd give it a little more time for them to respond.
 
To find out office hours of my former profs, I called the department office and asked the secretary. They always knew, maybe it would be the same for your situation. If it's only been a couple days since you emailed them, I'd give it a little more time for them to respond.

Thanks. One of the professor doesn't have office hours; you have to email him to set up an appointment.
 
I'd agree with what @DoctorKrieger said. It might just be that you have to make the trip out there. In reality, a several hour trip for a letter that could secure your future as a physician seems worth it to me.
 
I'd agree with what @DoctorKrieger said. It might just be that you have to make the trip out there. In reality, a several hour trip for a letter that could secure your future as a physician seems worth it to me.

A trip from my home to the college takes AT LEAST 6-7 hours one way.

And this isn't CA, btw!
 
Also, for schools that require 3 letters: one from premed adviser/committee, one from science, and one from a doctor, what happens if my school doesn't have a committee?
 
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