Please tell me what can go in a LoR?

[Gauss44]

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No scientific research experience. (Was not a science major.) Will need to ask science professors who I only had for one semester for a LoR (let's skip the explanation to that). I would like to make a list of what they could write about me. I would like to write my own draft as well, showing that I am willing to take initiative and hopefully making their job easier.

So PLEASE HELP!
I have never written an LoR and don't know where to start. Examples of LoRs would be great, if you can provide me with any?

Let's make a list of stuff that might go in this letter. (I read AAMC's blurb, but need more concrete examples.)

Example:
1. Student was engaged in material: attended office hours, lecture, asked good questions, etc.

 

[LizzyM]

Don't do this! Give the little AMCAS handout and let the science professor decide what he or she wants to say about you.


https://www.aamc.org/download/349990/data/lettersguidelinesbrochure.pdf

 

[candbgirl]

That's a really bad idea. Why did you wait so long to look for letter writers?


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[boogiecousins94]

I have a question about LORs in general, this doesn't apply to me but applies to a friend. I know it's relatively common for PIs in large labs to have the student write their own rec and they just sign it etc. I was lucky and all my PIs know me very well and wrote it for me, but if you end up having to write your own letter can adcoms figure this out? Like can they read a letter and realize a PI may not have really written this? Not in terms of them thinking its any wrongdoing but in terms of it maybe being more of a weak letter since you wrote it yourself.

 

[DameJulie]

I wouldn't recommend offering the professor a draft of the LOR unless he/she specifically asks for it.

Asking the LOR with most your supporting material ready to give (e.g. transcript, PS draft) is a good initiative to me.

 

[Gauss44]

That's a really bad idea. Why did you wait so long to look for letter writers?


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I was not a science major and had no idea that I would need a letter of recommendation. I didn't even know what letters of recommendation were until after I graduated. I was naive, adviser never mentioned LoRs, from a poor town in the middle of nowhere where most people didn't go to college. I didn't even know graduate school existed until my junior year.

 

[Gauss44]

A bulleted list of points the author might be willing to address would be ideal. I gave one example in the OP, can anyone provide another example?

 

[candbgirl]

Most writers know exactly what to include so I don't think you need to give them bullet points. Follow LizzyM's advice and give them the handout from AMCAS. As an FYI- it might be difficult to contact some of your recommenders at this point in time. Many leave campus during the Summer and don't return until the Fall semester is beginning. I've known people that were very frustrated with this issue. So don't get upset, just understand professors might be unavailable right now.

You have so many questions and you seem to be asking them as they come up. Have you read any of the very helpful posts about applying? I know @Goro has a couple of comprehensive posts about the application process. I also think that @gonnif has several threads dealing with various aspects of applying. Applications are Harvard and with little help from your undergrad you might want to spend time reading on SDN. Have you thought about putting the whole thing off for a cycle so you have everything in place?


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