professors response to letter of rec!

[letsdoitbama]

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So I tried stopping by my professor's office today who I took a class from last semester to talk about a lor, anyways the building his office is in is literally a locked fortress to the outside world, there was just no chance anyone would let me in to try talking to him (their research can't be that crazy can it?). So I basically gave up on even getting in the building and resorted to emailing him. He emailed me back saying "email me next tuesday to set up a meeting time. Start preparing your answers now." Is it just me or does that sound like a serious grilling session is in my immediate future? Or do you think he was just being blunt and does this sound pretty standard? Obviously I don't expect him to give me some amazing letter without much effort on my part, but this doesn't sound like too friendly of a conversation to me...

 

[loveoforganic]

RTR. It's certainly possible - I know chem prof's who do research in prohibited floors due to reactivity/energetic materials involved, and I'm sure there are bio and physics prof's who do pretty dangerous stuff as well.

At any rate, dunno what you've emailed him so far, but in the second email I'd include relevant attachments - personal statement (dents have one right?), resume/cv, etc. And hard to say not knowing your prof, but I'd air on the side of being very prepared.

 

[dentalWorks]

So I tried stopping by my professor's office today who I took a class from last semester to talk about a lor, anyways the building his office is in is literally a locked fortress to the outside world, there was just no chance anyone would let me in to try talking to him (their research can't be that crazy can it?). So I basically gave up on even getting in the building and resorted to emailing him. He emailed me back saying "email me next tuesday to set up a meeting time. Start preparing your answers now." Is it just me or does that sound like a serious grilling session is in my immediate future? Or do you think he was just being blunt and does this sound pretty standard? Obviously I don't expect him to give me some amazing letter without much effort on my part, but this doesn't sound like too friendly of a conversation to me...

Don't be worried.... Be glad actually. He wants to learn about you so he can tailor a legitimate RECOMMENDATION. He'll most likely ask you basic stuffs, what attracted you to dentistry, whats your grades like, how much shadowing / volunteering you've done.....

Set up the appointment and go, you'll be glad you did.

 

[Maygyver]

Don't be worried.... Be glad actually. He wants to learn about you so he can tailor a legitimate RECOMMENDATION. He'll most likely ask you basic stuffs, what attracted you to dentistry, whats your grades like, how much shadowing / volunteering you've done.....

Set up the appointment and go, you'll be glad you did.

👍 You should take the opportunity to let him get to know you. It will be a lot better than a generic "X student was a good student...blah blah." Just make sure to tell him what you think is important.

 

[letsdoitbama]

Alright thanks guys for the positive encouragement, you're both probably right. Getting letters has been my most feared part of this process, but guess you gotta do what you gotta do.