Quick LOR question...

[USAF_Dentman]

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So i had gotten an 'A' in O-chem 1, and was wondering if i should get a letter of rec from him. The only problem is we had 350+ kids, i never went to office hours or even spoke to him, so i'm not sure if this would be a good choice for a LOR.

 

[dentalguy]

Good job in ochem.....however I would recommend that you get LOR's from people who you have talked to you and who can speak of you as a person. If you have never met him/her the I don't think its a good choice.......have you tried to get on a more personal level with any profs...?

 

[Sprgrover]

So i had gotten an 'A' in O-chem 1, and was wondering if i should get a letter of rec from him. The only problem is we had 350+ kids, i never went to office hours or even spoke to him, so i'm not sure if this would be a good choice for a LOR.

Hhhmmmm, good question. First off, if you are doing well in a course and know that you need a LOR for somewhere or something, its always a good idea to try to stop by the professor's office, chat with him/her after class. Then again professors are usually more aware than what their students give them credit for. If you are applying in the 2006 cycle you have some time. And if you are having this same professor again, here is what I would do: I would formulate a little game plan and the goal is to get to know him/her. If he/she is open to questions after class, take advantage of it. If he/she has office hours, stop by a couple times. Doing so will not only make the task of asking for a LOR easier it will also make your professor's task a bit easier because he/she is more apt to write from a personal perspective versus a cold, objective one in which they merely describe your performance in class.

If you really need that LOR and can't do the above, then there is absolutely no harm in asking your professor. More often than not professors are quite flattered to have a student make such a request as it means that someone values their opinion, has made an impact on a student, and that student feels comfortable enough to approach him or her. I once approached a brilliant histology professor of mine with a LOR request. I was terrified - sure he was very likeable - but he was very accomplished and brainy. Long story short he was delighted by the request and confessed that the last time he had done such a thing was back in late 70's - he said most people were too intimidated to ask him but he loved writing them. You never know. Furthermore each of your professors was once in your shoes as they all had to go through a similar right-of-passage via matriculating into graduate school (and also science professors usually understand the journey of a pre-professional student pretty well).

Personally, and if you can do this, I would groom your professor prior to your request which should result in a better LOR. If there are just no two ways about it then ask him/her straight up, or if there is a better individual that fits the criteria go to him/her.

 

[USAF_Dentman]

Hhhmmmm, good question. First off, if you are doing well in a course and know that you need a LOR for somewhere or something, its always a good idea to try to stop by the professor's office, chat with him/her after class. Then again professors are usually more aware than what their students give them credit for. If you are applying in the 2006 cycle you have some time. And if you are having this same professor again, here is what I would do: I would formulate a little game plan and the goal is to get to know him/her. If he/she is open to questions after class, take advantage of it. If he/she has office hours, stop by a couple times. Doing so will not only make the task of asking for a LOR easier it will also make your professor's task a bit easier because he/she is more apt to write from a personal perspective versus a cold, objective one in which they merely describe your performance in class.

If you really need that LOR and can't do the above, then there is absolutely no harm in asking your professor. More often than not professors are quite flattered to have a student make such a request as it means that someone values their opinion, has made an impact on a student, and that student feels comfortable enough to approach him or her. I once approached a brilliant histology professor of mine with a LOR request. I was terrified - sure he was very likeable - but he was very accomplished and brainy. Long story short he was delighted by the request and confessed that the last time he had done such a thing was back in late 70's - he said most people were too intimidated to ask him but he loved writing them. You never know. Furthermore each of your professors was once in your shoes as they all had to go through a similar right-of-passage via matriculating into graduate school (and also science professors usually understand the journey of a pre-professional student pretty well).

Personally, and if you can do this, I would groom your professor prior to your request which should result in a better LOR. If there are just no two ways about it then ask him/her straight up, or if there is a better individual that fits the criteria go to him/her.

Yeah, i wont have him again, so i might ask just for the heck of it..I wont be applying until 2006, so i was thinking about just trying to make better contacts with other professors and possibly forget about asking him. I still have time so i guess it isnt too big of a deal.

I had no clue about the LOR process until just a few days ago over christmas break. So i guess i was just a tad nervous.

What about a LOR from a science professor thats class is an elective (ie Geology or Atmospheric science, etc.), thats not a bio or chem class? As i have heard that some might want LOR's from bio or chem teachers?

 

[Sprgrover]

...What about a LOR from a science professor thats class is an elective (ie Geology or Atmospheric science, etc.), thats not a bio or chem class? As i have heard that some might want LOR's from bio or chem teachers?

Some schools leave up to you to pick which science professors/professionals from which to obtain the LORs while others spell it out (one from a chemistry professor, one from a biology professor, etc.). You should examine the LOR requirements for each of the schools you plan on applying to in order to get a better idea of what you are dealing with and then develop a plan from there.

 

[Dr.Smiley-OR]

Some schools leave up to you to pick which science professors/professionals from which to obtain the LORs while others spell it out (one from a chemistry professor, one from a biology professor, etc.). You should examine the LOR requirements for each of the schools you plan on applying to in order to get a better idea of what you are dealing with and then develop a plan from there.

While you are preparing for your application, please try to build up your LORS from 1 bio professor, 1 from chemistry, 1 from another science professor, 1 from a dentist, and 1 from a non-science professor.
No school will require all 5 LORS from these individuals, but when you apply to many schools, you will need them. Some schools require only 3 letters from science professors (in substitute of a pre-dental committee LOR), or 2 letters from science professors with a dentist's letter, or 2 letters from science professors + 1 from a nonscience professor.
I agree that you should check with the schools that you are going to apply to.