recommendation letters in large universities

[AtomicLuv]

---

Members do not see this ad.

hi..I was wondering if anyone experienced problems with obtaining recommendation letters..I am nervous that I will have this problem because I attend a large university and the science classes usually have about 300 students and thus it is very difficult to be noticed by the professor. Are professors usually receptive if you simply introduce yourself, ask for a recommendation, and offer to set up a meeting with them to talk about your goals, etc, and hand in a essay about your aspirations? This is what I have heard has been suggested, but it seems kind of silly to me.. 🙄

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[PharmB10]

hi..I was wondering if anyone experienced problems with obtaining recommendation letters..I am nervous that I will have this problem because I attend a large university and the science classes usually have about 300 students and thus it is very difficult to be noticed by the professor. Are professors usually receptive if you simply introduce yourself, ask for a recommendation, and offer to set up a meeting with them to talk about your goals, etc, and hand in a essay about your aspirations? This is what I have heard has been suggested, but it seems kind of silly to me.. 🙄

Anyone have any ideas?

That's exactly what I did. I went to my O. chem professor and asked him to write me one. He wanted to see my transcript and cirriculum vitae, and he did it for me. I had very little contact with him before that... My classes usually had about 200 people. Good luck!

 

[kiwi1630]

i would go to office hours every week (if they have them), ask them questions after class, just make yourself known and you should be fine.

 

[PHARMDhope2b]

Yeah i agree.
I went to a large state school, however it isnt hard to be noticed by your professors. Furthermore, you really dont have to be seated in the first couple of rows. What teachers are looking for in class are people who are active participants. I just asked questions when I had them, answered some of the questions that the teacher asked during class, and emailed any further questions that I had. Dont ask so many questions that you aggrevate your peers or the teacher, just enough to let the professor know that you are trying. That is what I did, and the teacher knew who I was when I went to ask for a recommendation at the end of the semester.

 

[eddavatar]

hi..I was wondering if anyone experienced problems with obtaining recommendation letters..I am nervous that I will have this problem because I attend a large university and the science classes usually have about 300 students and thus it is very difficult to be noticed by the professor. Are professors usually receptive if you simply introduce yourself, ask for a recommendation, and offer to set up a meeting with them to talk about your goals, etc, and hand in a essay about your aspirations? This is what I have heard has been suggested, but it seems kind of silly to me.. 🙄

Anyone have any ideas?

Work in a lab. It worked wonder for me. (got 2 out of professors I worked for) Not to mention that they actually would get to know you.

Also, take a small social science, seminar style class. I took a couple classes with the same professor where we get to discuss in class. She helped me a lot in terms of writing me a letter and helping me write my personal statement.