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Recommendations for LOR?

Started by EEL08
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EEL08

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I am currently taking Physics 2 and O Chem 2 and I'm hoping to ask both of my professors for a LOR at the end of the semester. I've never had them before so I know it's not the best situation but all my other science classes were over two years ago and at a different school in the area. I considered contacting the professor I had for Anatomy and Physiology (I got As in both) to see if he would write me one but I am 100% positive he will not remember me my now. What can I do this semester to be more likely to sway my current professors to do LOR for me? I'm taking them at a CC and my experience has been that they are not as used to writing LOR as university professors. Any advice? I really don't want the LOR to be my downfall in the application process.
 
I am currently taking Physics 2 and O Chem 2 and I'm hoping to ask both of my professors for a LOR at the end of the semester. I've never had them before so I know it's not the best situation but all my other science classes were over two years ago and at a different school in the area. I considered contacting the professor I had for Anatomy and Physiology (I got As in both) to see if he would write me one but I am 100% positive he will not remember me my now. What can I do this semester to be more likely to sway my current professors to do LOR for me? I'm taking them at a CC and my experience has been that they are not as used to writing LOR as university professors. Any advice? I really don't want the LOR to be my downfall in the application process.

Exactly, you dont want your LOR to be your achilles heel ... ESPECIALLY from your premed advisor ... unless youre smart and bypass the person, I should have done that.

I'd say talk to the professors about your interest in medicine and how you like their class ... suck up a little, even if you normally dont. get to know them and pretend to have an interest in their research if they do research ... if you end up liking it .. ask if you could read some papers they published or even join their lab to do undergrad research ... if they say no, atleast u asked .. shows interest. tell them you also would like for them to write an LOR ... you'll get it.
 
Any advice? I really don't want the LOR to be my downfall in the application process.

All you have to do is make sure that they know who you are. Talk to them before or after class, or find reasons to stop by their offices and chat. Make sure thatt they know your career goals. It will definitely help if you are an A student. I'd be pretty hesitant to ask for an LOR unless you do very well in their classes.
 
ditto what everyone else said 😉

get to know the professors, in whatever way works for you, whether its stopping in to office hours, or interest in research.

definitly let them know you're pre-med, getting ready to apply, etc, etc. they make actually make the offer to you if you're lucky! if not, you'll have planted the right seeds, so that when the semester is almost over, and you ask, it wont be a shocker.
 
Thanks guys! I do plan on doing really well in both classes but they are my hardest two subjects. I did speak with my Physics professor over e-mail about taking the MCAT in May and that I haven't had Physics 1 in over 2 years. He suggested I come talk to him before every chapter so he can tell me what background info I need to review from Physics 1. I will do the same with my O Chem professor. I'm sure I will be at their office hours plenty because I will need extra help understanding the material. I get the feeling neither one conducts research as I'm not sure if community colleges fund much research.