Scared to as for a letter of rec

[gemmin]

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Hey All,

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever felt the way I do. I been trying to fork up the courage to ask the two pharmacists I work with if they would be happy to write me a letter when I apply to schools this upcoming summer. But the thing is, I feel like I would be a burden on them. They work so hard and I feel if I ask them, it would take time away from their "me time" when they're out of the pharmacy. Also, I don't know how I would ask them either. With my professors, I just email them and it's dandy. But how do I ask the pharmacists for a letter? I can't seem to find the appropriate time to ask them either because our pharmacy is always so busy. I'm being a chicken 🙁

 

[ganders]

Hm... unless they are mean people I'm sure they would be thrilled to write you a LOR because they want to see you succeed! I think this is one of those things where if you think too much about it, it seems worse and harder than it actually is so just be bold and do it. Also, do it ASAP because if you are worried about them being busy, it is best to give them as much time as possible. Hehe, but if you give them too much time before the deadline they might be lazy or forget so you have to say something like "Thanks so much for writing my LOR, I appreciate it so much." Make sure you follow up on the LOR and write them a thank you note.
I remember I was really scared to ask my professor for a LOR and it took me a while to get the nerve to ask, but it was so much easier than I thought. These people want to see you get in to a good school and succeed. Hmm, and you said that you e-mailed your profs to get a LOR? I think it's good policy to always ask for these things in person, whether pharmacist or prof. It shows you have mature communication skills (which he/she may write about!).

ALSO! a good thing to do to make it easy for them to write your LOR (if they are super busy) is to give them all the information they need to write about. For my prof, I made packet that includes my transcript, my personal statement, and I also wrote an essay for him on why I am going into pharmacy and what makes me a good candidate. Then he/she can just connect the dots to a great recommendation letter.

 

[confettiflyer]

:::standing at production line:::

me: hey bob, can you write me a letter of rec for pharm school?
bob: sure, when do you need it by
me: ah in a few weeks
bob: ok, give me stuff to write about
me: ok

the above is the actual conversation i had with my PIC.

 

[shunsistoesis]

i agree with ganders! pharmacists are usually happy to write LORs for you because they know you're genuinely interested in the career (obviously.. cuz you're applying..haha) but for eg. you're not using them to write LORs for med school for example. When will your letters have to be submitted? If the deadline is still a long way from now i suggest this:

i dunno how your working environment is, but take the opportunity to talk to them more about the career and lead into a conversation about your current application(s) to pharmacy school. Do this several times during your shifts so they start remembering you as a prospective applicant. This makes it easier when it is time to ask them for the letter because the request wouldn't appear so sudden. Also suggest setting up a meeting with them to further discuss your interest/motivation, relevant background, so that 1) they're further convinced you're really going for this field 2) they have more understanding of your personality and fit for pharmacy.

it's important to convince not just the adcoms, but also your referee that you'll be committed to the job so that their LORs also turn up to be more convincing!

 

[shunsistoesis]

:::standing at production line:::

me: hey bob, can you write me a letter of rec for pharm school?
bob: sure, when do you need it by
me: ah in a few weeks
bob: ok, give me stuff to write about
me: ok

the above is the actual conversation i had with my PIC.

!

 

[Achilleus]

Hey All,

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever felt the way I do. I been trying to fork up the courage to ask the two pharmacists I work with if they would be happy to write me a letter when I apply to schools this upcoming summer. But the thing is, I feel like I would be a burden on them. They work so hard and I feel if I ask them, it would take time away from their "me time" when they're out of the pharmacy. Also, I don't know how I would ask them either. With my professors, I just email them and it's dandy. But how do I ask the pharmacists for a letter? I can't seem to find the appropriate time to ask them either because our pharmacy is always so busy. I'm being a chicken 🙁

I don't want this to sound rude or anything so don't take it the wrong way, but here's what it boils down to:

Ask = Possibility of getting into pharmacy school
Don't Ask = No possibility of getting into pharmacy school

Is really as simple as that. It should actually be easier to ask a pharmacist than a professor because at least the pharmacist can relate to you (to the extent that they've been in your shoes before). don't be scared!!! just approach them nicely (WITH CONFIDENCE) and simply ask, "hey dr. so and so, as you may know, I'm applying to pharmacy school next year and I need a letter of recommendation from a pharmacist. if its not too much trouble, would you be so kind as to write me one?" That's it 🙂

good luck!!!

 

[gemmin]

Thanks for your input and advice. I think I'll ask sometime soon before pharmcas opens up. I did ask my profs through email. They were all very very happy to write me letters because I always went to office hours and asked questions. I also asked via email because I was no longer in their classes. Hopefully they wrote good things!

And confettiflyer, that is funny . You make it sound so extremely easy.

 

[trailrider400]

:::standing at production line:::

me: hey bob, can you write me a letter of rec for pharm school?
bob: sure, when do you need it by
me: ah in a few weeks
bob: ok, give me stuff to write about
me: ok

the above is the actual conversation i had with my PIC.

I had a similar conversation

Me: Hey Jim will you write me a LOR for Pharmacy school
Jim: No I think you should drop out of school and kill yourself
Me: I don't see how thats constructive
Jim: Go lay down in the freeway

lol this is the worst possible situation and i don't think its too plausible. I'm a little nervous too when i have to ask someone to write me an LOR but everyone i've asked has been more than happy to do so. As long as you've known the person for more than a few months and have decent relationship you should be fine...

 

[keepingthehope]

I really hate bothering my teachers for rec letters. How do you even begin?

 

[gemmin]

I had a similar conversation

Me: Hey Jim will you write me a LOR for Pharmacy school
Jim: No I think you should drop out of school and kill yourself
Me: I don't see how thats constructive
Jim: Go lay down in the freeway

lol this is the worst possible situation and i don't think its too plausible. I'm a little nervous too when i have to ask someone to write me an LOR but everyone i've asked has been more than happy to do so. As long as you've known the person for more than a few months and have decent relationship you should be fine...

LoL! Jim sounds exactly like the pharmacist I close with at nights. He'd tell me to do something like that. Did Jim end up writing you a letter?

I don't know if I should be serious or ask as if it were an ordinary normal day to day conversation. I'm assuming confettiflyer and trailrider, that you two are guys. I'm a girl and the main pharmacist I spend the most time with is male. It seems a little awkward to ask him the same way you two did.

 

[Sparda29]

This is how I asked the pharmacists for LOR.

I had to go to the store to fax something one day, so while I was there:

Me: Thanks for letting me use the fax.
Her: No problem.
Me: BTW, is it possible for you to write me a LOR for Pharm School? All I need is your e-mail and contact phone, they'll e-mail the link to the form to you, you just have to fill it out.
Her: Sure, just send it here.

 

[PharmDstudent]

I really hate bothering my teachers for rec letters. How do you even begin?

Have a conversation in this order: tell them that you're interested in pharmacy school, then tell them what schools you want to apply to, and then them to that you need LORs.
If you have a good relationship with them, and they aren't oblivious to the outside world, they will offer to write a letter for you. You won't even have to ask them.

 

[PharmDeez]

"I'm applying to pharmacy school and I need a letter of rec from a pharmacist. I know you are super busy and would hate to bother you. Do you think I can write the letter of rec and have you look over it and sign it? "

Your pharmacists would be thrilled as you would be doing the work for them.

Academia and professors are different tho.

 

[glowinglimabean]

I personally hate to bother people for Letters of recommendation. But I had to do it, I asked 3 people and they didn't spit at my face 😉. I did had to do my part of the work two of them requested my transcripts, CV, and purpose. Plus a friendly reminder of when it is due. Do this early! It took me a while to build up the courage. Looking back at it, I was being silly. Asking for recommendations is something you just need to get use to, especially if you are applying for scholarships or internships after being accepted into pharmacy school.

 

[Asian Girl]

This was my conversation last week with my Doctor who I work for...

Me: (slow day) wats up Boss !!! 😉 (and a big smile on my face). May I have a "private talk" with you while you have no patient now?
Dr: Of course, let come to my office
(Door close)

Dr: Don't tell me you're quiting your job
Me: yes, if you dont write me LOR
Dr (smile): what school is that?
Me: pharmacy school
Dr: oh, good for you. Have I ever said "no" to anything you asked? (smile)
Me: well, you have....when I asked for a raise....
Dr (smile): ok, you write it, I'll look it over and you can finish the rest (reprint with letter head). BTW, are you telling me that you'll quite your job when you get accepted?
Me: probally (smile) or work less hour but pay still is the same
Dr (smile): make sure you find someone good as you to replace your place
Me: Thanks so much for doing this Dr...

I've worked for him 10 years and we're very close. That why I can talk to him like that.

 

[Asian Girl]

(wrong spelling) quit ....not quite .....

 

[gemmin]

So today was a good time to ask the pharmacist I close with for a letter because he kept talking to me about pharmacy school tonight. I asked him if he needed a lor from a pharmacist when he applied. It all lead to me asking if he'd be able to write me one in his busy life. The answer was, as I had thought, NO. 🙁. He said he was too busy. So I'm a little emo right now about it. But I still have a shot at another pharmacist. Anyone been rejected before? I don't know what I was thinking. From the day I started working there, my co-workers have told me he's a "terrible person" and he only "thinks about himself". I thought the same but after a while I liked him a little more. Well, I gotta stop thinking about it for the rest of the night.

 

[k0ni]

This was my conversation last week with my Doctor who I work for...

Me: (slow day) wats up Boss !!! 😉 (and a big smile on my face). May I have a "private talk" with you while you have no patient now?
Dr: Of course, let come to my office
(Door close)

Dr: Don't tell me you're quiting your job
Me: yes, if you dont write me LOR
Dr (smile): what school is that?
Me: pharmacy school
Dr: oh, good for you. Have I ever said "no" to anything you asked? (smile)
Me: well, you have....when I asked for a raise....
Dr (smile): ok, you write it, I'll look it over and you can finish the rest (reprint with letter head). BTW, are you telling me that you'll quite your job when you get accepted?
Me: probally (smile) or work less hour but pay still is the same
Dr (smile): make sure you find someone good as you to replace your place
Me: Thanks so much for doing this Dr...

I've worked for him 10 years and we're very close. That why I can talk to him like that.

This reminds me of a volunteer we used to have at our pharmacy.. He asked one of the pharmacists if she could write a LOR for him and after he got it, he quit coming around! No thank you, no good bye.. NOTHING! Yeeeesshh. The two stories are very much different but it just reminded me of it.

 

[k0ni]

So today was a good time to ask the pharmacist I close with for a letter because he kept talking to me about pharmacy school tonight. I asked him if he needed a lor from a pharmacist when he applied. It all lead to me asking if he'd be able to write me one in his busy life. The answer was, as I had thought, NO. 🙁. He said he was too busy. So I'm a little emo right now about it. But I still have a shot at another pharmacist. Anyone been rejected before? I don't know what I was thinking. From the day I started working there, my co-workers have told me he's a "terrible person" and he only "thinks about himself". I thought the same but after a while I liked him a little more. Well, I gotta stop thinking about it for the rest of the night.

Awwhh.. I can't believe he said "No" so easily. I hope you have better luck asking another pharmacist. Ask the nice ones. 😉 I'm sure there are a couple who would be happy to help you get into pharmacy school. You are, after all, following in their foot steps.

 

[confettiflyer]

And confettiflyer, that is funny . You make it sound so extremely easy.

Haha...well, it depends on your relationship to that person. There are lots of pharmacists where I work, lots of them aren't much old than I am, so I see them more as a colleague than a superior.

I've had to use more formal tone for my college professors.

Most will be happy to write you a letter, just make it easy for them (ie give them a resume, bulleted list of things you'd like them to mention, paragraph of your intentions/goals, etc...)

 

[phuang06]

This was my conversation last week with my Doctor who I work for...

Me: (slow day) wats up Boss !!! 😉 (and a big smile on my face). May I have a "private talk" with you while you have no patient now?
Dr: Of course, let come to my office
(Door close)

Dr: Don't tell me you're quiting your job
Me: yes, if you dont write me LOR
Dr (smile): what school is that?
Me: pharmacy school
Dr: oh, good for you. Have I ever said "no" to anything you asked? (smile)
Me: well, you have....when I asked for a raise....
Dr (smile): ok, you write it, I'll look it over and you can finish the rest (reprint with letter head). BTW, are you telling me that you'll quite your job when you get accepted?
Me: probally (smile) or work less hour but pay still is the same
Dr (smile): make sure you find someone good as you to replace your place
Me: Thanks so much for doing this Dr...

I've worked for him 10 years and we're very close. That why I can talk to him like that.

If they want you to write it, how do you write a letter of recommendation? I wouldn't know where to start. 😕

 

[Asian Girl]

If they want you to write it, how do you write a letter of recommendation? I wouldn't know where to start. 😕

I am wondering the same thing. Maybe we can search sample LORs in google, I guess.

 

[Street Spirit]

:::standing at production line:::

me: hey bob, can you write me a letter of rec for pharm school?
bob: sure, when do you need it by
me: ah in a few weeks
bob: ok, give me stuff to write about
me: ok

the above is the actual conversation i had with my PIC.

This is too eerie. That was almost the exact conversation I had with the Pharmacist I asked to get a letter from, and his name was Bob too!

 

[Hels2007]

I've never had a rejection myself... but thinking of my own techs, there are two or three for whom I would write any letter, any day, any time, even though I work some 60+ hours every week. Then there are a couple for whom I would decline to write a letter either because I don't know them at all, only having worked with them a couple shifts, of I wasn't impressed by them, or I don't think they would make good pharmacists. I would never reject those who I think are awesome, even if I were literally drowning in work (and that happens all too often, especially when I have to teach on top of everything else).

One suggestion I have is to have your resume and letter of intent already printed out and ready when you ask the other person to write you a letter. That shows you are thoughtful and actually care about them. And firm voice helps too. 🙂

 

[Hels2007]

I just thought of another thing. Most people probably decline to write a letter of recommendation because they have no idea how to write one (it is a lot harder than it looks), and they don't want to write a crappy one. Refusal becomes the easy way out. Printing out a sample letter, or a form for recommendation (if your school provides one) would be helpful in that case. 🙂 I have never actually written a letter (I served as a reference, but never wrote one) but I think after reading a few hundred of them I would be able to... still, it is a daunting task.

 

[glowinglimabean]

2 years ago when I was taking human physiology. My professor was retiring that semester. I remember that me and this other kid where waiting to ask him a question. I had a physiological function question, but this other kid asked him for a letter of recommendation for pharmacy school. Well, the professor flat out rejected him 😱 in front of me! The professor said "well, I really don't know you and after all I am retiring this semester, I got to stop at some point". It was painful to Watch that kid go down in flames. But see this is where this kid went wrong, he asked a professor that didn't really know him.
There is a happy ending to this humiliation. This kid got into University of Florida, of course he had to volunteer and work in a professors lab. I figured he learned his lesson.

 

[cinnamoroll12]

I was volunteering in the inpatient pharmacy one day and...

ME: [Name of pharmacist], can you do me a favor? (again, I didn't mention anything about pharmacy applications or LORs)
PHARMACIST: You want a letter of rec?
ME: Umm, yea...that is if you don't mind writing one.
PHARMACIST: Sure, I would love to. You are the tenth person to ask me for one. =)
ME: (what a sigh of relief)

 

[tharper14]

I actually asked my chemistry professors to write me each a LOR... they were more than happy to... small class sizes = professors know ALL the students. But after I sent in my application two of the pharmacists at the pharmacy I volunteer at asked me if I needed a LOR! This was after 2 months of volunteering there, whereas my application I sent in 2 weeks after starting at the pharmacy, so I would have felt awkward asking for one back then when they didn't even know me. It's always awkward to ask for a LOR... I felt like such a burden for my professors, but they both reassured me that it's just part of the job and they were more than happy to write a LOR for me. Of course, my professors are super, super nice people.... that always helps!

 

[cinnamoroll12]

This is how I asked the pharmacists for LOR.

I had to go to the store to fax something one day, so while I was there:

Me: Thanks for letting me use the fax.
Her: No problem.
Me: BTW, is it possible for you to write me a LOR for Pharm School? All I need is your e-mail and contact phone, they'll e-mail the link to the form to you, you just have to fill it out.
Her: Sure, just send it here.

So, you asked a random pharmacist to write you one? Or was it a place where you work?

 

[RNtoPharmD]

I asked one of my Biology teacher who has taught two of the classes I took five year ago which I got high A because many schools requires one recommendation from a science professor. He didn't even remember me. I was so nervous when I went to see him at the office.
I still wonder to this day what he wrote on my recommendation😕

 

[confettiflyer]

I asked one of my Biology teacher who has taught two of the classes I took five year ago which I got high A because many schools requires one recommendation from a science professor. He didn't even remember me. I was so nervous when I went to see him at the office.
I still wonder to this day what he wrote on my recommendation😕

Yeah that's just plain awkward...I would have refused to write a letter if I were the professor. Were you just a student in the class or did you have any additional contact with this professor?

I was placed in a similar situation, but I worked with this advisor for a full year in 2003. I didn't apply until 2007, needless to say she was a little rusty on who I was. But I anticipated this and told her I wanted to meet with her first and sent along a resume/letter of intent to get her started.

But after we talked she did remember. I was not a student in her class, but she was the advisor for something that I won't detail on here.

I feel that many professors at large public institutions know the game involved with graduate/professional school programs. If you did well in their class off 500 and ask nicely, most will oblige with a generic letter they probably have saved.

 

[Sparda29]

So, you asked a random pharmacist to write you one? Or was it a place where you work?

Nope, I worked there for a while. It's easier to get LOR's from younger pharmacists because they are generally better with computers, the other pharmacist I got it from is in his 50s, not too good with computers so it took a week or so for him to finish the PharmCAS thing, the young one I got it from did it the same day I sent it out.

For professors, it is a bit harder. All the professors I asked told me to wait until the end of the semester, and only did it if you got a C or higher in the class.

 

[gemmin]

I forgot to mention that after the pharmacist declined to write me a letter of recommendation he asked when I would need the letter by. I told him not until July because Pharmcas doesn't even open till June. He soon figured out that pharmcas was a "third party" service that would distribute his lor to multiple pharmacy schools and he wouldn't have to print out multiple copies of his letter, then send them to all the schools separately. At that point his tone kind of changed, it seemed that what he was thinking was this: "It seems very hassle free. I just have to write one and it will be sent to all the schools via the internet."

Now that I think about it, he probably thought it would be a lot more time consuming. But at the same time, I think he was BSing because he said it would take him at least 8-9 hours to write my lor. To just WRITE it!

 

[RNtoPharmD]

Were you just a student in the class or did you have any additional contact with this professor?

No, I didn't speak to him for 5 years. I am just a student in his class. However, I used to ask him for recommendation before pharmacy school 5 years ago but he didn't remember anything about it. I told him I went to nursing school instead and want to go back to pharm school and I want him to write the letter for me again.

I guess like you said, if you do well in the class, they are likely write a recommendation for you. But again, it's better to find someone who really know you. I was desperate because I was out of school for years.