Setting up LOR Request Meetings

[deleted804295]

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Hey everyone,

How do I go about requesting a meeting via email with one of my professors if I have a LOR Request to talk to them about? Should I structure it as a thank you meeting? Or should I flat out tell them it's to ask for a LOR?

Either way I'll be thanking them since they helped me a lot in this semester.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Don't beat around the bush. You're a pre-med, they're a professor. Tell them you'll be applying to med school and are hoping they'd be willing to write an LOR. Some will just want a CV and will write a letter based on that, others would prefer to meet in person. Give them both options.

 

[Jdp00921]

I'm not sure if you're at a very large state school or a small private school, so maybe this is more difficult if you attend the former. However, when I was in undergrad, I didn't email, I went to my potential writers office to request my letters. Walk in, ask if they have a few minutes to speak, and discuss the fact that you would like a letter of recommendation (as I have learned from SDN, be sure to ask specifically if they can write you a strong LOR!). I could be wrong, but I always felt it was better to request things like a LOR in person.

Your potential writers will likely ask for a CV and possibly a personal statement. One person I asked actually had this form he gave to students requesting letters which asked some specific questions about academic and non-academic interests, etc.

Good luck!

Edit - I didn't realize you were emailing to request a meeting. I apologize. If possible, I think you can skip the email and just go to their office. Again, if school size permits.

 

[deleted804295]

I'm not sure if you're at a very large state school or a small private school, so maybe this is more difficult if you attend the former. However, when I was in undergrad, I didn't email, I went to my potential writers office to request my letters. Walk in, ask if they have a few minutes to speak, and discuss the fact that you would like a letter of recommendation (as I have learned from SDN, be sure to ask specifically if they can write you a strong LOR!). I could be wrong, but I always felt it was better to request things like a LOR in person.

Your potential writers will likely ask for a CV and possibly a personal statement. One person I asked actually had this form he gave to students requesting letters which asked some specific questions about academic and non-academic interests, etc.

Good luck!

Edit - I didn't realize you were emailing to request a meeting. I apologize. If possible, I think you can skip the email and just go to their office. Again, if school size permits.

I would love to just go to her office and request that of her but I've never actually went to her office before without requesting a meeting beforehand. Sometimes she's 20 minutes away at a research location so I never actually know if she's in her office or not.

But yeah, I'll try and meet up with her at her office. I'm close enough with her that it wouldn't be weird if I came to her office unnoticed. I just don't want to bother her when she's busy.

Also, I do go to a very large university. One of the largest Universities in this nation actually.

 

[Jdp00921]

I would love to just go to her office and request that of her but I've never actually went to her office before without requesting a meeting beforehand. Sometimes she's 20 minutes away at a research location so I never actually know if she's in her office or not.

But yeah, I'll try and meet up with her at her office. I'm close enough with her that it wouldn't be weird if I came to her office unnoticed. I just don't want to bother her when she's busy.

Also, I do go to a very large university. One of the largest Universities in this nation actually.

I see! I went to a relatively small university, <3000 students, so most of the professors seemed to enjoy people just showing up!

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Hi Dr/Professor X:

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Sunbodi and I am in your Y class. I really enjoyed your class this semester and would like to make an appointment to speak with you. I am thinking about medical school, would like your perspective, and wanted to ask about a letter of evaluation. What time is convenient for you?

Best,

Sunbodi.

*Have you CV, PS, Transcript, etc ready to hand to him/her at the meeting. As mentioned above, in the meeting ask them whether they can provide a very strong LOR. If they hedge on their answer, then thank them for their time and find another....

 

[deleted804295]

Hi Dr/Professor X:

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Sunbodi and I am in your Y class. I really enjoyed your class this semester and would like to make an appointment to speak with you. I am thinking about medical school, would like your perspective, and wanted to ask about a letter of evaluation. What time is convenient for you?

Best,

Sunbodi.

*Have you CV, PS, Transcript, etc ready to hand to him/her at the meeting. As mentioned above, in the meeting ask them whether they can provide a very strong LOR. If they hedge on their answer, then thank them for their time and find another....

Thanks this is very helpful! I don't think I'll have to introduce myself in the email since we know each other well enough now but the part where you say "I am thinking about Medical school" is very helpful because that opens up a conversation where I can talk to her about my career aspirations.