Should I ask him for a LOR??

[lemonade123]

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So I'm meeting with my physics professor tomorrow to take a look at my final (I had taken the course over the summer), just to see how I did. But I don't know whether I should ask him for a letter of rec or not. He definitely knows my face because I've gone to so many office hours, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't know my name because we never really talked one-on-one (there were always tons of premeds in office hours so there was little chance for that). But I feel like I put in a lot of effort into the class and learned a lot, though I received a B+. What should I do? I have other strong LORs, but I need science LORs so idk whether to ask him tomorrow or not.

 

[mauberley]

So I'm meeting with my physics professor tomorrow to take a look at my final (I had taken the course over the summer), just to see how I did. But I don't know whether I should ask him for a letter of rec or not. He definitely knows my face because I've gone to so many office hours, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't know my name because we never really talked one-on-one (there were always tons of premeds in office hours so there was little chance for that). But I feel like I put in a lot of effort into the class and learned a lot, though I received a B+. What should I do? I have other strong LORs, but I need science LORs so idk whether to ask him tomorrow or not.

It sounds like you have few other sources of science letters, so I'd say go for it; but even that aside, it can't hurt to ask.

 

[lemonade123]

Okay, but how should I go about asking him? Should I start off like, "I know we havent talked one-on-one before, but I put in so much effort in this class, I feel like I learned something valuable and applicable, I'm applying to med school, ....etc." ?

 

[music2doc]

Okay, but how should I go about asking him? Should I start off like, "I know we havent talked one-on-one before, but I put in so much effort in this class, I feel like I learned something valuable and applicable, I'm applying to med school, ....etc." ?

If you haven't even met him before, that sounds like the start to a very tepid, mediocre LOR. Use people who can praise you, who really have some background with you. You don't want an LOR that basically restates what they can already see from your transcript.

 

[PinknGreenMD]

I would mention how much you enjoyed the class. Then I would mention how you like his teaching method or something like that. Then I would mention that you are applying to medical school and tell him all the stuff you need to turn in for medical school admission. Then throw in "since you are a great testament to my academic experience in your class, would you mind writing me a letter of recommendation?" You can even tell him that you have a list of your strengths and weaknesses, you have a template you can provide to him or whatever the case may be to make him writing the letter more convenient. Just go for it! Good luck

 

[Morsetlis]

^ I would also give that advice.

It doesn't matter how good or bad of a letter he gives you. First GET a letter and put it in Interfolio or send it to your school's letter evaluation service, where a committee might give you advise on how good (or bad) that letter is. Either way, people can procrastinate and take a long time to write you a letter. In the end, you DO need two science professor letters.