Tips on getting LOR's from old professors?

[cryhavoc]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I need LOR's. I went to office hours in past classes but not incredibly frequently (Maybe 3-5 times a semester). I participated in my classes and always sat in the front row. But I never gunned for LOR's because I didn't even know I wanted to be a doctor back then.

I was going to email my past professors a few sentences describing when I had their class, and say I'd like to meet with them.

-Should I straight out say I have the intention of meeting with them to get a LOR?
-Would it be rude/weird to give the times I am available to meet them? I'm worried if I don't they'll give a time that I can't do because of work.

Any additional advice would be welcome. Yeah, I know, I was supposed to become these professors best friends and I didn't so now I'm going to pay for it. But anyone willing to help with damage control would be greatly appreciated! 🙂

 

[IncuriousGeorge]

1. Find out their office hour
2. Go to their office
3. Ask in person while having your resume/CV ready
4. Move on to next professor until you have enough letters

 

[cryhavoc]

Would showing up at their office hours be better than emailing them to set up a meeting?

 

[Monkitty]

Depending on your time frame, you might want to consider actually trying establish a more well-developed "acquaintanceship". Visit them a couple of times. Talk with them, let them get to know you better, so that they can write a better letter for you.

Course this assumes you 1) have the time and 2) they have the time. However if you are forthright with them in your attentions, I'd think the upstanding professors wouldn't mind. Come by their office hours 2 or 3 times and chat with them, consider excusing yourself if a student comes in with actual questions, etc. Without knowing anything about you, they can fill-in a template letter commenting on your grades and some generic flattery things. That doesn't do you so much good. If they actually know your personality, know your dreams, opinions and goals, they can write a much better letter.

 

[kkrules2014]

I had this problem as well. I ended up emailing professors about possibly writing a LOR for me. I met with them and talked about why I wanted to go into medicine, my extracurricular activities, etc. I also gave them a rough draft of my personal statement and my resume. Still have two more possible LOR to get (pre-med advisor and non-science LOR).

 

[IslandStyle808]

Would showing up at their office hours be better than emailing them to set up a meeting?

The intended purpose of office hours is to help students with class questions, and students should be able to come in freely without emailing ahead. I would say it is okay to come in and ask when to formally set up a meeting to talk about a LOR (if they are okay talking with you then and there, just have your CV and personal statement ready).


However, I would suggest not getting your letters in this manner if possible (meaning zero interaction with the professor throughout the semester). I would suggest trying to go into office hours and having conversations with the professor if possible. If you are strapped for time after schools hours, here is another suggest that I also did. This only really works for classes of 40 students or under. I would usually meet with my professors after class and ask a few questions (only do this if they are not busy afterward). I did this pretty much every class session and we reached a point where we would have friendly conversations about things even outside of class (ex. our day, family, or about the news). I would visit their office hours maybe once a month (if had some hardcore questions). Pretty much every professor was more than willing to write a letter with this method. Even one professor, for the first time in my life, actually offered to write a letter of recommendation (also said he knew me better than anyone he has written an LOR for). So it works rather well.