Weird LOR Question... Professor upset at LOR

[samuraiR]

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So I was a business major in undergrad and have worked in Corporate America a lil bit and now I am applying to medical school. I TA'ed for a Professor and he is a Business Professor. I asked him for a LOR and he said definitely and sounded very enthusiastic and all that. I sent him my personal statement and I mentioned how business wasnt for me, and how I wanted something more and all that.

His response is a bit frightening. "Rec is done, whats the address? Our department can afford stamps and an envelope"

I had offered to provide an envelope and stamps if needed (just out of courtesy).

Now I am worried that he may have been offended by my PS? How would I go about finding that out without sounding like I wanna read it? The LOR is going to our preadvising office and they are going to combine everything and send it out.

****...im worried

 

[Tots]

So I was a business major in undergrad and have worked in Corporate America a lil bit and now I am applying to medical school. I TA'ed for a Professor and he is a Business Professor. I asked him for a LOR and he said definitely and sounded very enthusiastic and all that. I sent him my personal statement and I mentioned how business wasnt for me, and how I wanted something more and all that.

His response is a bit frightening. "Rec is done, whats the address? Our department can afford stamps and an envelope"

I had offered to provide an envelope and stamps if needed (just out of courtesy).

Now I am worried that he may have been offended by my LOR? How would I go about finding that out without sounding like I wanna read it? The LOR is going to our preadvising office and they are going to combine everything and send it out.

****...im worried

He was probably just busy and figured it would be easier to just hand it over to someone to mail it out ASAP then wait for you come in and give him stamps and an envelope. I wouldn't worry if thats all he said.

 

[BlueElmo]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, you could have phrased the PS a bit better though.

 

[Sammich117]

I don't really think that sounds that bad. He probably just wants to get it out.

 

[juliedi]

I had a somewhat similar experience for which I could really use some advice. Today I met with my o.chem professor from last year to ask for a LOR. We always seemed to get along well - for the past year I've stopped by his office hours pretty often, and I even took him to my sorority's scholarship dinner last year - so I figured he'd write me a good letter. But at our meeting today, he kept asking me all this difficult questions and grilling me on my life: he put down my reason for wanting to become a doctor, told me he wasn't sure if I had the right personality to become an oncologist (the specialty I'm leaning toward), he dismissed my ideas on healthcare reform when I didn't agree with him. Now I'm wondering if he's going to write me a good recommendation at all, and I could use some advice. Do you think that he was just trying to play devil's advocate and get me to think about these issues I'm going to face as a doctor, or do you think he actually is questioning my ability and reflect poorly about me in my letter? He did agree to write the letter, so I'm just confused... any advice would be wonderful.

 

[Hifey]

I had a somewhat similar experience for which I could really use some advice. Today I met with my o.chem professor from last year to ask for a LOR. We always seemed to get along well - for the past year I've stopped by his office hours pretty often, and I even took him to my sorority's scholarship dinner last year - so I figured he'd write me a good letter. But at our meeting today, he kept asking me all this difficult questions and grilling me on my life: he put down my reason for wanting to become a doctor, told me he wasn't sure if I had the right personality to become an oncologist (the specialty I'm leaning toward), he dismissed my ideas on healthcare reform when I didn't agree with him. Now I'm wondering if he's going to write me a good recommendation at all, and I could use some advice. Do you think that he was just trying to play devil's advocate and get me to think about these issues I'm going to face as a doctor, or do you think he actually is questioning my ability and reflect poorly about me in my letter? He did agree to write the letter, so I'm just confused... any advice would be wonderful.

We really can't tell you if you don't know his reputation. If others have asked him for LORs and he also grilled them then its common. If its just you, then there may be a problem. However, he may also have been trying to play devil's advocate. You'll have to use your best judgement on this one.

 

[Morsetlis]

We really can't tell you, but "Business isn't for me" wasn't the best thing you could've said.

 

[samuraiR]

We really can't tell you, but "Business isn't for me" wasn't the best thing you could've said.

lol i just sent him my PS! i completely didnt realize it could be read the wrong way lol. Oh well, LOR got to my pre-med advising office and they havent said anything so I am going to assume its ok for now

lol

 

[specter]

I'm sorry, but why was his statement frightening? I could see how it might be frightening to a paranoid pre-med, but I really don't see anything to be worried about here.

 

[samuraiR]

I'm sorry, but why was his statement frightening? I could see how it might be frightening to a paranoid pre-med, but I really don't see anything to be worried about here.

i guess i just overreacted. I spent alot of time/money on taking the pre-reqs after getting my bachelors that I didnt wanna be owned by one letter.

That being said, I think I overreacted.

 

[specter]

i guess i just overreacted. I spent alot of time/money on taking the pre-reqs after getting my bachelors that I didnt wanna be owned by one letter.

That being said, I think I overreacted.

no worries, just try to keep your cool. if you stress every little thing, the application process is going to be really painful.