What level of LOR-strategizing is acceptable?

[zogoto]

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Some of my professors want to talk to me about potential things to put in the letter, whereas others just said "yes" to being able to write a strong letter and asked me to send a CV.

Is it appropriate to give them a list of things that they may want to talk about, just in case they don't remember (such as "held office hours the day before the exam since the TA was sick", "got highest exam score on 2 of the 3 exams," etc.)?

In addition, I have heard that it is good for all of your letters to flag certain things, such as your motivation for being a doctor, so I can ask some profs to put this in. I have talked about it with all of them, but I can tell that one (one of my science professors) is very strict and feels that he is only an "expert" on my scientific abilities, and was wondering if it would be right for him to write about my medical motivation. Is it helpful, considering that your professors don't actually know your medical motivation, and that would be better for your personal statement to show?

 

[binko]

You can def. tell them what strengths the program you're applying to is looking for. I've had letter-writers ask me before what angle the program wants to see. I was just like, "well this program is really looking for creative, self-motivated learners" or, "this program is really looking for responsible, dependable people", so they knew what to emphasize.

 

[Mobius1985]

Is it appropriate to give them a list of things that they may want to talk about, just in case they don't remember (such as "held office hours the day before the exam since the TA was sick", "got highest exam score on 2 of the 3 exams," etc.)?

I think this is acceptable, as you are jogging the professor's memory about true past occurances. It is their choice whether to use it, reword it, or omit it because it is trivial and not in their usual style. It's not like you are writing the letter or giving them a script, which would not be appropriate.

 

[flip26]

I know people who have had profs ask them to write their own letters. After that, it is up to the prof to use it as written, or to modify it, and once he signs off on it, it is "his" letter.

The more that a prof asks of you, the better chance you have of getting the LOR you want.