What route do you request your letters of recommendation?

[DavetheMD]

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Just curious on what all of your opinions are on this matter. I prefer to make my request in person, but sometimes you don't have a personal relationship with a professor and only have the opportunity to ask them during a class. In these scenarios, I have been making requests via e-mail.

Furthermore, do you think it's better to get a less personal letter from a higher authority or a very descriptive letter from an individual who doesn't have much clout?

 

[mauberley]

Just curious on what all of your opinions are on this matter. I prefer to make my request in person, but sometimes you don't have a personal relationship with a professor and only have the opportunity to ask them during a class. In these scenarios, I have been making requests via e-mail.

Furthermore, do you think it's better to get a less personal letter from a higher authority or a very descriptive letter from an individual who doesn't have much clout?

If I had access to the person, I asked in person. Otherwise, email. (Some of my letter-writers were kind of far away.)

As to your second question, I would go with the latter.

 

[generator]

Just curious on what all of your opinions are on this matter. I prefer to make my request in person, but sometimes you don't have a personal relationship with a professor and only have the opportunity to ask them during a class. In these scenarios, I have been making requests via e-mail.

Furthermore, do you think it's better to get a less personal letter from a higher authority or a very descriptive letter from an individual who doesn't have much clout?

A descriptive letter is better - but in my opinion why don't you just get both? The more the merrier - if one falls through you have a backup. bam.

Also I prefer to make my initial requests for lor in person - simply because i have no idea how to not sound rude asking for it via email.

 

[KindofBlue]

Agree with generator, get both, and use the LOR service thingy that evaluates LORs (I forgot the name but I'm sure it's somewhere here in the forum 🙂 ) .

I would feel pretty uncomfortable asking professors I don't know personally or haven't at least had a conversation outside of class. I know this is not easy for larger schools, but I think you really need to put in the effort. Asking questions, talking about difficulties in your life, etc..you know, the bogus kind of issues to get acquainted and stuff.
Even if you don't have that kind of rapport, I would really try to ask them in person, unless they've moved to a different state or a country or something. That way you at least get a chance to speak with them face to face and promote yourself and befriend them a bit.