What to bring to letter writer

[ratman7]

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I'm going to ask my first 2 professors for a recommendation letter and don't know what to bring them. One of the professors I currently have (will ask him at end of semester) and the other professor I had last semester.
What do you bring to the professors (along with request form and stamped envelopes)?

The professor I had last semester knows me, and I have told him last semester about my desire to become a doctor, but we did not discuss that any further at all. We talked about interesting topics in the class the professor taught, and talked about methods of improvement. Not at all about my career plans (other than telling them that I want to be a doctor, but told him only once and we moved on). I feel he has a good idea of my character. Should I still ask him for a letter to med school even though we did not talk about my desire to be a doctor in detail ?

Since he knows me from only an in-class perspective, I am hesitant to give him my resume. I feel like he would just write about stuff on the resume, which would look superficial because we never discussed my extracurriculars. I don't want to tell him not to write about my resume because that may come off as limiting.
I'm thinking it's better I just dont give him my resume at all when asking. What do you think about this?

What else should I bring him? A template? Guide to writing letters - (if you have a good guide in mind, comment the link)? Personal statement? Paper with what I want him to mention?

 

[deleted407021]

This is from the AAMC. I'm in the process of requesting a LOR from my biochem professor from last semester, as well. I'm interested in seeing the responses.

 

[kevinsword91]

I gave my resume, a copy of my transcript and a draft of my personal statement. One of my professors did ask for my MCAT score so one writer had that too though most won't know what to make of it so only provide it if asked. I did give a guide to one letter writer who hadn't written one for medical schools before, but can't find where I got it.

 

[ratman7]

I gave my resume, a copy of my transcript and a draft of my personal statement. One of my professors did ask for my MCAT score so one writer had that too though most won't know what to make of it so only provide it if asked. I did give a guide to one letter writer who hadn't written one for medical schools before, but can't find where I got it.

Weren't you concerned that the writer would be compelled to use your resume and grades in your letter which may come off as uunnatural because they didn't know you in that context?

 

[kevinsword91]

Weren't you concerned that the writer would be compelled to use your resume and grades in your letter which may come off as uunnatural because they didn't know you in that context?

Not really. I have had letters like the one you mentioned, but I guess I figured the writers would focus on how they knew me. 2/4 of my professors I had known for essentially my entire undergrad and they knew me pretty well. Out of the other two, I coached one with guide for medical school LOR and the other I just figured would work out.

 

[dothy28]

Maybe you should try on sending one for him, for formality. In that case, your works and so as writings will be one of the basis of how you are when in terms of paper works. Looking forward for a good outcome of your problem. Cheers!

 

[moisne]

I basically wrote it for them... or the things I want them to hit, for example:

Hi Dr. X
I'm YYY from your ZZZ class from 3 years ago - here's a picture of me if as a reminder. blah balh talk about wanting to go to med school blah balh

Here were some points about me that helped me stand out - but in case you forgot:
1. My favorite topic in your class was AAA because it related to BBB.
2. We worked on CCC together for a poster presentation at DDD.
3. WHenever I was struggling, I wasn't shy to seek help.

So basically they will hit on those three points. I did this in order to ensure that my recommenders would hit different strengths of mine - otherwise they would all sound the same "She was a smart, driven, student - the end".