What to do?

[medicomel]

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Okay, I'm 0 for 2 here. I emailed two professors about rec letters two weeks ago and got no response. I called them the next week during their office hours and I have not heard from them.

Casually dropping by is not an option, given the fact that I work all day.

Has anybody here experienced weeks of waiting without hearing back?
This isn't a rush or anything; I'm just surprised nobody's giving me the time of day here. 🙁

 

[stoic]

what kind of relationship do you have with the professors? if you've only taken classes from you they probably don't really have much to say in a letter.

 

[sfbear]

Are there any other professors you can contact? Even if they don't have much to say, most schools have LOR reqs and so you have to have a professor who taught you some sort of science. How close are you to the university? What about TAs? If you can get them to write a letter, you can usually get the professor to co-sign it.

 

[medicomel]

I'm a post-bac, so my relationship outside of going to class and office hours is pretty much it. Both agreed to write a letter in January, and though they won't extol my virtues, they should comment on the fact that I did well in the class, asked questions, and stopped by during office hours.

I had a year of lab class in addition to having a full year of lecture with one of them, and so I've interacted with him more.

 

[stoic]

sounds like you need to find a way to make a person appearance. it's much harder to ignore someone when they're standin' in your office

 

[medicomel]

My physics professor immediately agreed to write one for me. That leaves organic and biochem profs. I would be really uncomfortable asking the 2nd semester general biology prof and general chemistry professors because both of them have left the university.

That leaves first semester biology. I guess I could try him, but he's really gruff and unapproachable. Plus, that was in 2001.

Any advice? Should I keep gently persisting with the organic and biochem profs, or should I go another route with the gen bio professor?

The TAs for gen bio were the professors.
The TA for organic was the prof.
The TAs for physics were guys 10 years my junior.

 

[medicomel]

sounds like you need to find a way to make a person appearance. it's much harder to ignore someone when they're standin' in your office

You're absolutely right, Stoic. I popped by my physics professor, and he could do nothing by oblige. I guess I'll arrange to take a vacation day from work.

You rock!
👍

 

[DrYo12]

Okay, I'm 0 for 2 here. I emailed two professors about rec letters two weeks ago and got no response. I called them the next week during their office hours and I have not heard from them.

Casually dropping by is not an option, given the fact that I work all day.

Has anybody here experienced weeks of waiting without hearing back?
This isn't a rush or anything; I'm just surprised nobody's giving me the time of day here. 🙁

I experienced weeks of waiting without hearing back this summer (yes, late in the process, I agree, but nonetheless). Basically, give them a few more days and then try e-mailing again. You can also try calling their office to see what's going on. Best advice on this issue is to ask more profs. I know it seems like alot, but I asked about 10 profs to get 6 letters. Its not because they're not willing to write the letters, but there was an NIH deadline yesterday that many were scrambling to meet, and there is another coming up on Dec 1st that many are trying to get crackin' on. What I'm saying is that they're busy people, and while they probably want to write you a letter, they may forget/get busy and not find any time to do it. Ask more profs.

 

[medicomel]

Do you initiate by email, telephone call, or by visiting their office?

 

[DrYo12]

I did it all three ways. One was an organic professor. I literally called him up and said "you may recall that I went to your office a few times last summer. I was the one with the XXX story. My advisor suggested I ask you for a letter of recommendation. Do you think you'd be able to write one for me?"

One was via e-mail with similar texting.

A few were by visiting the office, doing the usual catching up of lives, then I suggested that I would be applying to medical school in the summer. Usually that's the point where they suggest that they'd be willing to write a letter of rec, but if they don't, say that you think they know you well and that you'd be grateful for their support by writing you a letter of recommendation.

Just some suggestions based on my own experiences...

 

[NubianPrincess]

May the force be with you, Chi-town Mel

 

[medicomel]

I did it all three ways. One was an organic professor. I literally called him up and said "you may recall that I went to your office a few times last summer. I was the one with the XXX story. My advisor suggested I ask you for a letter of recommendation. Do you think you'd be able to write one for me?"

One was via e-mail with similar texting.

A few were by visiting the office, doing the usual catching up of lives, then I suggested that I would be applying to medical school in the summer. Usually that's the point where they suggest that they'd be willing to write a letter of rec, but if they don't, say that you think they know you well and that you'd be grateful for their support by writing you a letter of recommendation.

Just some suggestions based on my own experiences...

Guess what??? I just sucked it up and called the organic professor again.
Praise the Lord he agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's 2 sciences, 1 nonscience in the bag.

One less thing to worry about. Thanks you guys! It's nice to know I can get good advice here.
Now on to studying for the MCAT. 🙄

 

[DrYo12]

YAY! Good for you, C-Mel. MCAT studying...bleh. Good luck.