Worried about obtaining a good LOR?

[y3nd0]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys,

I need some advice on obtaining some LORs... I emailed two of my science professors that I thought would at least remember me from class. (I go to one of those big universities where the average science class is 250 students or so). I got a response from one saying she'd be happy to write one for me. I mentioned once in the request and another time in the response that I'd be happy to bring in my personal statement/resume to her office when she was free (so she would actually see my face and remember who I was or to ask me any questions). She said she preferred me to email the material to her instead and ended the email saying "Good luck with your application!" which sounds like she's cutting off communication, if you ask me.

I'm a little worried now because she isn't even willing to see me. I understand she could be busy, but I'm worried that she won't have a clue who I am and will just write me that über generic letter of "The applicant did well in my class".

As for the second professor, I haven't heard back from her either (and she is normally quick with emails). I'll wait a week until I send her another email. Is that too pushy? It is nearing the end of the quarter, so I imagine all professors are busy now...

Thanks for any help. I feel like I want to pull my hair out now.

 

[ATG20]

I knew my professors well, so perhaps it was different for me, but I just emailed and asked if I could meet with them. I kept the email vague and they just said they're free at Time X on Wednesday. I popped by and asked for the letter. It's different if you never interacted with them after class though. If you went to office hours or talked to them at all outside, I'd recommend this method. If they're a professor who taught you three years ago, and you never interacted with them outside of the odd question after lecture, then you'd best look elsewhere if you want something non-generic.

It's hard for them to write something special if they don't know you very well.

 

[free99]

Sounds like you're in a tough spot having already initiated everything by email. Ordinarily, I think it's best to ask to meet without giving a specific reason or to go in during office hours and meet. If you're a sociable person you can often strike up a conversation and then ask at some point when it feels natural. In your case, I would just trust their intentions are good and want to get you into dental school. Most professors genuinely want you to succeed and are pros at writing letters for students they may not know all that well.

 

[y3nd0]

Thanks for the reply.

The thing is, I'm not close enough to them to ask to meet without a purpose... One professor isn't even teaching this quarter. :/ as for the professor that hasn't emailed back, I still don't have a clue as to when her office hours are, but I will definitely try stopping in next week then.

But I thought emailing the professor wasn't get bad of a move?

 

[suarez 7]

This is what I would do

1) For the professor that emailed you back, don't respond to that email and don't email her the materials. Make the effort to go to her office when she's there and remind her that you sent an email requesting a recommendation letter, and she agreed. Without acknowledging that she wanted everything electronic in the email, give her your physical documents. It should be in a cover folder with your name, email, phone, whatever, along with clear written instructions on how to submit the rec letter.

2) For the professor that didn't email back, I would wait a week. If he/she doesn't respond, then call/meet the department secretary that he/she works in and ask when your professor is in the office. I had the same issue with one of my professors where I didn't get a response and found out that she was on a summer vacation after the semester ended.

 

[tommyinVA]

Do you really not have any other bio professors that you could ask? Like ATG, my situation may have been different, but when it came time for me to ask for LoR's, one said she'd "be honored" to write it and the other asked me if they could write a letter for me.

I'm not trying to brag or rub anything in your face, but my point is that if you're having this much uncertainty over 1 professor not getting back to and the other possibly not even recognizing who you are, then you probably didn't put enough effort into building a rapport with either of them over the semester, regardless of how large your classes are.

I second suarez's recommendation of going to prof 1's office in person. As for the other one who won't even respond...I'd look for someone else.

 

[y3nd0]

This is what I would do

1) For the professor that emailed you back, don't respond to that email and don't email her the materials. Make the effort to go to her office when she's there and remind her that you sent an email requesting a recommendation letter, and she agreed. Without acknowledging that she wanted everything electronic in the email, give her your physical documents. It should be in a cover folder with your name, email, phone, whatever, along with clear written instructions on how to submit the rec letter.

2) For the professor that didn't email back, I would wait a week. If he/she doesn't respond, then call/meet the department secretary that he/she works in and ask when your professor is in the office. I had the same issue with one of my professors where I didn't get a response and found out that she was on a summer vacation after the semester ended.

Thanks for the reply.

I really like your suggestions. 🙂 but... That was my initial plan (bringing in my documents in a folder) if and when she agreed to meet me in person.

The thing I'm most worried about your suggestion is that - what if she is extremely busy this quarter and that is why she is not willing to meet me (but is free enough to write a letter)? Would visiting her office be considered too "clingy" or stalker-like? After all, I am asking her for a favor that is part of determining my future... I don't want to offend her by being too upfront (when she asked me specifically to email her the documents).

Any other thoughts on this...?

As for the professor that hasn't emailed me back, she's still around campus. I will just have to figure out her office hours and drop by...

 

[doc toothache]

1) For the professor that emailed you back, don't respond to that email and don't email her the materials. Make the effort to go to her office when she's there and remind her that you sent an email requesting a recommendation letter, and she agreed. Without acknowledging that she wanted everything electronic in the email, give her your physical documents. It should be in a cover folder with your name, email, phone, whatever, along with clear written instructions on how to submit the rec letter.

Than the prof can add: "good student, but has difficulty following directions."

 

[y3nd0]

Than the prof can add: "good student, but has difficulty following directions."

Thanks, doc toothache. You bring up a very good point.

I think what I'll do is: take my chances and email her the material. The previous poster was right when s/he said that the writers only want you to succeed... But, what I'll do is stop by sometime later this week and tell her that I wanted to say thank you in person and ask her if she had any questions for me before she starts writing the letter (I am sure she won't be that quick about it).

Thanks everyone for the replies. I feel a little better...

And I honestly did try to make myself a familiar face/name. True, I didn't show up to every single office hour/ask questions in class, but I tried. And with the amount of faces they see on a quarterly basis, that was my main goal: to become a familiar face.

 

[Teeths]

In my opinion, I don't really see anything wrong with what the first professor responded with in regards to just sending the material over by email. It sounds like she'll be happy to write a letter for you when given the info she needs, and yes, it'll probably be general, but in classes with tons of students (mine were like this as well) it's sort of difficult to get to know the professors well. I popped into professors office hours every now and then and even went up after class to ask some questions from time to time, but with so many students, their office hours usually had people waiting in the hall. For the other professor, I'd see if you could go to their office and if not, send another email to make sure they received it or it hasn't gotten pushed down to the bottom of their inbox by other requests and emails.

Good luck!

 

[ddsmission]

Hey guys,

I need some advice on obtaining some LORs... I emailed two of my science professors that I thought would at least remember me from class. (I go to one of those big universities where the average science class is 250 students or so). I got a response from one saying she'd be happy to write one for me. I mentioned once in the request and another time in the response that I'd be happy to bring in my personal statement/resume to her office when she was free (so she would actually see my face and remember who I was or to ask me any questions). She said she preferred me to email the material to her instead and ended the email saying "Good luck with your application!" which sounds like she's cutting off communication, if you ask me.

I'm a little worried now because she isn't even willing to see me. I understand she could be busy, but I'm worried that she won't have a clue who I am and will just write me that über generic letter of "The applicant did well in my class".

As for the second professor, I haven't heard back from her either (and she is normally quick with emails). I'll wait a week until I send her another email. Is that too pushy? It is nearing the end of the quarter, so I imagine all professors are busy now...

Thanks for any help. I feel like I want to pull my hair out now.

hahahaha sounds like me during my undergrad @ a UC.
well, as for your first professor, it sounds like you havent built a relationship from the beginning with this professor, which you should've done previously. honestly, don't be expecting a LOR saying a whole lot of high regards, but just be ready for a generic letter.

as for your second professor, some professors will ignore emails of LOR just because like what i said in my first remark; you have to get to know your professors before you ask them. them getting to know you is key to getting a LOR that really reflects your character.

if you can, i would start building relationship with professors whether it be by volunteering at his/her lab or something. for me, luckily, i played basketball with my professor lol...

 

[y3nd0]

hahahaha sounds like me during my undergrad @ a UC.
well, as for your first professor, it sounds like you havent built a relationship from the beginning with this professor, which you should've done previously. honestly, don't be expecting a LOR saying a whole lot of high regards, but just be ready for a generic letter.

as for your second professor, some professors will ignore emails of LOR just because like what i said in my first remark; you have to get to know your professors before you ask them. them getting to know you is key to getting a LOR that really reflects your character.

if you can, i would start building relationship with professors whether it be by volunteering at his/her lab or something. for me, luckily, i played basketball with my professor lol...

That's pretty cool. Haha.

Sadly, lab work isn't for me. Even if I tried to volunteer at a lab, I would probably leave a bad name for myself. xD

I know. Now that I look back, I should have spent more time trying to get to know them. To be honest though, I didn't like the prospect of sucking up (I had no serious "burning" or "curiously curious questions" that would make me need to visit them during their office hours - the only professor that I made genuine contact with was the second one who didn't email me back. I'll try and visit her in her office and see what she says...).

 

[y3nd0]

In my opinion, I don't really see anything wrong with what the first professor responded with in regards to just sending the material over by email. It sounds like she'll be happy to write a letter for you when given the info she needs, and yes, it'll probably be general, but in classes with tons of students (mine were like this as well) it's sort of difficult to get to know the professors well. I popped into professors office hours every now and then and even went up after class to ask some questions from time to time, but with so many students, their office hours usually had people waiting in the hall. For the other professor, I'd see if you could go to their office and if not, send another email to make sure they received it or it hasn't gotten pushed down to the bottom of their inbox by other requests and emails.

Good luck!

Thanks, man! You're in the same boat as me AND you understand! 😀 *electronic hug*

And you are absolutely correct. Even during class breaks, people would line up with questions. After class, people would line up with questions. During office hours, sometimes the whole office would be crowded (give or take a few times). It IS difficult to get to know the professor well unless you really try at sucking up (with no disrespect to people that built genuine relationships). Sometimes getting to know a professor is difficult. The professor that is willing to write is a professor of a 70 student class - one of the smallest science classes I've taken. And 70 students is still a lot...

Now if they were asking for letters of recommendation from non-science professors... I would have no problem at all obtaining those (just because the classes were small enough that the professors would know you personally - even went out for a drink with one of them - and to her wedding. 😀 just saying...).