Has anyone had to do this before? I'll be applying to various optometry schools, and for each of them I'll need either two or three letters of recommendation from profs. Thing is, I don't really know any of my profs on any kind of personal level, so I'm wondering how I should go about it. I've done really well in a lot of my courses since I've switched into the science program that I'm in now, but to to them I'd just be another faceless student in the crowd. Advice anyone?
Getting letters of recommendation?
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I hope I never have to get letters of recommendation because I have absolutely no relationship with any of my professors.
But, since you said you've done well, pick the professors whose classes you've done best at and ask them. Even if they don't remember you, or don't remember you that well, I'm sure they'll be happy to write a letter for you if you got a good grade. You could find them during office hours and say something like "Hi, I'm [name] and I was in your [name] class and since I did well in your class, I was hoping you could write a letter of recommendation for me." I guess that's pretty basic, but something along those lines to start off a conversation.
And you say you might be faceless to them, but teachers are better at remembering names in my experience. If you did well I'm sure your name will stick out to them.
Good luck!
But, since you said you've done well, pick the professors whose classes you've done best at and ask them. Even if they don't remember you, or don't remember you that well, I'm sure they'll be happy to write a letter for you if you got a good grade. You could find them during office hours and say something like "Hi, I'm [name] and I was in your [name] class and since I did well in your class, I was hoping you could write a letter of recommendation for me." I guess that's pretty basic, but something along those lines to start off a conversation.
And you say you might be faceless to them, but teachers are better at remembering names in my experience. If you did well I'm sure your name will stick out to them.
Good luck!
I had to get three letters of rec to apply to graduate school. I didn't have a relationship with any of my teachers outside of the classroom, so I just picked the three in whose classes I'd done best and who'd written the best comments on my papers (I was an English major). No problem at all.
To help them out, I also gave each of them a folder containing two or three papers I'd written in their class, plus my personal statement to the schools I was applying. You could also add your curriculum vitae to the file if you want to, though it wasn't necessary for me. Most teachers are happy to help out students applying to college/university.
To help them out, I also gave each of them a folder containing two or three papers I'd written in their class, plus my personal statement to the schools I was applying. You could also add your curriculum vitae to the file if you want to, though it wasn't necessary for me. Most teachers are happy to help out students applying to college/university.
I'm having the same problem gathering LOR's for medschool. The best way I've found to get acquainted with your professors is to meet with them during their office hours if you need help with something or dont understand something they've taught. This does a number of things. First, it shows that you are a real student and actually trying in their class - professors usually show preference to students who they can tell are at least trying. It also gives them an opportunity to get to know you if your conversation happens to branch off into more personal topics. Then, sometime during the last few weeks (You MUST give them at least a few weeks, teachers are busy), ask them nicely to write you a LOR and give your email address or phone number in case they have any questions. Most teachers are more than happy. Afterall, they all probably had to do the same thing to get LOR's for their graduate study.
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