Asking for letters of recommendation

[Senoska]

How do you ask for letters of recommendation? I've never had to do it.. I need at least two but I'm a little worried about asking professors I had years ago for letters. I'm shooting for around 4. I tend to do rather well in classes and am rather vocal in the class so I think they would remember me. A few of them have said hello to me when passing in the halls and even a few stopped to chat, but I feel strange about approaching them asking them for this.

Also, what is the grade limit to ask for a letter? I got a B in some of my harder courses but was doing very welll until I ended up in the hospital and missed my midterm in both classes. Is it still okay to ask? Also I know I can get a letter from silly simple classes like comp teachers and what not, is that still acceptable to ask? Even though the classes are simple and whatnot...

Never done this before. Any advice is welcomed.

[FNH]

talked to an old professor the other day for grad school. First you need to have had a lot of communication with the professor and they should know you. Then tell them what you plan on doing with the letters and ask if they can do that for you. specific grades shouldn't matter as those aren't always measures of ability ( or so my old professors have said).

also, you want strong letter writers, not your run of the mill professors

[Shuemue]

personal attack goes here

[Ksandra]

Don't ever be afraid to ask. The worse they're going to say is "I'm sorry but I don't remember you enough to do so." Which means you move on and find another.

Not going to lie, but profs are usually so used to having to write a ton of recommendations every year, that most of them are used to writing generic responses lol.

[The Stig]

E-mail them politely and formally.

What is this for? A job or to get into some institute of education?

Otherwise you'll find they'll write a generic letter from a template they have. And you won't be the first to have asked.

[isladar]

Just getting a good grade in a course isn't going to equate to a recommendation. You should make the attempt to interact with the professor outside of the class (office hours, extra help, bringing up other points regarding the lecture) so they have an idea as to who you are, what your goals are, etc.

Really though, you're asking a professor to write what he or she knows about you and their experience with you, so unless you've taken the time to express that, they won't have much of anything to write.

[volcanicweather]

What Ksandra said - the worst they can say is no, but you'll never know if you don't ask.

I've found if you ask the "less" popular professors you might have a better shot, senior project professors are also good, and even grad students who taught a class are OK if you really need something. It seems though the mega-popular professors who everyone asks for a letter generally churn out the generic ones.

[Ragnell]

Just getting a good grade in a course isn't going to equate to a recommendation. You should make the attempt to interact with the professor outside of the class (office hours, extra help, bringing up other points regarding the lecture) so they have an idea as to who you are, what your goals are, etc.

Really though, you're asking a professor to write what he or she knows about you and their experience with you, so unless you've taken the time to express that, they won't have much of anything to write.

^ this. Interact with your teachers, even if you've failed classes but know the teacher, I've gotten Letters from teachers from courses i've failed just because they know my potential, and knew i was bullshitting in that class.

[Jefe]

Just ask them.

For the future:

Be active in your classes, and like some have said interact with them. Also, put effort into the shit you do (homework, be on time, participate, etc.), they'll 1.) appreciate that and more importantly 2.) remember you. It also may come in handy when they grade. I've always done that and they are usually the ones asking me if I need a letter, no shit.

[Darus Grey]

Just ask.

Sad recommendation story: During my undergrad I wanted to do a study abroad program in Japan after having taken my first year of Japanese... I needed a recommendation from a JP professor, so I asked her and all she said in horribly broken English was "Sorry, I am not worthy" and wouldn't elaborate on what that meant, I was the *only* student in her 102 class so I had the interaction thing down.

To this day I have no idea wtf happened there.

[volcanicweather]

Just ask.

Sad recommendation story: During my undergrad I wanted to do a study abroad program in Japan after having taken my first year of Japanese... I needed a recommendation from a JP professor, so I asked her and all she said in horribly broken English was "Sorry, I am not worthy" and wouldn't elaborate on what that meant, I was the *only* student in her 102 class so I had the interaction thing down.

To this day I have no idea wtf happened there.

Some professors just fail. Should have forged it if she was that dumb.

[Ksandra]

Just ask.

Sad recommendation story: During my undergrad I wanted to do a study abroad program in Japan after having taken my first year of Japanese... I needed a recommendation from a JP professor, so I asked her and all she said in horribly broken English was "Sorry, I am not worthy" and wouldn't elaborate on what that meant, I was the *only* student in her 102 class so I had the interaction thing down.

To this day I have no idea wtf happened there.

She was probably too embarrassed in her English abilities to write a recommendation. I had two different Japanese teachers in college. First year was a female from Japan. It was funny, she was a very sweet lady (only a few years older than us), but was always blushing when she taught the class. She seemed rather nervous a lot. XD I liked her though. I can imagine she'd be too nervous to write anyone a letter of recommendation though.

[kuronosan]

I asked teachers I had a good rapport with for mine. They were all doctors/professors who I amused or at least had a chance to talk to. Just approach them, ask for a letter. Make sure you give them ample time to fill it out and also offer to waive your right to see their comments. It makes it look like you are more interested in getting a correct opinion than getting the opinion you think will get you into the school.

[Senoska]

This is for my travel abroad program and most teachers I've had remember me (IE: My name and what I talked about them with etc.) I usually get really involved in my classes and teachers and whatnot... Its worth a try I guess.

[SwinglineStapler]

When I applied for PhD programs this past winter I too had to to through this process. What everyone else has said here is pretty much right on target. Since these are recommendation letters the individuals who write them almost never say anything negative (recommendation letters have horrendous performance potential prediction validity for this reason).

What sends up red flags for the people reading the letters is ambiguity and lack of detail, which is why others here have suggested going beyond the usual classroom duties in order to get noticed. They also act as a sort of pseudo-test, as you really wouldn't want someone working for/with you who can't get at least 3-4 past "managers" to say good things about them.

As a practical consideration, be sure to provide your letter writers with addressed (if they are sending them directly) or at least labeled (if they are returning them to you) envelopes. You should also offer to provide postage. Finally, be sure to ask an extra 1 or 2 people for letters. This will allow you to still have the required amount of letters in case one of your letter-writers is a deadbeat or gets busy as your deadline approaches.

[ferigor]

E-mail them politely and formally.

Only e-mail them if you absolutely can't go talk to them. They may not remember you by name and its gives them a better impression if you go to talk to them in person.

[Serif]

The ones I asked generally want you to write it and they just sign it. They make sure everything is good information, not lying, but most that I talked to were more than happy to do it.

[archibaldcrane]

The ones I asked generally want you to write it and they just sign it. They make sure everything is good information, not lying, but most that I talked to were more than happy to do it.

This. Asking busy and/or lazy professors will increase your chances of this being the result.

I wrote my own letter for the head of my undergrad film dept. to get into grad school. Man that thing was glowing.

[Tristam]

This is for my travel abroad program and most teachers I've had remember me (IE: My name and what I talked about them with etc.) I usually get really involved in my classes and teachers and whatnot... Its worth a try I guess.

I doubt you'll have a problem, remember the earlier you ask the better, professors hate homework too. Also, any specifics you can give them as to what the program you're applying for is looking for will help them (and consequently, yourself) immensely.

[kuronosan]

Yes, and try to find professors in your program to write these letters... it looks much better if you're trying to get into a graduate English program if you have a Humanities or English professor writing it than if you have a Science professor writing it.

The other thing I want to mention is to make sure that you constantly keep in contact with the graduate school as far as their status. Ask your professors if they have sent it, when they sent it, and ask the school if and when they received it. Never assume.

And, as others have said, having a pre-stamped envelope that they can just mail without having to do anything else other than fill out your letter is a huge plus in a lot of their eyes. It shows that you genuinely want to do this the right way and not that you just want a letter.