<p>So I'm applying for admission to my uni's business program next semester and they recommend (read: basically require if you want any shot of getting in) having letters of recommendation from your professors. </p>
<p>Now, I haven't really made any great connections with my professors. I'm polite and a good student and all that but it's not like I've had great philosophical discussions in their offices. Last semester I did particularly well in an accounting course and in an economics course. I also did well in a communication course (it was a piece of cake but my professor liked me and got to know most of us pretty well, so I figure she could write a good recommendation regarding my work ethic and character as opposed to just saying I got good grades). </p>
<p>Should I ask them for letters of recommendation? If so, how? I figure I ought to email them and ask them how they're doing and then ask what their policy for letters of recommendation is. Does that sound about right?</p>
<p>I am sort of in the same boat. I know of professors that can speak to the quality of my work but not so much anything else. However, I am applying to a professional school that prioritizes test scores and undergrad gpa, where having a generic rec can’t hurt me all too much. I would suggest emailing your professors first. Explain that you loved their course, and were very challenged. Also offer to come in to their office hours if they feel they need to know more about you. Illustrate your goals for graduate school and how passionate you are about continuing your education.</p>
<p>Are you an internal transfer applicant to the undergraduate business program or are you applying to a graduate program? If it’s for the undergraduate business major, letters of recommendation from professors who can speak about your academic work should do. After all, you have only taken lower-level courses and your classes were probably pretty large. Graduate admissions would be a different deal, but don’t graduate programs strongly recommend some work experience before you apply anyway?</p>
<p>I emailed my professors asking them for letters of recommendation because I thought it would come off better than my constant fidgeting, squirming and irregular eye-contact.</p>
<p>I sent formal emails, even to professors I had previously email in a more casual manner, explained why I needed the letters and about the schools (transfer student from a CC to a 4-year) or programs. But there was one professor in particular that was just as fidgety as I am and would stare off when you spoke to him (beside you, but still not eye-contact) and I asked him for one in person. He was great about it. He wanted to know why I was interested in certain schools and all that good stuff and wrote me two great letters. </p>
<p>But the key to getting good ones is to ask early. One of my deadlines was in January and I asked for a letter towards the end of November because of finals and the break. Another was in March and I asked towards the end of January. If you wait until the last minute and ask them, they’re likely to say no or to write crappy ones. And since I asked early, I had to send a couple of reminder emails as the deadline approached.</p>