<p>I'm getting ready to apply to physics grad schools, and had a few questions about my LORs. I already can get 2 LORs from profs who I did research with</p>
<p>Now I just need to get my 3rd LOR. I have a few choices
1. I took a class with this prof, got an A, sort of got to know him, but that class was 3 years ago. I've contacted him a few times since then, for advice about physics and career paths. He agreed to write LORs for me in the past, and helped me get into REUs 2 and 3 years ago. My guess is that he wrote 'Student did well in my class'. HOWEVER, when I asked for his LOR last year, he agreed to it but suggested I try to find other profs who have known me more recently</p>
<ol>
<li>After I graduated last Dec, I took an engineering heat transfer class and I got an A in it 6 months ago. Though we spoke a few times after class, it was mostly related to finding engineering jobs, not academic related. </li>
<li>I took a senior lab course with him last fall and got an A- in the class. Also, since we submitted our lab reports online, I could always just email him my old reports if he needs to see the kind of work I produced. But he only gave lectures, and was never around for the lab component of class. However, he may remember me as the class was only about 10 students, and we all gave powerpoint presentations at the end. However, I fell asleep during class a few times</li>
<li>I took his class for 3 quarters, ending spring 2009. He seemed to know the names of most of the students in the class, but I doubt he remembered mine or even remembers my face. I got 2 A- and a B+ in his classes</li>
<li>I took his lab course 2.5 years ago but got a B+ in it. He was always present during lab, and we had 6 hours lab/wk, so he might remember me, as I asked for his help alot (possibly to the extent of annoying him)</li>
</ol>
<p>I could also choose between 2 different hiring managers I had for summer internships, but I heard its much better to choose professors than non-academic sources</p>