<p>How am I supposed to get Letters of Recommendation when I'm going to a public school amidst budget cuts? My classes have been combined/merged into one very large class for engineering. Going to office hours doesn't seem to do much, since there's other kids trying to get help/attention just like you are. Man, I actually feel doomed. I'm on quarter system (its really quick) so its hard for a prof to get to know anyone (assuming that they care, which many don't). </p>
<p>I bring this up because I was looking at my school's scholarships and often I get emails about internships and other various programs, they all seem to ask for LOR. Sadly and quite honestly, I don't see how the hell I'm supposed to get TWO (not one, but TWO) LOR for applications...Dang, I'm planning on getting involved with research (so I can do something new, and possibly get a LOR) but have yet to contact any professors, but even then, that's only ONE LOR, I don't see how I can get a second LOR. Perhaps, two research projects during undergrad? You're all probably saying, "Just be nice and ask during Office Hours!". The thing is I don't want some crap/mediocre LOR. A prof told a story of a kid who asked for a LOR, and the end result was a letter saying something along the lines of, "I don't know who this person is, and I don't know why they asked me for a LOR." =( </p>
<p>ARGH, it seems like everyone is trying to get out of the pit, but we're really just pulling on each others' legs and getting no where....Meh, right now I'm frustrated that its hard to get a helping hand, I plan to go to grad school and as of now, I wonder how people get the connections they need to get to the top, esp. when you're at a huge public school. I know I still do have time, but b/t keeping up with classes/work, my time is slowly getting suck away. What about you guys? How did you manage to get TWO kick-ass LOR? I wanna keep my options open and be competitive, especially in this economy. </p>
<p>One thing I’ve found successful is to really shine during office hours. Sure, there may be tons of students there, but what kinds of questions are they asking? Professors don’t remember the ones who just ask simple questions, but sometimes they’ll remember the ones who ask something above and beyond or who pose new methods to solving a problem.</p>
<p>I’ve successfully asked for two LOR’s when applying to a specific program. </p>
<p>I’m about to ask for two more, from different instructors, as I wish to transfer out of my school. </p>
<p>You have to shine as the previous poster mentioned, both in office hours and in class. It’s much easier said than done. Talking for the sake of talking or brown nosing is easily discounted by the prof. You have to posit novel solutions and questions as well as show genuine interest and passion in the subject. These are things you can’t fake. </p>
<p>Even if you don’t shine, most professors will write a LOR for you, or simply ask you to write one about yourself (which I believe is highly unethical as I stated in another post) for them to sign. Many professors will offer this option in the case you are not an exceptional student because they genuinely want to help you out. Most professors won’t say no to a request or a negative LOR, providing you aren’t failing the class…</p>
<p>Have a beefed up resume ready for the professor when you ask. What I mean by that is have a detailed description of your role in various projects you’ve done, and any out of class research or work that you’ve done. If you have that and the professor at least knows your name (and often even if they don’t) they WILL write you a LOR. </p>
<p>Do any of your professors at least know your name, and seem relatively friendly? If so, do the resume thing, visit them in person with it printed out and explain what you’re applying for and give them the resume. Do this at least two weeks before the deadline. If you really want to put work into it put different information on the resumes you give the two professors, so that their LORs don’t look exactly the same. One of the LORs I was able to get was from my department head who would probably only vaguely recognize that he’d had me in a class if you showed him a picture of me. When I came up to him with a resume and plenty of time to write the LOR he had no problem with it, since I had made what I was asking him to do easy.</p>