<p>when I never got to know my philosophy professors on a personal level. You see, I have always been a socially shy person and had all sorts of issues relating to that during my undergraduate. </p>
<p>Only now am I beginning to change and see the world in a new way and begin to work on myself but unfortunately what is past is past. I've decided that I would like to go to grad school to get my master's [for the overall purpose of a stepping stone to a doctorate] in my field, however, most of the schools I plan on applying to require 2-3 letters of recommendations. </p>
<p>The good news is that I did very well in my major during undergrad since it is my passion, and I've saved almost all of my graded papers with great comments from my professors still on them. </p>
<p>I was wondering how I should go about asking them for letters of recommendation now, since I really need their help to help me achieve my life goal. </p>
<p>Should I just email each professors separately telling them who I am and my story and ask if they'd write a letter for me? </p>
<p>Or should I mail each one the request typed and printed out, along with a photo of me, and possibly the actual A-papers they've graded for me as proof that I was a passionate student of the subject?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. I'm really confused as to how I should go about this. I've heard asking through email is rude and mailing them the request would be more appropriate, but I have no idea.</p>
<p>Ask in person, not through e-mail.</p>
<p>Sorry I forgot to add, I can’t ask in person as I live over a thousand miles away from the campus. That’s why the other option was through mail, and not in person.</p>
<p>Ask initially with an email. If they agree, set up a time and meeting to sit down with them to talk. Explain you live far away but you’re still willing to make the travel.</p>
<p>Make a weekend out of it. Meet up with friends. Maybe even take your letter writer out for a meal. </p>
<p>Then send the letter writer your plane bill. KIDDING don’t do that last part. LOL.</p>
<p>Do you really think they’d refuse to write it if I just sent the request through mail with my story, some A papers, and a photo of myself? =/</p>
<p>I really can’t afford to fly all the way to California right now, and pay for the hotel, etc. I can barely even keep my phone from being shut off. </p>
<p>How do people do it who decide to attend grad school when they’re like 35 years old and haven’t talked to their professors in years and years?</p>
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<p>Of course you can do that, and you will probably get an OK letter from them, like maybe a 1-paragraph type of thing. Logically that’s probably the best thing to do though, just because if you never talked to them before, I can’t see them going from an OK letter to Outstanding letter just because you visited them for a day. </p>
<p>However, depending on what type of person they are (how nice or easily influenced they are), making a trip to visit them could pay off greatly, and mean the difference between an OK letter and Outstanding letter as I just refuted. Again, the chances are slim. </p>
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<p>You never HAVE to get letters of rec from undergrad professors unless the admission requirement explicitly states so. The idea is that if you’re 35 y.o., hopefully you were doing something else for the past 10-15 years who can write you a letter of rec. </p>
<p>I have been out of school for 2 years. I am using 2 of my supervisors from work from the past year and 1 undergraduate professor who I had little contact with. I emailed him however and he agreed to write me a letter. I am driving 200 miles to meet that professor next Friday. :)</p>
<p>Thanks a ton for your opinion.</p>