<p>I have been wanting to transfer to the University of Michigan for over a year. I am currently an undergraduate student in my second year, and am interested in pursuing an Engineering degree. I wouldn't consider myself necessarily 'close' with my Calc professor, but of all the professors I have this semester, I would feel most comfortable asking for a letter of recommendation from him. We have homework due almost every day, and when he calls out my last name, he immediately looks in my direction, so I assume he's familiar with who I am. I've been to see him twice or three times, but I am planning on going tomorrow with a list of questions so that I can spend more time with him. Would it be a good idea to ask him for a letter of rec.? </p>
<p>You are over thinking this one a bit: 1) step one: go to him and ask him for his advice in light of several “steering” comments which you might offer as to your goals and objectives; listen thoughtfully and try to figure out how to integrate his advice; 2) let the conversation sit for a week or so; 3) go back and ask for a recommendation in light of the first discussion and, hopefully, congruent with the advice offered in the first discussion.</p>
<p>Generally, professors will not flat out reject an appeal for a recommendation, they will simply offer a weak one. So part of your goal in the 2nd conversation is to carefully elicit the probability of a useful recommendation. Your worst case is a no…if that is the result you get, say thanks and move on to the next professor who might recommend you. Your second worst case is a weak recommendation, so if your feel is that it will be weak, then thank him for his time and say you’ll come back to him. Your best case is that by giving sincere attention to his advice and responding to it and by asking if a strong recommendation might be offered he will respond as you hope. </p>
<p>In general, you should try to establish a sincere rapport with the guy before “the ask” for two reasons: 1) you might actually learn something useful about your potential trajectory; 2) you will honor him with your courtesy and create a foundation for the recommendation.</p>
<p>After you have received the recommendation, you should follow up with him whether it works for you or not. And whether or not you get a benefit from it, stay in touch with the guy in order to build your network up. Be sure to write “thank you” notes – however brief – after each contact.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, @blue85 , your words of advice helped! </p>
<p>I didn’t mean to say that I will start bothering him just because I want a letter of recommendation. I genuinely want to build a relationship with him because he’s actually very smart, and he’s very caring towards his students. I was also afraid that if I start going now, to all of his office hours, and then in December “ask” him, then he will get the wrong impression, and I DO NOT want that. Should I ask for advice on how I can do better in his class, or are you saying I should steer the conversation towards my goals and objectives? (Like my major, career plans, should I even mention transferring, etc.) </p>
<p>“Should I ask for advice on how I can do better in his class”</p>
<p>Only ask for advice if you need it: professors are pretty good at determining when students are being genuine and when they are not. I would be more targeted in that question than a generic request: ask where you can find additional texts or problem sets.</p>
<p>", or are you saying I should steer the conversation towards my goals and objectives? (Like my major, career plans, should I even mention transferring, etc.)"</p>
<p>You could state that you are interested in a career in engineering and ask: 1) which aspects of the current course you should drill into; 2) which other courses in the math sequence contain the content which would most directly assist you in mastering whichever flavor of engineering you hope to tackle. The second question will provide you with practical information and also provide a context for your ultimate request for a recommendation.</p>
<p>Thank you so so much!!! You helped me tremendously, I hope you know that. @blue85</p>
<p>“Thank you so so much!!! You helped me tremendously, I hope you know that.”</p>
<p>It is a sad day when I’m the voice of reason 
</p>
<p>I’m not sure how good/effective my advice is/will-be, but the forum regulars didn’t seem to be stepping up so you have to default to my “advice” :)</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Writing letters of rec are part of a prof’s job. I would go tell him you plan on transferring and ask for a letter of rec. Don’t waste his time with things you don’t actually need/want. </p>
<p>I disagree that most won’t flat-out reject. I think most profs will say that they’re probably not the best to write if they don’t feel comfortable with it. </p>