<p>I want to apply for a scholarship and so far I have one rec from my research prof. She recommends that I use another prof rather than my grad student whom I worked with for the second rec. She suggests asking a prof's class I did well in. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any stories about receiving a letter of rec from a prof that you never interacted with, but did well in the class (ie A- or higher). I want to know how well that went, and how willing they were to write one. The deadline is not until early Dec. but I want to get this settled. </p>
<p>Would I go into OH and have some sort of "interview"? Send in a resume ? And if so, how soon before the deadline should this be done? </p>
<p>I'm a third year (just starting upper div. courses), so all my prof's and letters of rec. would be from lower division courses and professors. Do you think it matters if the prof was from first year or more recently-soph. year? I have had little interaction with these prof's (except for my research prof.) </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>PS. Would asking my academic advisor to write a rec be acceptable ? I have not spoken to her except during freshman year. But my concern is that the rec should cover my academic/professional experiences and achievements. Would this work ?</p>
<p>I’ve heard that bringing papers you did well on to help refresh the prof’s memory about who you are at least kind of sort of is beneficial, but I wouldn’t ask someone I didn’t know unless absolutely necessary. My first semester at my school I applied for an internship in Washington DC and I used two graduate student instructors for my recs, as I hadn’t had the chance to really get to know any professors yet, and that worked out fine for me-- but they were upper division courses, and one was in the department that runs the program.</p>
<p>If you have any intention of applying for things again you really ought to try and establish a rapport with some professors. This is not a comfortable position to be in, as you know!</p>
<p><em>sigh</em> </p>
<p>The app. just asks for people who know how well you worked–the grad student I worked with over the summer for 10 wks should be more than sufficient. I’m going to ask my prof. about this during the meeting next week. </p>
<p>About building rapport–In all honesty, I don’t think its likely that they will know your name–unless you annoy the crap out of them. So far all the OH I’ve been office hours I’ve been to I’ve been asking questions about the material. One of the prof. flat out said that he would try to learn ~60/290 names. And that if one of us waved and he made a weird face, it was cause there were too many faces to remember. =( </p>
<p>Man, this is really disappointing…</p>
<p>Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>Ask the prof in person and bring in papers and tests that you did in their class. Also bring in a resume and a written explanation of why you want to be in the program.</p>
<p>With that info and the chance to talk to you, the prof should be able to write you a good recc.</p>
<p>^ Thank you! </p>
<p>I will look into doing that!</p>