<p>Hey all, </p>
<p>I just finished some lab research under a professor and I was wondering what protocol generally is when asking for letters of recommendation for med school. I just don't want to come off sounding rude. I'm planning on asking as soon as I return to campus (I'm currently home). </p>
<p>My plan so far is to send my professor an email asking if he feels comfortable with writing me a strong letter of recommendation and if he does, then ask for a time to meet up and deliver extra materials (i.e. resume, etc.). </p>
<p>This is my first LOR - hopefully the first of many! - and I would appreciate any feedback. Thoughts?</p>
<p>I’m assuming by your handle that you are returning for your sophomore year? If so, it is too early to ask for one since the earliest you would apply is summer 2015.</p>
<p>At this point you just have to maintain communication with him and you can ask for one later if it’s still necessary.</p>
<p>Well, I’m applying to one early program and my pre-med friends say it’s better to ask now when everything I’ve done is fresh on his mind. I’m assuming that with time, it’ll be easier to forget - I’ve done a lot of hard work.</p>
<p>Yes, but then you’ll have a stale letter in your portfolio. Since you’re limited as to the number of letters you’re allowed to send (exactly number varies by school*), do really want to use an old letter as one of the few you’re allowed?</p>
<ul>
<li>many schools will accept only 3 letters (and they specify who they can come from) OR a committee letter.</li>
</ul>
<p>That’s true. But my school has a committee, if that makes a difference. They compile 4-6 letters and forward them along with the committee letter as part of a package. I sent them an email to see what they want.</p>
<p>Each school varies-but at Bucknell I began to send out e-mail requests for recommendation letters during my winter break in early January–this allowed me to make an appointment to speak with each professor in person by early February to allow them plenty of lead time to construct and submit an LOR to my packet that was being prepared by my Pre-Health adviser. I had all the letters by May and this allowed me to apply to SOMs in June. I gave myself a deadline that I would finish all of my applications and secondaries no later than the end of July. Because I took a gap year to work in a nursing home facility and to take some time off from studying, I followed this plan during the winter and spring of my senior year. It was a lot easier to take time off for interviews from my job–I knew that taking time off during my senior fall would be just too much to handle in terms of missing class. In any case, I received interviews in early September–and by October I was seeing acceptances. As an MS2 at UCONN I’m happy that my plan worked out…keep after it…I know that you will find success, too…it’s a very long journey…a marathon-not a sprint…you can do it!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your input, aberdeen! I can only hope I will be ultimately successful. Also, if I asked later versus now, wouldn’t the material still be old? I mean, I don’t anticipate working for this professor again, so the only conceivable difference in the letter would be the date it was written…</p>
<p>Timing is everything as they say…IMO…you can get the recommendation now and then using the advising system your school provides for you sit with an adviser when you get closer to actually planning out your application strategy and come to a mutual agreement as which letters you will ultimately use in your LOR packet…I’m not sure where you are in your undergraduate studies…but each time you work for a prof or each time you feel that a particular person knows you well enough to endorse your character/work for medical school…go ahead and ask them for a medical school recommendation…you can always have an adviser share with you which letters will fit best in your profile…you have nothing to lose in doing this…keep being pro-active and continue to take charge of your destiny…you’re taking your first organizational steps—and that is great! Stay focused on your daily goals and continue the journey!</p>