<p>So, i'm getting into my internship search (i'm a 2nd year poli sci major), and I'm going to have to get letters of recommendation from professors.. how well do I need to know a professor to ask for a letter? I never go to office hours or whatever, so I assume I'm going to have to start going.. anyone have experience asking for and getting letters?</p>
<p>I never used to go to office hours either since I understood the material but going to office hours is a good start. The better they know you, the better the letter they’ll be able to write. Talking to them about an assignment the first time you go is a good departure point. Doing well on that assignment would be best. Basically, though, show them your interests, show them your abilities. You want to prove to them that you’re worth the time it takes to write a letter. The Poli department has a guide for doing these things here [Before</a> Asking for a Letter of Recommendation](<a href=“http://polisci.ucsd.edu/undergrad/Recommendation%20Guidelines.htm]Before”>http://polisci.ucsd.edu/undergrad/Recommendation%20Guidelines.htm).</p>
<p>Thanks for the link, that was helpful. </p>
<p>Do letters of recommendation need to be at least partially based on the professor knowing the student, or would it be acceptable to ask a professor for a letter if you haven’t actually spoken to each other in person, or maybe they don’t remember you? </p>
<p>For example, I took three separate courses from one professor, and got an A+ in all three (I have no idea how that happened… haha) but I never actually spoke with the professor (except by email a couple times), and I’m sure he doesn’t actually know who I am. Would the grades be enough to approach them to ask for a letter?</p>
<p>They can write better letters if they know you a bit. Even if you have 3 A+ grades, they might not be able to say anything more than “…was a pleasure to have in class…excelled at course assignments…” </p>
<p>It takes some work and time but I’d recommend getting to know professors. A better letter could land you a better internship. Even more, if you’re considering graduate school, it’s never too early to start building relationships. They have connections and might clue you into opportunities that aren’t publicized anywhere.</p>
<p>I hope that helps.</p>