<p>I have honestly not had any type of relationship with my professors during college, and now that it is time for letter of recommendations for medical school I understand that I have made a mistake. Thus, now I want to go back and create good rapport with a few professors whos classes that I have taken recently in order to get somewhat decent recommendation letters.
So, in order to do so, any advice/tips on what to say to professors when I go see them during their office hours and ultimately get that letter of recommendation from them? What's my "reason" for going to see them now? What should I go to them for? What should I talk to them about?
Thoughts?
Thank you.</p>
<p>That's a very tough situation to be in.</p>
<p>Any chance you can take a couple summer courses with any of your recent professors? This is a situation where I think it's too your advantage to NOT get your application in immediately in June. Taking a second or third class from one or two could make a big difference. It's early in the semester I realize, but pick the prof you like the most (and who will write the best possible LOR, eg the prof of one of your smaller classes, not the 300 person lecture) and start buttering them up. Ask questions in class, participate in discussions, volunteer for whatever they ask. Don't be annoying about it, but make yourself stand out. Then when you go to office hours ask if they're teaching any classes in the summer, (because you love the way they teach right now). Pick one thing from class that really has interested you and do a literature search and see if there's any questions you get from reading the literature. And if you're struggling with anything in the class, for love of all that is holy go and get help.</p>
<p>One of my professors that I had a decent relationship with and took her class last year has left and transferred to another school. If I wanted to get a letter from her, how can I play this out?</p>
<p>Email her and tell her to write you a letter for med school and then send it to the premed committee or whoever usually handles these things.</p>
<p>What is the best way to ask a professor for a letter of recommendation? Go to his office, greet him, and just ask politely? Or should you make some kind of small talk first? Should you request to come back to his office and chat with him in order to make the letter more personable?
I have a professor in mind for a letter of recommendation. Last semester, I enrolled in his Microbio class about a month late because I had no choice. I had dropped a course, so I needed this course to remain a full time student. He warned me that because I am enrolling late and I missed a month of work I don't have any chance of getting higher than a B in his course. I said it was ok, but ended up with an A. Throughout the course, he would check on me routinely to see how I was doing with the work since I enrolled late. So I want to subtly mention this to him when I ask for the recommendation. I think it would be a good idea if medical schools know about my persistence and motivation, but how do I say to this professor? Thoughts?
Any other advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you</p>