<p>I've been going to one prof's office hours once every week since the beginning of the semester. So far, she never asked who I am. She doesn't seem to be interested in learning about her students. When I go to her office hours and asks her questions, she answers them kindly, but I don't know what's wrong with her. Would it be that she's just too busy with her other work, or she is just indifferent of her students?
It's been a while since I started going to her office hours, so it may seem strange to her if I try to introduce myself now all of a sudden.
It would've been best if I introduced myself during my first visit to her office hour. What's a proper etiquette when you visit profs at office hours for the first time and want to set up the stage for a long-term (at least 2 years) relationship?</p>
<p>Wow, the title of your thread made me really nervous.</p>
<p>^^^ I agree. I was already thinking if she had a blue dress.....</p>
<p>Thank her for her help, tell her you've enjoyed her class, and inquire about any other classes she'll be teaching in the future. If it's a class you wouldn't normally take, ask if she'll send you a syllabus or at least an outline of the course via e-mail so you can see if you'd like to take it from her. Then give her your e-mail and your name (and what you're asking her to send you). </p>
<p>Another possibility...If you have the opportunity (this will especially work right now if you are a freshman) where you need a LOR, like for a club or honor society, kindly explain how you know she doesn't really know you, but you've spent more time in her office than any other prof, and you don't really know who else to turn to. Provide her with your CV, and a description of what you're applying for and why you feel you deserve the spot/honor.</p>
<p>Last option, e-mail her with a question (pretend you're sick or there's some reason why you can't go to her office hours). A brief "normally I'd ask you during office hours like I always do but I can't this time because..." Then of course try one of the other options to further the relationship.</p>
<p>Once you've done that, if she has anything interesting in her office, ask her about it - a picture of her kids, some trinket she obviously got on vacation. There's got to be something you can be like "I always notice this when I come in here, where did you get it?"</p>
<p>yeah, this seems to be a problem at bigger schools. I was wondering... for those of you that got LORs from your profs for med school, how well did you know them? I guess I was just so used to the closer relationships you have in high school, that college prof/student relationships really caught me by surprise. Is it common to end up asking a professor that might not know your name, someone who you'd have to provide a CV and other info to? Or do you guys become pretty close with your profs (to the point where they actually remember your name)? Also, is it okay to get a LOR from a prof you were a TA for ?</p>
<p>I had three profs write letters for me, along with the manager of the restaurant I was working at, and the sponsor of a student organization I was involved with for three years.</p>
<p>You should always, always supply a CV, and any sort of envelopes/postage needed to send off your letter (pre-addressed by you). Even if the person has known you since birth.</p>
<p>Prof 1 was a sociology professor who I had worked on a curriculum committee with the previous year before taking any of her classes. I asked her first semester and she was more than willing. She asked that I sit down with her first to get to know me a little better, but our schedules never worked out. It ended up being totally fine. I ended up having a class with her second semester too and by that point we knew each other really well.</p>
<p>Prof 2 was a leadership prof who I took a class from, then TA'ed that same class. Basically after taking the class, a semester of training to be a TA, and then TA'ing, she knew me extremely well. I see absolutely no reason why you wouldn't get a prof you TA'ed for to write for you. In fact not doing so is probably very stupid.</p>
<p>Prof 3 was a last minute stand in for the science prof I really wanted to write for me. The original prof disappeared off the face of the earth - literally could find no way to get in touch with her. So I went to the nicest science prof I'd had. Luckily I had taken Honors Cell Bio from him, so the class had been smaller. Not sure how much he remembered me, but he was willing to write. I took about 20 minutes to sit down and talk with him in order to refresh his memory and get my key accomplishments out.</p>
<p>nice nice, but about the TA thing... would you have had to take a class with the prof for the letter to be eligible for med school apps? Or could it just be a prof who you TAed with, but didn't take a class from? Also, does the importance of your LOR writers matter (for example, would an advisor with whom you worked on a committee be just as valuable as a PhD prof?) Is there any limit to how many LORs you can submit? And how many should be from profs you researched with? Sorry, I know these are a lot of questions, but this thread just started making me think haha. Keep in mind that this I'm asking these questions from the point of view of someone from a big school without a pre-med committee. I somehow have a feeling (judging from my first year classes) that my recommenders are going to be like BRM's #3 and I'm trying to prevent that as much as possible haha</p>
<p>1) Most schools will give you very set instructions on who they want letters from. Only one of my schools said they could be from anyone and encouraged sending as many as was reasonable.</p>
<p>2) They'll tell you if it must be a prof you had taken a class from. But lots of people get letters from profs they only completed research with or TA'd for.</p>
<p>3) Keep in mind that you not only want people who know you but also people who will write a GOOD letter. A good letter is always more valuable than a poor one, no matter who writes it. That's why I wasn't particularly afraid of having my boss and my advisor write for me because I knew they'd be good letters. As long as you've given them the things that the med school asked for, I can't imagine they are going to hold who writes your letters against you. If they say you can have anyone write it, then it has to be okay. I really think this is a case of pre-med neuroticism. </p>
<p>Finally, one obvious caveat - you don't want your friends or family writing for you - that much should be obvious. The other thing is be aware that it's a classic interview question (one I got when I interviewed at UMKC's combined program) to tell you that one of your letters of rec was very unkind to you, and then ask you why that might be the case. Whether it is or not, you must be prepared to explain this one away. I think the best strategy is to remain calm, admit that you aren't perfect and that you can always improve. Don't attack the person who wrote the letter and then offer any specifics you can. It's kind of a backdoor route to get you to talk about your biggest weakness.</p>
<p>If your school has a premed committee to write a committee letter, then look up the committee's LOR requirements. If you don't have a committee, then get at least 2 science instructors (professors who've taught you) and 1 non science instructor. This should satisfy the LOR requirements for most med schools. Most med schools also allow up to 1-3 optional LOR's. So if you want your research supervisor, boss, club advisor, etc. to write you a letter, then they can be included as "optional" LOR's. But you should definitely have 2-3 letters from instructors.</p>
<p>If one has been active in a religious club on campus, could like the head of that club write you an LOR? I mean religious organizations are not clubs, but if you were an active member, that won't hurt you right? Also, is it ok not ot overdo it w/ ECs during one's freshman yr, just for the simple fact of adjusting to life on campus and the school work.</p>
<p>BRM, can you please explain to me what a "CV" is?</p>
<p>You don't know what a resume is? It's a piece of paper with your educational background, contact info, work/volunteer experiences, and possibly skills and awards.</p>
<p>jeez, i'm sorry, i'm not familiar with the "common" acronyms here on the forum. i was just asking what it stood for. i can assure you i know what a resume is (or can i?).</p>
<p>"CV" stands for curriculum vitae, which is the same as a resume. I think it's not as common to use "CV" in the US - I think it's more common in Europe.</p>
<p>FYI - in the US ... the term CV <em>is not</em> commonly used in industry when referencing a resume in the US ... but the term CV <em>is</em> commonly used in academic environments.</p>
<p>A CV differs form a resume in several ways. A resume is a brief (1-2 pg) summary of your education and work experience. A CV is longer and documents education work experience, professional associations, publications and conferences, service to the profession, and references.</p>
<p>You can Google for examples.</p>