<p>I figure I should probably start considering this now, except I have no idea who to choose. Do you have any guidelines for me? FYI I'm majoring in (pure) math.</p>
<p>I have two professors that I did research with (4 months each), and I think the research went well enough to count on a good rec letter for. Is it good to have two references for research? or is one just enough?</p>
<p>Then I have taken a few 4th year classes (which are also listed as graduate courses) and have done well in all of them, but none of them were that hard. And I took a hard 3rd year course that's generally reputed to be a harder course than most 4th year courses. (All the hard 4th year/grad courses will be taken this September, which I presume is too late for references). Should I ask one of the 4th year profs or the 3rd year prof?</p>
<p>Also, profs have to write letters if asked, right? Is it bad to approach them and ask whether the letter will be good or not? I'm thinking maybe it's better to risk some bluntness and ask the general gist of the letter than get a horrible rec letter. Is there anything wrong with it?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is it bad to approach them and ask whether the letter will be good or not? I'm thinking maybe it's better to risk some bluntness and ask the general gist of the letter than get a horrible rec letter. Is there anything wrong with it?
[/quote]
I think it's inappropriate to ask if their letters will be good or not. You should be able to figure that out by yourself. Did you do well in their classes and/or go to office hours often to get to know them?</p>
<p>Yup. All the profs know me by name and say hi to me in the hallways and such. I've gotten near-perfect grades in their classes, so I'm not particularly worried about a bad letter. I'm just wondering which choice is better.</p>
<p>If I were applying to grad program in my school, I think i'd choose the 3rd year course over any 4th/grad courses because everyone knows it's harder. But for other schools, would it look bad to choose a 3rd year rec letter over 4th?</p>
<p>First, professors may certainly decline to write letters. We will usually decline if we know our letter would not be terribly supportive.</p>
<p>Second, the best way to ask for a letter is this:
"Professor, would you be able to write me a supportive letter for the graduate programs to which I'm planning to apply?"</p>
<p>See how this phrasing allows a professor (whose letter would presumably not be supportive) to decline gracefully?</p>
<p>I am not in math, but in your case, I'd choose this way:
Both of your research professors
The professor with whom you've taken the most courses </p>