Question regarding letters of recommendation

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Timing is crucial when requesting a letter of recommendation (LOR) from a professor. It's generally advisable to ask for a letter when preparing to apply for graduate school, rather than immediately after completing a course. This approach allows for a more personalized and detailed recommendation, which is more valuable than generic statements about performance. If a student has already secured strong LORs from professors with whom they conducted research, a third letter from a course instructor can still be beneficial, but its impact may depend on the quality and substance of the letter compared to competitors' applications. It is recommended to inform the professor at the end of the term about the intention to apply for graduate school, which can help in securing a more meaningful recommendation later.
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I was just wondering if one should ask a professor for a letter of recommendation right after the course finishes or when you're ready to apply to grad schools... The only LOR that I've gotten was after a course that I took just before I transferred to a different school, so this example is not indicative of the current situation.
 
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Letters of recommendation containing little more than "X was in my class and did really well" are not worth including in an application. Do you have any other connection to the professor?
 
It's generally more desirable for a letter of reference to be specific and so it would make more sense to ask for one when you're applying for grad school (yet well ahead of the deadline). There's no reason that you couldn't approach a professor after a class, let him or her know that you're going to be applying for graduate school in the coming year and ask if he or she would be willing to write a reference letter for you when the time comes.
 
Andy Resnick said:
Letters of recommendation containing little more than "X was in my class and did really well" are not worth including in an application.

how much does it matter if you just need a professor like that for your 3rd LOR, because your first two came from professors you did research with?
 
creepypasta13 said:
how much does it matter if you just need a professor like that for your 3rd LOR, because your first two came from professors you did research with?

I guess that depends if your competitors have a 3rd LOR with something substantive.
 
Thanks, everyone. I think it's best if I do what Choppy suggests, and at the end of the term mention that I'll be hoping to get a LOR when the time comes.

Also, this question is in regard to a professor that is teaching a class I'm in. I've worked with two other professors outside of coursework, and to be honest I plan on working with some more before grad school. I was just wondering for a kind of just in case LOR.
 

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