When is the best time to ask for letters of recommendation from professors?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the timing and approach for requesting letters of recommendation from professors, particularly in the context of undergraduate students applying for research opportunities and other academic programs. Participants share their experiences and strategies regarding how to build relationships with professors and the best practices for requesting letters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that letters from professors who know the student well are more valuable, advocating for building relationships before asking for recommendations.
  • Another participant shares a personal strategy of obtaining letters from professors familiar with their research and teaching abilities, indicating that this approach was effective for them.
  • Some participants propose that students should start seeking recommendations in their third year, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating knowledge and passion to professors.
  • A participant expresses concern about asking professors for recommendations, especially when they have limited interactions, and questions whether professors might be annoyed by multiple requests.
  • Another participant recommends checking if the university has a reference service to streamline the process of obtaining and sending letters for multiple applications.
  • There is a suggestion that letters are often better received when tailored to specific applications, and participants discuss the logistics of preparing materials for professors to aid in writing letters.
  • One participant mentions that while writing the first letter may be challenging, modifying it for multiple applications is generally easier, indicating a willingness to write several letters if they know the student well.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the best timing and approach for requesting letters of recommendation, with no clear consensus on a single method or timeline. Concerns about the potential burden on professors and the importance of relationship-building are common themes, but specific strategies vary.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the importance of tailoring letters to specific applications and suggest providing professors with detailed information to assist them in writing. There are also varying opinions on the appropriate timing for requests, with some advocating for earlier engagement than others.

Who May Find This Useful

Undergraduate students preparing for research opportunities or graduate school applications, particularly those seeking guidance on how to approach professors for letters of recommendation.

CPL.Luke
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I'm just starting out in my undergraduate education, and I'm wondering. When is it a good time to ask for letters of recommendation. should I ask any professor I get to know for a letter?
 
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You can, but they tend to be less valuable from people who know you less well. You have a while before you will be asking, so you can really grow some relationships first.

My tactic was as follows: one recommendation from someone who was well acquainted with my skills in research. This was most important, since this was my real job at the university as a grad student. My second was from someone I had worked with teaching labs. This would be my immediate work at the university, so I felt they would value knowing I could do this. Finally I chose a professor who had taught me to describe my experience in class as a student.

Worked for me. I'm sure there are lots of other ways to do it as well.
 
Yeah, I would say they should start coming in 3rd year.

Talk to your profs in 3rd year, and share your knowledge. Show them you know something. understand it and are passionate about it. That can get you letters of recommendation.

Also, through research too.

I rather have the former. There is nothing like a professor truly believing you can be a mathematician for the sake of it.
 
sorry for going off topic... but I don't want to start another similar thread.

So, I'm applying for physics related REU programs and most of them require two letter of recommendations. I don't know many professors beside my calc teacher. Should I go bold and ask my professors for recommendations? what should I do if I want multiple letters for multiple applications? do you think my professor will get annoyed? I'm a rather shy individual and I never really talk to my professor (besides occasionally, when I have a question)...
 
tim_lou said:
sorry for going off topic... but I don't want to start another similar thread.

So, I'm applying for physics related REU programs and most of them require two letter of recommendations. I don't know many professors beside my calc teacher. Should I go bold and ask my professors for recommendations? what should I do if I want multiple letters for multiple applications? do you think my professor will get annoyed? I'm a rather shy individual and I never really talk to my professor (besides occasionally, when I have a question)...

Find out if your university has any kind of reference service (usually in the career planning department). Then the professor can give the recommendation there and you can send as many as you like to institutions/universities/etc.
 
mathlete said:
Find out if your university has any kind of reference service (usually in the career planning department). Then the professor can give the recommendation there and you can send as many as you like to institutions/universities/etc.

Firstly -- while some universities are now starting to try to promote these services, I've always heard that letters seem better if you can have them delivered directly from the individual and tailored to the particular application... i.e. addressed, including the institution/job interest, etc... hence you really don't ASK for letters until shortly before you anticipate needing them... maybe prep the professor up by asking if they can be a reference in the FUTURE.

Along these lines, for each letter, think about giving a faculty member packet containing a description of the program or job being applied for, a preaddressed/stamped envelope, your CV, etc... with a cover letter specifying when the letter should be mailed... and any other infomation (like online program/job descriptions or your online CV). this should be given to them a week to two weeks in advance. :biggrin:

tim_lou said:
what should I do if I want multiple letters for multiple applications?QUOTE]

Usually writing the first letter is hard, but altering it is pretty easy... so I PERSONALLY wouldn't mind writing up to say :rolleyes: FIVE letters for a student per term IF I knew them (but you should ask the faculty member how many they WOULD be willing to write, since writing something like TWENTY would be insanity ).
 

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