A few basic questions on LOR

[natsky]

Hi everyone

I am graduating within the next year or so, and am beginning to freak out about my letters of recommendation. I wasn't always planning on going to grad school, and I don't know anyone who has had to get LOR so I don't know much about them.

First of all, does it matter what subject the professor teaches in relation to your degree? For example, I'm a psychology major going into counseling, so would it be bad if I got a LOR from a professor who taught a completely different subject?

Also, I had a professor back in Fall 2009 who was also a therapist... I feel like that would be a really, really good reference, but it's been such a long time since I took her class. I didn't form a super strong bond with her, but I would have felt confident about asking her for a letter of recommendation at the time. But is it way too weird to email her now? I'm afraid she wouldn't remember me, much less the kind of work I did in her class. Would it be better to just forget about it and find someone else I had more recently?

Finally, do you have any basic tips or advice about attaining these letters? I'm becoming very intimidated by the idea of forming some kind of close bond with a professor, especially when I take a lot of large classes. Is it enough to be doing well on the tests & assignments and speak to the professor sometimes outside of class, or does it take more effort than that? I have always felt that professors are so busy that even if they know who you are, the second the class is over they'll forget.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[FingersCrossedX]

I went to a large state school and took a lot of large classes too. I worked in the lab for one of my profs that taught a class I really liked. Psychology professors often need people to help run experiments and work in their labs. If you had a professor that you liked, you could email them and ask if they need help in their lab. Also going to office hours and getting to know a current professor could help.

I feel your pain. I had to email professors to ask for LORs 4 years after I graduated. I didn't think any of them would remember me. I only emailed the professors I had gotten to know from working with them, but they remembered and had no problem helping me out. Just be sure to give them a month or two to write it.

[spctle342]

The most important thing about references is that they speak to your ability to perform at the graduate level. In that respect, I don't think it's inappropriate to include references from professors in other disciplines, so long as they can do so.

I think most people would caution you to try and avoid references who can't say much more than "this student took my class and did well." That can possibly be prevented by offering up some of your work from their class to refresh their memory, explaining more about your work outside their class, and identifying how characteristics they have probably observed in you as a student relate to the programs you've selected.

Your fear of asking for LoRs seems common, although I personally don't understand why students are so apprehensive about asking for them, as though it's some extraordinary favor the likes of which has never been encountered by any faculty member. Just realize that everyone who wants to get into grad school has had to do the same (including your professors).

Someone mentioned assisting with research, which can be a great way to build a solid student-faculty relationship. Beyond that, if counseling programs are anything like social work programs, they don't mind (and often require) a non-academic reference, such as from a supervisor at a relevant job, internship, or volunteer commitment. I'd suggest looking into that, as well.

If you're worried about burdening people, make it as easy as possible for them by identifying the exact places you're applying, your specific objectives, a resume/CV, and possibly a draft of your statement of purpose. Yes, they're doing you a favor, but if you do your homework beforehand, I'm guessing most would be happy to help you.

[natsteel]

by offering up some of your work from their class to refresh their memory

THIS.

Your fear of asking for LoRs seems common, although I personally don't understand why students are so apprehensive about asking for them, as though it's some extraordinary favor the likes of which has never been encountered by any faculty member. Just realize that everyone who wants to get into grad school has had to do the same (including your professors.

And THIS.

Someone mentioned assisting with research, which can be a great way to build a solid student-faculty relationship.

In my first summer, I told my advisor that I would be willing to do any grunt work if he needed it. Since then, I've done three straight summers of paid research for him. The point is to make yourself available and, most importantly, ASK! If they say "No," then ask if they know anyone else in the department that might need an assistant.

If you're worried about burdening people, make it as easy as possible for them by identifying the exact places you're applying, your specific objectives, a resume/CV, and possibly a draft of your statement of purpose. Yes, they're doing you a favor, but if you do your homework beforehand, I'm guessing most would be happy to help you.

It's not even really a "favor." All my professors have said "it's part of the job."