Recommendation Letter Question

[kippy13]

Hi there!

I am getting ready to apply to schools this fall and am trying to make a timeline of when my apps should be submitted. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for approaching/contacting writers for rec letters. I am definitely planning to ask early; I am going back to school next week and had been planning on asking for reference letters at the beginning of September, but I am wondering if it would be appropriate to email two of my professors now just to see if they are willing to write them, and then provide them with a folder containing my gpa, resume, etc. when I get back to school just to be ahead of the game. 

I'm not sure if it is OK to do this via email or if there is a better way to go about asking, so if anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it!

Edited August 28, 2016 by kippy13
title change

[fuzzylogician]

If school is about to start next week, you can be sure that your professors are busy with a variety of other tasks right now -- everything from finalizing course materials to figuring out classroom allocations to answering student questions about teaching and advising to various beginning-of-year events and chores. This request isn't time-sensitive and doesn't need anyone's attention just now. If I were you, I'd wait until roughly the middle of the second week of the semester, then approach them about the LORs. That still leaves them something like three months to do it in, and even then I would bet at least some of them put it off and don't even think about it until a week or so before the deadline. It's also generally better to do this thing in person, if you can. 

[kippy13]

Thank you @fuzzylogician!

[jpiccolo]

I emailed mine which was totally fine. You can also offer to meet in person about a letter which I did for one but the others agreed via email. Every prof is different with LORs. My undergrad in general didn't seem to want people asking right away in early fall. One specifically said to wait until the ASHA convention was over in November.  It also depends on when your apps are due. If December, then yeah don't wait til thanksgiving. If not til February, then I wouldn't ask right away. Most of mine were due in January or beginning of feb and I think I contacted profs around late October or November. Just give them at least a months notice that way they aren't rushed and you don't have to panic that the letter isn't in yet 

[kippy13]

Thank you for the advice @jpiccolo! I will keep that in mind

[thespeechblog.com]

On 8/28/2016 at 3:41 PM, kippy13 said:

Hi there!

I am getting ready to apply to schools this fall and am trying to make a timeline of when my apps should be submitted. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for approaching/contacting writers for rec letters. I am definitely planning to ask early; I am going back to school next week and had been planning on asking for reference letters at the beginning of September, but I am wondering if it would be appropriate to email two of my professors now just to see if they are willing to write them, and then provide them with a folder containing my gpa, resume, etc. when I get back to school just to be ahead of the game. 

I'm not sure if it is OK to do this via email or if there is a better way to go about asking, so if anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it!

I agree with things already said - third week of the semester seems good. It gives profs time to settle back into the groove of things. Also, it gives them time to remember your face and work (or if you're in another class, time for you to re-impress them!)

Also, I think it is generally best to ask for a letter of rec in person. If you can't at least try a phone call. And I think the folder of info is a very good idea! Many people forget that sort of thing. 

Finally, be sure to send a thank you card once the letters are written and off. Many people think its "old fashioned" but people definitely appreciate it! 

[kippy13]

Thanks @mcamp! I appreciate the advice