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Question about LORs

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:36 pm
by incase2011
I'm a little worried about obtaining LORs - I've been out of school for two years, and I'm not sure if the professor I'm thinking of asking will remember me, at least well enough to write a solid recommendation (I only had one class with him but, I really excelled in the classroom discussions).

Another problem would be finding a second professor. Most of my courses were film related and, I'm not sure it's the best idea to ask a film professor for a law school LOR.

I can almost definitely secure 1 or 2 stellar and relevant WE LORs.

I'm wondering if a shoddy, and solitary, UG LOR (only two years after the fact) will redflag my app at T1 (20 to 30) schools? Also, with this in mind, what schools are more likely to ignore a mediocre UG LOR in light of better WE LORs (even for an applicant >5 years out of school).

Re: Question about LORs

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:43 pm
by kalvano
Get a professor LOR.

You'll be surprised by what they remember.

Re: Question about LORs

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:20 pm
by incase2011
So you're saying go for just the one UG LOR? What will this mean for my chances?

Re: Question about LORs

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:27 pm
by kalvano
Get one academic and one professional LOR.

It will look odd if you're only two years removed from school and can't get one academic LOR.

Re: Question about LORs

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:29 pm
by incase2011
kalvano you're a beast! Thank you.

Re: Question about LORs

Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:58 am
by Pip
Better yet, go talk to the professor in person and you will get a good idea of whether they remember you or not. Don't just do it by mail or over the phone, it is far to easy for a professor to act like the remember you when in fact they don't... You will also get better results if you are asking in person than by mail/email/phone... nothing will improve their memory more than actually seeing you face to face.

And depending on the school and your scores/grades, the LOR might not anymore than a formality.