Wording your request for a letter of recommendation e-mail. Forum

[magickware]

This is probably a really odd question, but this has always been a ridiculous sticking point for me and I just want some opinions.

What would you put in your subject line/head for an e-mail LOR request to your professor?

I've been out of school for two years now, and I never really knew the professors I plan to ask all that well. So anything that seems personal seems out of line. At the same time, I think just heading it as "Request for a LOR" would be an incredibly impersonal way to start it off. If I want my professors to write me a good LOR, then I need to look good, even if it's superficial. Platitudes and grace always helps, but I have no idea how to include that in the bloody subject line.

[A. Nony Mouse]

"Request for LOR" is totally fine. You want the prof to be able to find the message easily and know what it's referring to when, however many weeks down the road, they actually get around to writing the LOR. Impersonal is fine - it's a professional request, not personal. You can put all the platitudes and grace you want into the body of the e-mail. (But it's not like they're agreeing to godparent your first born - they're just writing you a letter, it's part of their job. No need to go overboard with groveling.)

[Rory19]

I wrote Law School Application in one and Post-Graduation Plans in another.

[Ti Malice]

Do you live far from your alma mater? Visiting in person during their office hours, if possible, would be better.

[magickware]

Sadly, yes. One is on the opposite side of the country, and the other is 12 hours away, but I cannot afford a plane ride and riding there is not possible at this time.

I mailed my professors yesterday. Hopefully they'll say yes. I can't think of anyone else who can write LORs that mean anything.

[CyanIdes Of March]

I went with "Dat LOR".