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

Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:08 pm
by 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.

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

Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:12 pm
by 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.)

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

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:42 am
by Rory19
I wrote Law School Application in one and Post-Graduation Plans in another.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:59 am
by Ti Malice
Do you live far from your alma mater? Visiting in person during their office hours, if possible, would be better.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:25 pm
by 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.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 5:36 pm
by CyanIdes Of March
I went with "Dat LOR".