LORs and SOPs are the biggest pain in the ass. I can't decide which one. LOL
You're just in my situation in terms of number of good professors to ask- many of my history professors were visiting so they couldn't exactly watch me grow up over the following semester(s). And I was abroad for part of my junior year and I was applying to grad schools during my senior year. Imagine that. I was very fortunate to have two very reliable professors (though one does put things off to the last minute even though I had his class ages ago). But it was a matter of finding the right professor for the third and fourth (back up, right?).
Definitely EMPHASIZE on the word "STRONG" when you ask- ask them if they think you can do graduate school point blank. If they hesitate or need time to think, then those are NOT the people you want. They have to be jumping up and down for you on the spot. It's okay to approach them now about graduate schools but don't ask for LORs. Your conversations with them will reveal what they think you're capable of- the more helpful they are, the more information they spill (good and bad), the more likely they will write great letters because they want you to go! Especially if you're applying to programs where they got their PhD from and their friends are.
Defintely get a fourth if you can't trust the third guy. And this one has to be reliable. Even if it's from a visiting faculty member- I had one who almost wrote LORs for me (but got back to me too late because my e-mail was buried) and was still happy to do it even though the deadlines has just passed by at least a week.
It's best to ask them at the beginning of the semester in the fall, especially in courses that you're taking that you're planning to ask for a LOR so they can actually keep an eye on you. Same goes for contacting faculty- just around the beginning of the term is absolutely the best time for them. If there are faculty members that you want to work with, definitely name-drop them with your potential LOR writers- that's what I wish that I had done while talking about grad schools! Networking is the key.
You're just in my situation in terms of number of good professors to ask- many of my history professors were visiting so they couldn't exactly watch me grow up over the following semester(s). And I was abroad for part of my junior year and I was applying to grad schools during my senior year. Imagine that. I was very fortunate to have two very reliable professors (though one does put things off to the last minute even though I had his class ages ago). But it was a matter of finding the right professor for the third and fourth (back up, right?).
Definitely EMPHASIZE on the word "STRONG" when you ask- ask them if they think you can do graduate school point blank. If they hesitate or need time to think, then those are NOT the people you want. They have to be jumping up and down for you on the spot. It's okay to approach them now about graduate schools but don't ask for LORs. Your conversations with them will reveal what they think you're capable of- the more helpful they are, the more information they spill (good and bad), the more likely they will write great letters because they want you to go! Especially if you're applying to programs where they got their PhD from and their friends are.
Defintely get a fourth if you can't trust the third guy. And this one has to be reliable. Even if it's from a visiting faculty member- I had one who almost wrote LORs for me (but got back to me too late because my e-mail was buried) and was still happy to do it even though the deadlines has just passed by at least a week.
It's best to ask them at the beginning of the semester in the fall, especially in courses that you're taking that you're planning to ask for a LOR so they can actually keep an eye on you. Same goes for contacting faculty- just around the beginning of the term is absolutely the best time for them. If there are faculty members that you want to work with, definitely name-drop them with your potential LOR writers- that's what I wish that I had done while talking about grad schools! Networking is the key.
Yeah... get the GRE out of the way.
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