A few days ago
bree

Should I ask professors that I don’t know too well to be my references for graduate school?

I did not get to know most of my professors during my third year and applications to graduate school are due in December. Thus, I do not have enough time to establish a relationship with my current professors, to ask them to be my references.

Top 5 Answers
A few days ago
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Favorite Answer

You do not have to “get to know” your professors well in order to ask for references. You only have to have done very well in their classes.

Here’s what to do:

Choose the professors in whose classes you did the best. If you had more than one class with a professor, put them on your list as well. Visit them during office hours, tell them about your grad school plans, ask them for advice about programs in your field (if they are also in your field), and ask if they feel able to write a letter of recommendation for you.

If they agree, then tell them you’ll provide them with a packet of materials that will assist them.

In the next few days, bring each one of them a resume, a copy of a personal statement you’ve written for one of your applications, and a list of classes you’ve taken in your field, when and where you took them, highlighting the ones you took with them, and describing the research you did in each class. Even better, include GRADED copies of these research papers. Also include any forms your applications require, websites for submission of letters, or addresses to which the letters should be sent, including due dates.

That’ll do it.

Best wishes to you!

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5 years ago
Anonymous
This depends on the professor and the school. I went to a large public institution and had most of my upper division courses from a couple professors, however, our classes were huge and developing a personal relationship with them was not possible or at least not probable. I asked the professors I had mutiple classes from, and despite the fact, I didn’t know them very well, I was not turned down by any of them.
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A few days ago
Melissa P
You will will likely be more successful and get better refs if you choose professors you have at least taken a class from, even if you don’t know them well. This approach seems to work best if you got a good grade in the class and participated in class (asked/answered questions). I would only ask a professor for a reference if I stood out in a positive way in one of their classes.
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A few days ago
Anonymous
yeah its really not a good luck to ask some professors you don’t know to be your references.
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A few days ago
jennie
Yes, ask away & you’ll be surprised how much some will want to help. Don’t be shy, they’ll even take it as a compliment –
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