from someone I have never met?
I have been invited to join Phi Theta Kappa. Well, they say I’ve been invited to join. What they really mean is that I’ve been invited to fill out an application and submit an application fee.
I am fully aware of this particular honor society, since my mother was a member way back when I was in elementary school.
I very much want this, partly because my mother would be so proud of me, but also because I know it looks good on transfer applications.
My problem though is that I have never actually met any of my professors*. I’m only a second semester freshman and all my classes, until now, have been online. *I met my Algebra and Stats professors but only once and only to take one test. Since neither of my math classes involved discussion boards, those two professors only know me based on how well I was able to learn math on my own.
I would like to ask my Government and Liberal Arts professors for recommendations. But, neither of them has met me. The only information they have to rate me on, are my assignments and discussion board participation.
It just seems like it would be very awkward to send an e-mail saying, “Hi! Remember me? No? Oh well, can I have a recommendation?”
Now both classes were just last semester and I got an A in each. I think it’s fairly likely that they haven’t forgotten my writing already but it still just seems like an odd request to make of someone I’ve never seen in person and couldn’t pick out of a small crowd.
I will actually have Bio, Lab, and Spanish in real classrooms this semester but the deadline is February 28 and I’m not certain those professors will be able to make an honest assessment of me in only 4 weeks (assuming they need 2 weeks to do the recommendation form).
So, would you:
Send a nice e-mail to the LibArt and Gov’t professors requesting that they do the recommendation.
Wait until 1 month into the Spring semester and then ask professors who have actually seen me in action.
Wait until I’m on campus next week and try to catch up with the LibArt and Gov’t professors to ask them in person (even though I have no clue where their offices are or what their office hours are).
I’ve never heard of a professor denying someone who passed their class a recommendation. The one thing you have to worry about is how good their recommendation will be. Since they don’t know you, they might not be able to say much except “he was in my class and got an A…”.
If they know that their recommendation will be bad, they might tell the person that they don’t know them and that their is not much that they could say on his behalf.
What I would do is remind them of who you are before you make the request. Just say something like, “Hi, I’m whoever, and I got an A in your class last semester. I want to join PTK and they are requesting a letter of recommendation. Would you mind writing a letter of recommendation for me?”
If they say no, then who cares? If they become offended and refuse to write the letter, then they’re of no use to you. You don’t really need to keep in their good graces except for recommendations.
If you corresponded with them online and you think they would recognize your name and remember your work (or be able to jog their memory by looking at their grade sheet) then actually I wouldn’t worry about it. It was an online class, you were supposed to participate online, if you were in their office every week asking questions then probably something went wrong.
I think your best bet is the Government or Liberal Arts professors since you were able to participate in online discussions. They can look over your writing (offer to forward copies, hopefully you still have their comments) and go back to the discussion boards too, to get a sense of how you did and what you brought to the class. I would guess the math classes were more just turn in problems, but if there were online discussions that you contributed to then it might be worth it to ask them too.
Go with the Government and Liberal Arts folks as they will likely have better things to say. A Math professor isn’t going to know one student from another.
I would look them up on the school website, find their office location, and then visit their office. Odds are they will have office hours posted on their door, or if not, there will be a front office/graduate student who will be able to tell you when they will be in. I would stop by in person, or at least call their office phone, rather than e-mailing as you are asking for a personal favor.
I would bring the forms with you along with copies of your papers to refresh their memory of your work. I would be humble in my request for the recommendation, but I would also gauge their answer and try not to force it on them, otherwise you may get a mediocre recommendation. With any luck, they will be honored you asked them, interview you on the spot to learn more about you, and write a glowing letter for you. Be prepared for a mini-interview if that happens though. That is, have a good reason why you want to join this society other then “it will make my Mom proud and it looks good on a transfer to get out of this lame school where you’re teaching”, though that really is the truth. I might suggest you have loftier goals like “I eventually want to apply for medical school/law school/veterinary school/MBA/Ph.D. program and feel this would greatly improve my application, and I want to be recognized for my academic achievements”.
This made me crack up. I absolutely love this school. I practically grew up here since my mom was a student for a good portion of my childhood. Most of my happiest memories from my childhood happened at this college. I was with my mom one day as she sat in her Bio lab, writing a report. I was completely fascinated by the brain in the jar over her head and it got me interested in science - and that interest has stuck with me for over 2 decades.
My third reason (and the one that’s most important to me) for wanting to be a part of PTK is that it’s tangible proof that I am finally starting to make something of my life. After graduating from high school with a 2.3 GPA and then wasting the next 12 years of my life, I am finally working toward my future and I’m getting good grades while doing it. It’s nice to be on the Dean’s List but being a member of PTK has been something I’ve associated with academic success ever since I was a kid. Getting the invitation e-mail today actually made me cry (yes, I am that much of a dork - feel free to make fun of me).
I’m not sure if a either of them care to know all that sappy stuff though.
I really appreciate the input from everyone. You all make a lot of sense.
I’m looking for letters now and I’ve been told that once I do have a meeting with a professor it helps to have typed the things I have done so far, why I want to transfer to another school (or in your case join PTK), why I took the class and how I enjoyed it. Basically you’re writing a cover letter for them. That way if they get stuck they can just look back on what your helpfully wrote out for them.
This made me crack up. I absolutely love this school. I practically grew up here since my mom was a student for a good portion of my childhood. Most of my happiest memories from my childhood happened at this college. I was with my mom one day as she sat in her Bio lab, writing a report. I was completely fascinated by the brain in the jar over her head and it got me interested in science - and that interest has stuck with me for over 2 decades.