Asking a teacher for letter of recommendation

Question

I attended one college this past year but I need to switch to a new college because of health reasons. I'm planning on sending this email to one of my professors. Do you think it's ok or should I add anything else to it?

Professor,

I was a student in your Introduction to Mass Communications class this past Fall. (CMA 1 002) This year I'm switching to a new school, Five Towns College and I was wondering if you could write a brief letter of recommendation for me. I know you don't know me very well, but I feel like I did fairly well in your class and since my major is Journalism that you would be the best professor to get a recommendation from. The reason I'm switching schools is because during the Spring semester at Post I was diagnosed with a stomach disorder and was unable to finish my classes for the semester. I've figured out my problem, but it is still crucial for me to be closer to home and Five Towns is the perfect fit for me. Your help with be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

my name

Answer 1

good lettaaaaa

Answer 2

Re-word this part:

"but I feel like I did fairly well in your class and since my major is Journalism that you would be the best professor to get a recommendation from"

It just doesn't sound right.

& Then you should be well off :)

Answer 3

Dear Pink,

As a former college professor who had to adjudicate admissions for both freshman and transfer students, I would suggest several things:

1) your first recommendation should be requested from the professor in whose class you earned the highest grade AND made an impression on the professor by classroom involvement and/or visiting during office hours for help or discussion and/or exemplary work, regardless of what your major is/was/will be.  Remind them of how they remember you (or you hope they remember you if all your classes were large classes where few students stood out, such as large lecture sections).  I hope you actually stood out in at least one class (that is key to getting a great education in any university, large or small--finding someone in your chosen discipline to get to know and to have as your mentor/cheerleader.)

2) You know what your grade was in the class; say "I was a B student in your class who started out weakly and steadily improved" or "I was a solid B student in your course until my medical condition interfered with my classwork in all my classes" or "I was a B student in your course, which I found more challenging than I expected and in which I worked diligently to earn that grade"--whatever the truth is.  

3) Say "Although I enjoyed my freshman year at Post College, I am transferring to Five Towns College in order live close to necessity medical care for a condition diagnosed during spring semester; I had to withdraw from my spring semester classes, which is why I am asking you for a recommendation despite only having class with you first semester."  Don't say YOU figured out your problem; just refer to a serious medical condition which requires ongoing treatment.

4) Is there a professor for whom you did well first semester and then had to withdraw from his/her class second semester who knows your struggle?  Or a second-semester professor who can testify to your struggle and the fact that you did work hard but the medical condition created an untenable situation? Such a person could honestly say "This young lady earned a B+ in my introductory course in the fall semester; unfortunately, in spring semester she experienced severe medical problems which necessitated her withdrawal despite her most diligent efforts to keep up with her coursework." or "was earning an A in my X course, but she experienced..."

5) If there was an organization/activity in which you were quite involved and the leader knew you by name and could genuinely say you were an asset/leader/encourager/willing volunteer until your condition got the better of you, get a recommendation from the leader/head/director/chief as well as your academic recommendation(s).  If your first semester grades were pitiful, DON'T do this because it will look like you played/partied your way through the first semester doing fun stuff instead of raising your grades through hard work and endless visits to the tutorial center, office hours, and so forth (even if that was not the case...remember, it's not what you did, it's what you can prove/get people to verify, just like in legal proceedings).

And above all--

Professors hate whiners and people who use flimsy excuses to get out of failing work (and the social-services wonks who enable them to do so, thus absolving them of responsibility and giving them preferential treatment), so you have to document that you are NOT that sort of person (as I certainly hope you are not!).  On the other hand, we are impressed by students who struggle against unsurmountable odds such as serious health conditions, who ask calmly for help and do not expect to be babied or treated preferentially from everyone else--even if that student is eventually overwhelmed by their problems.

Good luck with your education and God bless!