part 3
1. Take classes from good, approachable professors. Try not to pick fuckhugeclasses to take. Seminars can be very useful here - I didn't take any which was a bad decision in hindsight. Also if professor is certifiable gaping asshole, take a pass.
2. Go to office hours and prepare questions in advance. Don’t ask stupid shit. Show your intelligence off. That you did your homework and are not some other premed. Ask them to clarify something they said in lecture to show that you were actually listening, or ask them to clarify something you read to show that you actually did the reading. If you feel like you will really get along well with the professor, ask them about their research, their career, and express interest in joining one of their research projects. That's how you work office hours.
3. Answer and ask questions during lecture. This will help them remember your face and they will recognize you when you come in to office hours. But don't ask moronic shit because everyone else will fucking hate you. Me included. And I'm not even your classmate.
4. Take classes from professors you already know. I took two classes from the same professor, which helped him get to know me more over the course of 2 years. I also took a class from my research adviser, which gave me a letter that double-counted for research and a science professor.
5. Ask the professors to write you a letter once the semester is over. If you are not applying for med school for a couple of years, it’s ok! Have them save the letter on their computer so that they can send it to AMCAS when the time comes. Be sure to keep in contact with them, however, so that they will remember you when you need to cash in that letter. It’s much easier for them to write a letter for you now than 2 years and 800 students later. Go to their office personally to ask them to send it rather than asking through email.
6. PLAN PLAN PLAN ahead to get your LORs. Consider each professor as a possible LOR candidate. Then by the time you apply, you will have the option of choosing your best professors to write your LORs instead of being forced to work with people who are suboptimal candidates.
2. Go to office hours and prepare questions in advance. Don’t ask stupid shit. Show your intelligence off. That you did your homework and are not some other premed. Ask them to clarify something they said in lecture to show that you were actually listening, or ask them to clarify something you read to show that you actually did the reading. If you feel like you will really get along well with the professor, ask them about their research, their career, and express interest in joining one of their research projects. That's how you work office hours.
3. Answer and ask questions during lecture. This will help them remember your face and they will recognize you when you come in to office hours. But don't ask moronic shit because everyone else will fucking hate you. Me included. And I'm not even your classmate.
4. Take classes from professors you already know. I took two classes from the same professor, which helped him get to know me more over the course of 2 years. I also took a class from my research adviser, which gave me a letter that double-counted for research and a science professor.
5. Ask the professors to write you a letter once the semester is over. If you are not applying for med school for a couple of years, it’s ok! Have them save the letter on their computer so that they can send it to AMCAS when the time comes. Be sure to keep in contact with them, however, so that they will remember you when you need to cash in that letter. It’s much easier for them to write a letter for you now than 2 years and 800 students later. Go to their office personally to ask them to send it rather than asking through email.
6. PLAN PLAN PLAN ahead to get your LORs. Consider each professor as a possible LOR candidate. Then by the time you apply, you will have the option of choosing your best professors to write your LORs instead of being forced to work with people who are suboptimal candidates.