I’ve been taking a number of prerequisite classes in preparation for applying to an MS program that’s a completely different field than my BA. One of my courses is a lecture class with dozens of students, and even though I’ve visited his office hours several times I doubt that he remembers my name. However, I have an A in the class (actually the second-highest grade).
But I’m feeling nervous about asking him, because I don’t get the feeling that he particularly likes me. Will professors ever refuse to write letters of recommendation for a student with an A? Should I ask him in-person or over email? Should I ask him before the course ends or after (my earliest deadline is September 15 and the course ends August 12, so I need to ask him soon)?
Professors can refuse to write a letter of recommendation for any reason, even if you got an A. It might be because they don’t like you; it could be because they feel like they don’t know you well enough to recommend you for grad school; it could be because even if you got an A, they still don’t feel like you would be successful in grad school. For example, I would not write a recommendation for a PhD program for a student who had no research experience, even if they got an A in my class. I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending a student who has no experience in the thing they are signing up to do for 5-6 years of their life.
Ethically, professors should turn you down if they feel like they can’t write a strong rec for you. Don’t be nervous; simply ask the professor whether he feels like he could write you a strong letter of recommendation for MS programs. He’ll either say no (in which case you move on) or yes (in which case you give him what he needs). Ask him ASAP for program deadlines in September - really, you should always give professors 4-6 weeks’ notice for recommendations if you can. Personally, I say ask him in person if you still have access to him. It’s okay to ask over email if you’ve moved away, but if you still see him every day, it’d be weird to ask him via email. However, others have said that it’s better to ask over email so that he doesn’t feel put on the spot and can take their time to think about their decision and send you a tactful answer if the answer is no. So really, it just depends on you.
I actually had a relevant conversation today with a professor I’m doing research with. Every year he gets asked to write about 30 letters of recommendation. About 90% of those are apparently students who never came to office hours or asked questions in class. I was very surprised by this, but if the requests your professor receives are anything like this, you are already in the 90th percentile.
Also, since you aren’t sure he knows you well, be sure to provide him with plenty of information (like your CV and draft of your personal statement). If you do choose to ask by email, offer to meet in person to discuss your interests/goals/experience so he can get a better sense what to write.
Personally, i will write a letter for a student who has gotten an A in my course, but unless I know them well, I will suggest that they find another professor who can write a more personal letter. This will result in a more powerful letter. However, sometimes, there is not much other choice and I will do so. If I don’t think I can write a good letter, i will tell the student to try elsewhere and I will only write such a letter reluctantly.
If you email the professor to ask, you can include a few bullet points describing other relevant info such as your GPA, what other relevant courses you have taken, etc. It is easier to agree write a letter when the student provides more info
^When I agree to write for a student, I always ask them for a resume or CV and a draft of their personal statement to the program they’re applying to (or, if no personal statement is required, a short explanation of why they want to go to this program). Most professors I know who agree to write do the same thing. But yes, giving them a couple bullets to jog their memory in the beginning is a good idea.