Need advice on getting an academic reference letter.

[HopingForPhys]

So I want to go in to physio at Queens or Dalhousie. 

I have nothing impressive right now other than a degree. I need to get an academic reference letter first of all. I took a course this past winter semester with a prof and I got an A+. It was a small seminar course so the prof saw me often and I went to office hours too. However, I feel like if I ask him for a reference letter, it won't be as good as if I volunteered in his lab first. That's why I'm considering volunteering in his lab so I can later get a reference letter from him and hopefully it would be a better reference letter and I would have the research assistant experience to add on to my application. His lab is about sport psychology, not related to physio. 

 

Should I ask him for a reference letter? or should I volunteer in his lab to get experience as well and then get the reference letter later?

[TorontoGoose]

The more they get to know you, the better your reference will be. If you have the time and are interested in their research at all, I would volunteer in their lab. 

[PeaTea30]

 

[Rajalgool]

14 hours ago, HopingForPhys said:

So I want to go in to physio at Queens or Dalhousie. 

I have nothing impressive right now other than a degree. I need to get an academic reference letter first of all. I took a course this past winter semester with a prof and I got an A+. It was a small seminar course so the prof saw me often and I went to office hours too. However, I feel like if I ask him for a reference letter, it won't be as good as if I volunteered in his lab first. That's why I'm considering volunteering in his lab so I can later get a reference letter from him and hopefully it would be a better reference letter and I would have the research assistant experience to add on to my application. His lab is about sport psychology, not related to physio. 

 

Should I ask him for a reference letter? or should I volunteer in his lab to get experience as well and then get the reference letter later?

In my experience, conveying to your professors that you have a specific goal to get into a competitive professional grad school program, and following up with them throughout the semester regarding your grades and how to improve in your course is a great segway into asking for that reference. It sounds like you have done some of that legwork. Creating a relationship with a professor over the course of a few classes and/or volunteering in their lab is another way to improve your chances of having them write you a strong letter. I'm not sure how many letters you need for Dal and Queens, but it would likely be worth putting in the extra time volunteering at the lab, like you said this will only strengthen your application as you will have research experience as well, which many programs look for. I think that you're on the right path! Good luck.