Question

I feel if you ask a professor too late, they may forget about you. Would asking early and holding on to it a good idea?

Answer 1

I asked for LORs in late fall of my junior year. Among the professors I asked were one I had freshman year and one I had sophomore year, but these were both small classes where I participated a lot.

If your classes were small, if you talked or asked questions, or had some kind of relationship with the professor, then you can wait. If your classes were large and you don't think the professor will remember you, then its more polite to ask now rather then spring something on the poor prof in a year.

Answer 2

My university does committee letters, in addition to letters of recommendation, so if I had a good relationship with a laboratory professor (where we could stand around and chat, but the class was only one or two credits) or if I felt like I might've stood out in a large lecture, I asked at the end of the semester if the prof. would write me something to contribute to the file to build my committee letter.  If it was a difficult, small lecture in which I did well and I could count on the professor's notice, I asked at the end of the last class I anticipated taking with the professor: even if I thought he or she would remember me, it is still best (in my opinion) to strike while the iron is hot.

Answer 3

In general, it is best to ask for LORs shortly after you finish the class.  That way, as you pointed out, professors are most likely to remember you and be able to say something substantive.  Do not ask for the LOR until the class is completed, however.  The last thing you want to have happen is that you ask for a LOR and then bomb the final or something before the letter is written.   Finally, it should not be up to you to hold on to the LOR once written.  The pre-health advisory office at your college will keep a copy of all your letters for you.