Recommendation Letters

Are you a student of mine who wants me to write a letter of recommendation for your application to graduate school or some other post-graduate opportunity? I'm here to help, if I can. You can help me help you by taking the following steps:

  1. Ask me if I'll write you a letter. I'll say 'Yes' only if I can write you a good one.
    1. For this reason, consider waiving your right to see the letter. You are legally entitled to see the letter. But schools give you the option to waive this right. The standard advice that I (and most other faculty I know) give to all students is to waive the right. This is because admissions committees can reason that if you are seeing the letter, the letter-writer might be saying positive things about you to please you, rather than being honest. So they don't trust such letters (often, anyway), which hurts your application. And remember, I'll only write you a letter if I can write you a positive recommendation.
  2. Have a conversation with me about your decision. You are choosing to go to graduate school, trying to get into a highly competitive program, and putting yourself on what is sometimes a challenging professional and personal path. It's helpful both as someone who cares about your future and as someone who wants to write you a strong letter to know more about your thinking about these things.
  3. Give me what I need to write you a useful letter. Think of me as part of your 'marketing' team. I'm here to help pitch you as a strong prospect. I can say certain things about you that might sound less impressive coming from you. To that end, here is what I need:
    1. Have a conversation with me about what I need to know to promote you. This includes your goals, background, and anything else that is relevant. Of particular importance are (a) any obstacles you've overcome, challenges you've faced, unique demonstrations of work ethic, etc. (e.g., working full time while in college, raising your kid sibling by yourself, etc.); (b) anything in your academic record that needs explaining (e.g., one semester's underwhelming grades due to the death of a loved one); (c) any special honors that would sound like bragging if you highlight them but sound like praise coming from me. Type all of these up on a sheet of paper and include in 3.2:
    2. Give me a packet with the following six items, again with plenty of lead time. I prefer all of the documents in hard copy (this facilitates writing you a strong letter). These will help me add texture to your letter, give the reader more information about you, and reinforce the qualities that you want to shine through in your application. In other words, this information is crucial to me writing you the strongest possible letter.
      1. Any essays you've written for my classes. Ideally these copies will include my written feedback.
      2. Your transcripts. Unofficial printouts are fine.
      3. Your resume or CV.
      4. A draft of the personal statement you're including in your application(s).
      5. Any forms I need, plus pre-addressed envelopes, if applicable. (Electronic submission is preferred.)
      6. The document described in 3.1 above.
  4. Give me plenty of advance notice. The sooner, the better, and during the semester, is a good rule to keep in mind. Because deadlines are often during or just after the finals grading crush and winter break, it's best to get me the materials I need three months in advance, no later than November 1 in most cases. (I usually write letters in mid-November.) If I don't have enough notice, I can't write a strong letter.

One last thing: good luck!