I am happy to write letters of recommendation for students who meet the following criteria:

• You must have fully completed at least one class with me or worked with me directly in some other capacity. I will not write a letter for a current first-time student, as I will not have an adequate sense of your academic abilities until you complete the term.

• You should have earned a grade of an A (ideal) or B (acceptable) in my classes. If you have earned a grade less than a B, it is better to ask for a letter from another professor in whose class you especially excelled.

• I must have a sense of you as a person beyond the letter grade that appears in my records. Especially for large courses, where it is difficult for professors to know their students well individually, reflect back upon your own behavior and ask yourself the following: Did you ask astute questions in class? Did you actively participate in discussions? Did you make use of office hours? Did you find other ways to leave a lasting, positive impression? To write a strong and effective letter, I need to be able to describe you qualitatively.

• I will only write recommendation letters when you have signed a waiver of your right to examine the letter. When I write letters of recommendation, I treat them as confidential documents whose destination is to a relevant third party (e.g., prospective employer, graduate school). By asking me for a letter, you are giving me permission to discuss your performance, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in my courses and to provide the third party with an honest accounting of your academic abilities and your promise for future success.

I need at least two weeks to craft and submit a letter for you. 

If I do agree to write a recommendation, you have several responsibilities:

• Organize all the pertinent information together:

  • The nature of your application (a description of the organization/program to which you’re applying), 

  • Deadline for the letter to be postmarked/received

  • Method by which I am to submit the letter (via email, in hard copy mailed directly to a program, in hard copy to you with a signature across the envelope seal), 

  • Name and contact information of the third party (full names and affiliations of the person/group receiving the letter), if there is a word limit for the recommendation letter, and any additional forms that I am to complete on your behalf. 

  • If there are additional forms beyond the letter, you must first check that you have completed all the relevant student-related sections (e.g., your name, contact information, and waiver of right to letter) before handing the materials over to me. There is no need to furnish me with envelopes and stamps.

If you are applying to more than one program at a time, it is helpful for you to give me a detailed, organized list of all the sites. If there are unique features about a site that you want me to attend to in my letter (e.g., a job is asking for applicants with a strong statistical background), tell me, as this will help me tailor each letter to your specific needs.

So that I can write a full and effective letter, it is helpful for me to have additional information about you when possible and when relevant such as: 

• An unofficial copy of your transcript, 

• Your resume or CV

•  A copy of the cover letter that will accompany your job application

• Copies of writing that you have submitted for publication

• Copies of personal statements that you’re submitting with your application

If your application involves a funding request to an agency to support independent research, you will want to spend ample time developing your proposal before asking for a faculty endorsement letter. Very ambitious applications like a Fulbright require months of careful and consultative planning. I cannot write a letter in support of your project unless there is a project to support.

(Credit for text: Nancy Koven)