Recommendation letters (aka Reference Letters)
Q: Do you need a recommendation letter from a Mathematics professor?
A: Ask mathematicians who know you well and have a reason to think highly of your potential. Ask for a letter well in advance. Provide your letter writers with detailed information (about you, deadlines, requirements, etc), and finally, be patient with the process! THIS link might also help flesh out some of the potential questions you may have before initiating this process.
If I have agreed to write a recommendation for you, please email me with the following information:
a copy of your transcript (unofficial is fine),
a copy of your personal statement (if applicable), and
all necessary links / a list of the programs you are applying to.
Furthermore, in the same email, a minimum of three (3) weeks before the first letter is due, include the detailed answers to the following questions:
What is your name, year, and major?
For what are you applying? (scholarship, graduate school, etc.)
List the programs to which you are applying, together with due dates.
How long have I known you (years/months), and
What is my relationship(s) to you (instructor, advisor, etc.)?
Have you graded or tutored for me? If so, for what class(es) and when?
For what class(es) have I had you, what final grade(s) did I assign you, and how did you distinguish yourself in my class(es)?
How would you describe yourself?
What are some of your academic and nonacademic accomplishments?
What makes me particularly qualified to write a letter for you?
What makes you particularly stand out for this position/honor/award?
What are your long term goals and will this position/honor/award help? If so, how?
Any additional comments (REU's, summer research, interesting jobs, hobbies, etc.)?
And last but not least, please send me email reminders as deadlines approach, and feel free to chat with me about other ways we both can make the application process go smoothly for you.
Bonne chance!
This section is loosely based on Tara Holm's analogue.