Who are eligible to get my recommendation letters?
Who are eligible to get my recommendation letters?
Those who have taken 2 of my courses with straight A+.
Exceptions may be considered for those who have demonstrated exceptional performance in one of my courses.
Master or PhD students under my supervision.
Undergraduate students who are in the Honors Program in our department and are under my supervision.
My research assistants.
I will recommend at most 4 students each year.
At least 1 will be reserved for PhD or research-oriented master applications.
The limit on the number of recommendation letters is to ensure the strength of the recommendations.
If you intend to apply for Fall admission in the year X+1, kindly request recommendation letters from me by the end of October in the year X.
Your CV
Your transcript
A list of programs that you plan to apply for. (Note: I may not be able to write for every programs though.)
The statement of purpose (SOP) of the No.1 program that you wish to get an offer from.
Any additional material that you wish me to write about.
When requesting a recommendation letter, it is advisable to ask in the following manner: 'Can you write me a (very) strong recommendation letter?' Professors are usually reluctant to turn students down. By framing the question this way, professors will be able to assess their condition to recommend you in strong terms. If the response is negative, consider approaching other professors for assistance.
ALWAYS waive your right to view the letter! This is to ensure the validity of the recommendation letter.
In most cases, you should arrange a face-to-face appointment before asking for a recommendation letter.