LetterofRecommendationTips Letters of Recommendation are a critical component of any graduate admissions application submission.

. More importantly, receiving a strong letter of recommendation makesmorethanaworldofdifference.Herearesomethingstoconsiderregardingletters ofrecommendation.Sinceyourbestletterswillcomefromindividualswhoknowyouwell and are familiar with your capabilities, make a concerted effort to get to know your professors and/or supervisors. Strategies for this include: speaking up in class, selecting smallerclasses,takingmultiplecoursestaughtbytheprofessor,conductingresearchwith theprofessor,attendingofficehoursregularlyorevendoingadditionalprojectsorwriting anhonorsthesis. Shouldbewrittenbysomeonewhoknowsyouwellenoughtowritewithauthority Shouldbewrittenbysomeonewhocanspeakpositivelyaboutyouandwhoisfamiliarwith youracademicwork,careergoals,orresearchinterests Askthosewhoknowyoureducationalandcareergoalsandthinkhighlyofyou Pleasegiveampletime(68weeks)foryourlettertobewrittenasyoumaynotbetheonly personseekingarecommendation Shouldhaveatleast2lettersfromfaculty Lettersfromseniorfacultyespeciallyinyourprospectivedisciplinecarrymoreweightthan thosefromfacultyoutsideofyourfieldorfromjuniorfaculty Donotseeklettersfromfamily,friends,orGSIs(howeveryourGSIcouldprovidemore informationaboutyoutofaculty) Besuretoaskforastrongletter.Ifthepersoncannotprovideastrongletteryoumay wanttolookelsewhere Scheduleatimetotalkwiththerecommendertodiscusstheletter,timeline,anddetailsof theprogramyouareapplyingto Alsobring:allformswithblanksfilledin,signed,yourresume,unofficialtranscript(s)and statementofpurpose(adraftisokifyourstatementhasnotbeenfinalized),addressed envelopes,alistsummarizingallschoolsyouareapplyingfor,postmarkandmailing deadlines,andwhethertoreturnmaterialstoyouormaildirectlytotheinstitution Ifyoudonothaveacloserelationshipwithyourletterwriterorifithasbeenoverayear, besuretoprovideampleinformationaboutyouasarefresherforyourrecommendation Providealistoffacts,work/projectsyouvedonefortheirclass,oranythingofparticular interestthatwouldhelptheminwritingastrongletterforyou Graduateprogramslookhighlyuponlettersofrecommendationthatareconfidential (meaningyou,theapplicantcannotseetheletter)