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)