Letters of
Recommendation
Advice for Requesting Letters (Students)
Whether you are applying to graduate programs, or in search of a vocational
position,
you will undoubtedly be asked to furnish letters of recommendation from your major
professors. Perhaps you will be given forms to have filled out, or perhaps the
letter can be
more individualistic. In any event, there is a protocol to be followed when
requesting
someone to serve as a referee.
- Ask for a letter *well before the date it is due.* Nothing is more irritating
to the
referee than to be asked to write a letter of recommendation under pressure.
- Ask the referee cordially and formally. *A handwritten note slipped under the
door with "I need these 10 letters out by Friday" will not evoke the kindest
recommendation.* You are requesting a significant favor; do it politely and
sensitively.
- Be sure to supply the following information as a minimum: full name, major
classes taken (also when and grade earned) from the referee and other classes
taken in
the department, relevant classes taken in other departments, special skills or
talents,
statement of career interests and goals, list of professionally relevant
extracurricular
and summer activities, honors, professional associations, formal research
experience
(papers written, read, submitted for publication), and anything else which would
serve
to identify you and your strengths. Look at a standard recommendation form to get
an
idea of the information asked for. What is asked for, you provide.
- Also, and this is important, provide the full name, title, and complete
mailing
address of the person to whom a letter should be written.
- Check with the referee to see if he/she prefers pre-stamped and/or addressed
envelopes.
- Prepare a self-addressed (to you), stamped postcard with the message on the
back: "To (whomever the letter of recommendation is to be sent): Please mail this
card if a letter of recommendation concerning me has been received from (whomever
you are asking to write)." Sign your name, and ask the referee to include it with
his/her letter or form. If you do not receive the card in a few weeks, check on
the
status of the letter.
- Be sure to indicate for what purpose the letter is being written, (e.g.,
Master of
Arts program in English, professional writing job, government internship, etc.).
The
more specific the purpose, the more specific (and pertinent) the letter.
- Waive your rights to read the letter or form. Recipients place more credence
on
letters which are not read by students. If you are in doubt about the kind of
recommendation the referee will write, ask.
Also see:
Advice for Writing Letters (Professors)
|
