Things To Keep In Mind when
Asking for a Letter of Recommendation...
As
a medicinal chemist, I am often approached by students
asking for various letters of recommendation for everything
from financial scholarships to green card requests to
medical school applications. Writing letters of
recommendation is a part of my job, and I take great
pleasure in helping students on their way to future
success. I'm also mindful of all the letters of
support I received from my mentors when I was a
student. However, there are a few things you should
always keep in mind when asking any instructor for a letter
of recommendation.
The first thing to always
consider is the perspective of the selection committee that
has to read these applications. If you had to select a
candidate among several hundred applicants, what would you
look for in a letter of recommendation? Each program
varies, but the programs will usually inquire about:
- Your academic performance in my class {not your
percent score, but how you performed versus your peers}.
- How long I have known you
- In what capacity I've known you
{lecture/lab/adviser}
- Your personality/maturity/potential
- What skills you have relevant to the program
Keep these things in mind when asking
for a letter of recommendation. It's always best to
get a letter from someone who knows you well.
Students Who Will Get
a Strong Letter of Recommendation
- Students in my research group for more than one
quarter
- Students that have have taken 3 or more quarters
of lecture/lab with me and had a strong academic
performance in class
These are students
that I know well, and I will be more than happy to write a
strong letter of recommendation.
Students Who
Will Get a Good Letter of Recommendation
- Students in my research group for a single
quarter
- Students that took 2 quarters of classes with me
- Students that have worked for the department for
2 or more quarters and regularly interact with me.
I am more than
happy to write letters of support for any student in this
category, but it will not be as strong since I will have
known you for a shorter period.
Students Who Should
Think Carefully Before Asking for a Letter of
Recommendation
- Students who have taken only 1 quarter of
lecture/lab from me
- Students I have only interacted with infrequently
- Students who struggled in my class academically
If you fit any of
the above categories, you may still ask me--especially if
you're not sure about your academic performance versus your
peers. More often than not, however, I will counsel
you to consider asking someone else.
General Tips When
Asking for Letters of Recommendation
There are a few things you should always keep in mind when
asking anyone for a letter of recommendation:
-
If you ask someone and they
express any kind of reservation or concern, it's usually
best to ask someone else.
-
Provide your reviewer with
information about the program(s) and deadlines.
-
Always give your reviewer time
to write the letter. If the letter is due in less
than 2 weeks, you'll need to provide a compelling reason
why you didn't contact them sooner.
-
Be polite.
-
Ask your reviewer if they would
like any other information or documents.
-
If any written material is
needed (like a filled out form), you should fill this
out and provide it to your reviewer.
-
In general, reviewers prefer
electronic submission. If something needs to be
mailed, you should provide the reviewer with a
pre-stamped addressed envelope
-
Don't ask for a copy unless
absolutely necessary. I would also suggest waiving
your right to read the letter. You certainly have
every right to see your letters, but requesting to read
your letter may appear suspicious to your
reviewer. If you don't trust your reviewer, you
really shouldn't be asking that person for a letter of
recommendation. Waiving your right to read the
letter also allows your reviewer to be honest and
open. If a reviewer knows you will be reading the
letter, they may be more conservative and guarded in
their recommendation.
-
If you have multiple letters at
different deadlines, it's best to make a table or
spreadsheet with the deadlines. Be sure your
reviewer understands how many letters you will need.
-
A thank-you card is always
appreciated, especially if you are accepted.