How To Request Letters of Recommendation

You are going to need letters of recommendation from your instructors at some point – be it for college, graduate school, a scholarship, a research grant, or even a job.

While the essay is the single most important component of any application, strong letters of recommendation can also have a decisive effect on whether or not you receive an offer.

So how do you get the best rec letters?

BE STRATEGIC

It’s unfair, but when you are applying for competitive programs and sources of funding, the review committee privileges letters of recommendation from high-ranking faculty members.

What this means is, even if you feel like you have a better rapport with your graduate student instructor (who is still studying for her PhD) or received your best grades from a likable lecturer, the fact remains that there is an academic hierarchy and you need to go to the top of the totem pole.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to seek out three letters of recommendation from the famous but elusive professors with whom you’ve barely spoken.

Instead, be strategic about your letter requests. If you are asked to submit three letters, get one from an instructor who knows you very well, regardless of their professional rank, and two from higher-ranking professors.

Don’t worry – everyone knows the drill. If a professor doesn’t know you that well, it would be better for you to arrange an in-person meeting and request the letter during a real-time discussion, so the letter writer can better understand why you are applying to the program and what you would like for them to touch on in their recommendation.

ASK EARLY

Be on top of your deadlines. In most cases, give your instructor AT LEAST a month’s notice to write you a letter, if not more. They are busy juggling their own research and teaching; give them decent notice so they can schedule a time to write a strong letter, instead of something hastily scribbled and submitted.

ASK RESPECTFULLY

There are two ways you can ask – in person or by email.

I’ve already discussed that an in-person meeting is more appropriate when approaching a professor you do not know very well to write your letter. Sitting down with the prospective letter writer lets him ask you questions about the program or college, why you are applying, how you are prepared to succeed if you are selected, and vocalize anything in particular you want mentioned in the letter.

Email is fine as well, sent a month before a deadline, written in a semi-formal voice. You are, after all, asking someone to do something for you (and yes, it’s their job, but still, you are adding to an instructor’s to-do list).

Send all of the information they need the first time around and in an organized fashion: the names of places or scholarships you are applying for, corresponding deadlines, links to where they can submit their recommendation letters online, and any special instructions.

Please DON’T:

Hey! I don’t know if you remember me, but I was in your European History 432 class last semester and now I’m trying to get into grad school. I have five schools so far and I need a recommendation letter? Would you mind writing it??? It’s due at the end of this week, which I know is soon, but that would be great! Thanks so much for your help 🙂

GAHHHHH.

• Request an in-person meeting if you were not close with the instructor
• Which schools? What are the deadlines?
• How does the instructor submit his/her letters?
• Don’t assume the answer is yes. Give them a chance to say yes or no.
• No emoticons, ever (never ever ever) in formal correspondence

Please DO:

Dear Professor So-and-So,

My name is Jessica Roberts and I was in your European History 432 class last semester (I usually sat in the third row, on the left side of the room). I am interested in continuing my studies of History at the graduate level and have five schools I am prepared to apply to. Would it be possible for us to meet this week to discuss the possibility of you writing a letter of recommendation for me?

I can bring a hard copy to the meeting, but in case you are interested, I have attached a list of these schools, along with their respective deadlines and submitting information.

Thank you,

Jessica

FOLLOW UP

Don’t assume that a professor who said yes, he will write you a rec, last month remembers that the deadline is this Friday at 5:00 pm. Online applications let you see who has submitted and whose letters are still pending. If you’re missing recommendations, there is nothing wrong with shooting your professor a note asking for when you can expect to see their recommendation as “submitted.

FOLLOW THROUGH

Stuff happens, but make sure you are prepared to actually submit an application if you are asking other people to take time out of their schedule to write letters for you.

The importance of following through can’t be stressed enough – if you fail to do what you say you’re going to without good reason, those professors will probably decline to write recommendations for you in the future.

Read the original here and consider Aim High Writing when you need assistance navigating your college, scholarship, and graduate school applications, including essay writing, interview prep, and self-advocacy coaching!