Letters of Recommendation and Graduate School Applications
Letters of recommendation are just like any other paper: the more specific
they are, and the more time there is to revise and fine-tune them, the better
they turn out. The following are suggestions to help me write the best possible
letter for you.
All Letters of Recommendation
What I Need
Basic Information
- Please provide as much information as possible about the award,
scholarship, job or graduate program you are seeking. In particular, tell
me exactly what program, award, etc. you are applying
to/for and include drafts of the cover letter and any essays that you are
submitting as part of your application. I will use this and the
information in the item below to help me describe why you are the right
person for that award, scholarship, job or program.
General
Background
- I will be familiar with your work in my classes but will probably not
have much knowledge of your other majors, minors, areas of academic
interest, extra-curricular activities, part-time jobs, volunteer work,
summer jobs or other activities. Please supply me with as much
information of this type as possible. Such specifics allow me the
opportunity to give concrete examples supporting my statements about you.
You should also provide any essays or "statements of purpose" associated
with your application. Unofficial transcripts, resumes and completed
application forms could also be useful.
Graduate School
Applications
- Chances are that you are applying to a number of graduate schools.
Most, but not all, of these have a specific form they wish completed.
Some schools want the letter to be sent directly to them while others
want you to send it along with your application and a growing number
require the letter to be submitted on-line. The following should help to
prevent any confusion associated with this variety of directions.
- I will write a letter about your work at UPS and your potential for
graduate study. It is particularly important that you ask me to
write this letter well in advance of your first deadline.
- It is best if you give me the materials for all of the schools to which
you are applying at the same time. For each of these schools, please give
me the following:
- Any forms that need to be filled out whether electronic or
paper.
- If the forms are in paper, supply a clearly marked COPY of each
form.
- Clearly specify all deadlines.
- Clearly specify if the materials are to be sent directly or
returned to you.
Time Constraints
Since the quality of my writing is directly proportional to the number of
times I revise, and since the number of revisions possible is a function of how
much time I have, and since most requests for letters occur simultaneously, it
is important that you give me sufficient lead time to write your letter. As a
general rule, two weeks is sufficient only for one cursory revision.
How I Submit the Letter (Do NOT give me a
self-addressed stamped envelope!)
Please make it clear what you wish me to do with the letter once I am
finished. If I am to mail it, it will be sent in a Math & CS Department
letterhead envelope and the department will pay the postage. If I am to return
it to you, I will seal it in a letterhead envelope and have you pick it up. If
I am to submit it electronically, you will need to have filled out all of your
part of the electronic submission.
Thank you for your help and good luck with your application.
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