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. Together with the
information in the item below, this will 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, 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.
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 seems to be sufficient only for one cursory revision.
Other Data
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 UPS envelope and the
department will pay the postage. If I am to return it to you, I will seal it in
an envelope and have you pick it up.
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. The following should help to prevent any confusion
associated with this variety of directions.
- Please
provide as much information as possible about the award, scholarship, job or
graduate program you are seeking. Together with the information in the item
below, this will help me describe why you are the right person for that award,
scholarship, job or program.
- I will
write a letter about your work at UPS and your potential for graduate study.
Please follow the suggestions on the other side of this sheet when providing me
with the needed information. It is particularly important that you ask me to
write this letter well in advance of your first deadline.
- For each
school to which you are applying, please give the Mathematics Department
secretary the following:
- Any forms that need to be filled out.
- A clearly marked COPY of each form.
- Clear instructions on the deadline and if the materials are to be
sent directly or returned to you.
The secretary will give me the COPY of the form which I will fill out by
hand. She will then type my entries onto the actual form (making it look
professional), attach a copy of my letter and either mail the result in a UPS
envelope or hold the materials for you.
Thank you for your help and good luck with your application.
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