Asking for Letters of Recommendation
For most applications (jobs, graduate school, scholarships, etc.), you will need to include three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address your abilities, suitability, and promise for the stated goal. In selecting faculty members to approach for a letter, you should consider who knows you and your work best. Those who know you well and have ties with a particular university or program to which you are seeking admission are particularly good to approach – as are those who are well-known in the field you wish to enter.
When asking someone to write on your behalf (YES!!! You have to ask!! This includes just including a name for a reference on the job appplication), be sure to phrase your request in a way that allows the person a gracious way to decline. For instance, a professor may not feel that he or she could write the strong letter you need. Also, be sure to plan in advance. You should give your recommenders three week or more lead-time before the letter is due.
As part of your planning, you should prepare a packet for your recommenders. This packet ideally should include:
- A list of jobs or programs to which you are applying – and the deadlines for the receipt of materials.
- Any forms that should be included with the letter. Complete all portions of the form that ask for your personal information. Be sure to check the box that waives your right to see the letter. If you do not waive your rights to see the material, the letter will hold less weight.
- A draft of your teaching philosophy, personal statement, or essay that you are sending with your application.
- A copy of your resume.
- A statement in which you offer a brief summary of the work you completed for the course(s) you took with the recommender and the grades you earned. Such information will jog the
recommender’s memory and allow the person to add specific details that will enhance the letter. Feel free to include any information (course-related or otherwise) that you feel would help the recommender highlight your talents, your maturity, and/or your reasons for selecting this position or school.
URLs for the recommendation submission websites and any relevant instructions