Letters of recommendation are a crucial component of any graduate school application. They provide the admissions committee with evidence of your accomplishments and your potential for success as a student in their program. Obtaining strong letters of recommendation can bring you one step closer to securing your spot in that graduate program.
Instructions
1. Find out if the program to which you are applying uses standard forms for letters of recommendation. If so, obtain the appropriate number to give to your referees.
2. Choose your referees. Select carefully: you only want people writing your letters who you confidently feel have nice things to say about you. Choose former professors, employers or people in the field to which you are applying who know you fairly well.
3. Make an appointment to see the person and then ask them if they would feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for you. If the person is in another city or state and you cannot ask them in person, call or write them a letter rather than emailing.
4. Create a portfolio to give your referee that includes transcripts, academic achievements, a resume or curriculum vita, research experience, history of employment and volunteer work, honorary and professional society memberships and any other information you feel would be helpful for them as they write your letter.
5. Include the name of the program and school to which you are applying, along with a self-addressed and stamped envelope for sending the letter to the school.
6. Highlight any specific areas that you want your referee to address in the letter.
7. Write a cover letter to include in your portfolio explaining why you have chosen to go to graduate school and why you have chosen this particular program. Outline your future career goals that you hope to accomplish with this degree.
8. Give your referee plenty of time to write the letter and have it mailed in by the application deadline. Three to four weeks is generally appropriate. Make sure you inform your referee of the program's application deadline.
9. Thank your referee at the time they agree to write the letter, and send a thank-you note after the letter has been sent. They are doing you a big favor, and you want to show your appreciation.
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