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Graduate School

Recommendation Letters

Why should you have one? Though great letters of recommendation will not secure you a job or get you into the graduate school of your choice by themselves, they are a very important part of the process. They are most valuable for employers or graduate schools when many candidates have very similar qualifications. In this situation, letters of recommendation are used to add valuable information to your profile that your transcript and test scores and resume are not capable of illustrating.

Recommendations serve many useful purposes. They . . .
    • Refer to specific skills which have been developed in your field of study.
    • Provide outside support and evidence to information in your essay or personal statement.
    • Round out your personality to the reader by providing additional information about your interpersonal style, motivation, or special qualities.
    • Highlight your potential for success in your chosen field.
Requesting Letters
Deciding who should write letters of recommendations for you is an important and often difficult task. Your choice of recommenders is often driven in part by the employer or graduate school who is requesting these letters. Quite often you will be asked to supply both an academic and employment recommendation. Choose these individuals carefully based on the field you are pursuing, the capacity in which the individual knows you, and your confidence in their providing you with a positive recommendation.

Once you have selected your recommenders, you will need to ask them if they are willing to fulfill this role for you. Set up a private meeting to do this if you can and do your best to meet with the individual face to face. Prior to the meeting prepare what you wish to say (e.g., "I am currently preparing applications for x graduate program and would very much appreciate your writing a letter of recommendation for me. Would you be able to write such a letter for me?") and prepare a short list of the things you would like the recommender to highlight in his/her letter. Also be sure to include a date by which you would like the letters to be completed. Give yourself a little leeway here in case the letters are not complete by the date. This will give you time to remind the recommender of your need for the letter or to ask someone else to write a letter.

Here are just a few of the questions commonly asked of recommenders:
    • "Comment on the applicant's potential for intellectual and professional growth."
    • "How would you compare the applicant's intellectual abilities, character, and personality relative to other students whom you have also recommended for admission to this school?"
    • "Does the applicant have any unique skills or talents which you have observed?"
    • "In your observation, how would you assess the applicant's character and integrity?"
Following Up
Being a recommender is hard work. Acknowledge the efforts of these people by sending them a kind thank you note after the recommendations are received. Sometimes you won't get the letters by the dates you requested. In this case it is appropriate to remind the recommender of your need for the letter and ask if you could supply any more information which may be of help.

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