Requesting Letters of Recommendation for  Graduate or Professional School

Tips for requesting GOOD letters of recommendation:

  • Ask the recommender if they know you well enough and are willing to write a good letter of recommendation letter for you.
  • Many programs require that a form accompany the letter of recommendation; if such a form is required, fill out the fields you can. The recommender can sign and date the form.
  • Provide the following information to your recommender:
    • Date recommendation is due
    • Person and address to whom the letter should be sent
    • Specific title of program to which you are applying
    • Statement of purpose (or equivalent)
    • Resume
    • Remind the recommender what your contact with them has been
    • Correctly addressed stamped envelope
  • Realize the people you are requesting letters from are busy. Allow your recommender at least 3 weeks to write and send your letter. As the deadline approaches, gently remind them. At the same time, try not to be an annoyance.

Other sites with helpful tips:

http://www.csulb.edu/~psy301/lettersrec.html