Recommendation letters are a critical piece of your application.听A strong letter of recommendation from several (at least three are needed) of your peers is just as important to your graduate school admission as your GMAT or GRE score and undergraduate GPA. Many admission committees look to letters of recommendation for information about you such as your academic accomplishments, work ethic and character to assess whether or not you will be a good fit for their program.
Getting a letter of recommendation doesn't have to be a headache. Follow these simple tips to keep you on track.
1.听Who听to ask to serve as reference
If you know early on during your undergraduate career that you plan to pursue a graduate degree, start building relationships with your peers, professors听and research supervisors. These relationships can serve you well for future recommendation letters. If it鈥檚 been a while since you鈥檝e been in college, consider asking professionals who know your character and have a genuine enthusiasm for your future and your success. Supervisors, office managers, anyone who has worked with you and can听vouch for your work ethic and performance. Whoever you ask, make sure you ask in an appropriate manner. Always make an appointment to discuss your request and ask early, give them time to complete the request.
2.听Materials to provide your selection of referees
In order to receive a good letter of recommendation, be sure to provide your referees all of the materials they will need. Be organized and thorough in your materials. Provide an organized folder with all of the following听contents:
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Transcript(s)
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Admission essays
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Research experiences
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Honor societies to which听you belong
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Awards
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Resume/work experience
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List of programs you are听applying to
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Contact information for yourself for questions (email, phone)
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A list of your goals related to your desired degree
3. What not to do when requesting a letter of recommendation
Now that we鈥檝e covered who to select as referees and what to provide them with to write a good letter of recommendation, let鈥檚 go over a few things not to do:
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Do not request a recommendation letter by email
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Do not provide your documentation piece meal and don鈥檛 delay the referees鈥� receipt of it
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Do not ask for a non-confidential letter; admissions committees will give more weight to it if they know it鈥檚 a confidential letter under the belief that writers will often be more candid
4. A few last thoughts
Additionally, give your referee plenty of time to write the letter. Schedule an appointment letting the recommender know your intentions so they can consider whether or not they can provide such a letter for you. And when you do ask for their help, ask if they can provide a 鈥渉elpful letter.鈥� Provide at least 3鈥�4 weeks for each referee to write听the letter as professors and professionals are busy. If you haven鈥檛 heard on the status around 1 1/2 weeks prior to the deadline, send a friendly reminder. Finally, send your reference a thank you note with the status of your application. They are invested in your success and will want to know how you鈥檙e moving forward in the process.
