How to Request a Letter of Recommendation
Following the the tips below will help to ensure that you get quality letters of recommendation to accompany your application for admission to graduate school. Remember, the more detail the person writing your letter of recommendation has about you and your interests, the easier it will be for them to write a strong letter.
- Give your references at least three weeks notice to write you a letter of recommendation.
- When you ask a professor, internship supervisor or employer to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf, provide them with the following information in an e-mail or on a printed sheet of paper:
- The full name of the programs to which you are applying (e.g., Doctoral Program at the University of Michigan)
- The mailing address for each program
- The due dates for the application for each program
- Whether the letter of recommendation should be submitted through an on-line system, returned to you in a sealed envelope or set directly to the University to which you are applying
- Provide the people writing letters for you with as many of the following as apply:
- A statement of purpose or a brief statement of your interests and career goals
- A copy of your resume
- An unofficial transcript
- A description of your academic and related interests
- A complete list (including dates and names) of internships and independent studies that you completed; honors and awards that you received; and any relevant work and/or volunteer experiences