Asking for a Letter of Recommendation
Asking for a letter of recommendation can be complicated. You may need one for graduate school or a scholarship. But you're not sure how to ask or even whom to ask?
The following steps will help you get a strong letter of recommendation from someone who can honestly speak to your strengths. Because nobody wants a letter of recommendation that is half hearted or obviously written last minute.
It’s never too early to start building a relationship with your teacher or mentor. For example if you know you want to go to medical school, start getting to know a professor or two your freshman year of undergraduate studies. Another good way to build a relationship is to consider working in an academic department, lab, or even the library. This will give you opportunities to start building relationships. The more you get to know someone the more they can write you an informed and honest letter of recommendation. Not to mention they will be more inclined to then if you only attended their class and had no personal interaction with them.
When you do ask, be sure to ask in person, no emails or phone calls. Also how you ask is very important. Try asking: "Would you feel comfortable writing me a strong letter of recommendation for(x,y,z) ?" It is important you get a good letter, not just any letter. You may be a little nervous asking this in person, consider your options: having a moment or two of awkwardness if the person says "no," or having a bad letter of recommendation accompanying graduate school materials.
Be sure to follow up (within a day or two) with details and the same language. Send an email or leave a voice mail, thanking your recommender for agreeing to write a strong letter of recommendation to ABC place by XYZ date. Additionally, send your recommender materials which will help them write a good reference:
- A copy of your resume.
- Pre-addressed and stamped envelopes for them to mail the letter(s) in.
- Information on the program you are applying for.
- Contact information for whom the letter needs to be addressed to.
- Deadline by which the materials need to be sent in.
Follow up with them to make sure things are on track. Remember they are human and your recommender may wait until the last minute or forget about an upcoming deadline. Be sure to send a friendly email reminder or stop by in person and see if they need anything from you in order to get your letter sent on time. Doing so will prevent any last-minute problems while serving as a gentle reminder about the upcoming deadline.
Manners! Be sure to send a thank-you note. It may be old-fashioned, but sending a thank-you note is a must. Writing letters of recommendation takes time, and you should let your recommender know how thankful you are for their time.
Finally you will not get to see your letter of recommendation. No matter how much you would like to, put the thought out of your head. Also any letter you include in an application packet should have a signature across the seal. Anything your recommender sent in on their own you won’t get to see either. Trust in yourself and that your recommender wrote a great letter.
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