Recommendation Letters Following are instructions for students requesting letters of recommendation for a job, scholarship, or university admission. 1. I only write letters for students who have taken my classes. 2. I will not write you a letter unless I feel I can write a good one. If you have done poorly in my class, or if I hesitate or suggest that you find someone else to write your letter, you would be best to think of other options. 3. If you need a letter sent in support of a scholarship or university application other than NCU, you must request it at least 1 month before it is due. For job applications or letters to be sent within NCU, please allow at least 3 weeks. If the letter you are requesting is the first one I have written for you, you are advised to ask me earlier. 4. If you plan to apply for anything, begin early—well before you ask for a letter. If you are not sure what to do, ask one of your professors. Last minute applications are a lot of trouble and rarely successful. 5. When you request a letter, do it by email. If you are not a current student, please tell me clearly who you are, reminding me when you attended NCU and what classes you took from me. 6. Along with your request, I will need the following: a list of classes you took from me and your grades. If you have kept any of your final papers or my comment sheets, these would be useful too. a list of all other courses you have taken/are taking at NCU, and your grades. If your letter is in support of admission to another university program, I will need to see a copy of your NCU transcript in English. all available information concerning the jobs, scholarships, or programs of study for which you are applying all materials you are sending with your application, including writing samples, statement of purpose, résumé, cv, etc. These items don’t have to be complete, but they should be far enough along for me to know what to say about them in your letter. If you have been out of school for a time, write me a brief note saying what you have been doing and why you want to return to school, get a new job, etc. 7. If possible, we should meet and talk about the application, especially if it is for graduate school. 8. After I have agreed to write you a letter, I will need a list of names and addresses where I should send it. The list should include the date when each application is due. I will also need stamped envelopes with the addressed written on them. Please use English department envelopes and print my name above the department’s return address. 9. Fill out all forms to be included with your application carefully. All application materials should be double checked for spelling, typos, and other errors. 10. Fill out all reference letter cover sheets and include them with their respective envelopes. Do this carefully. If you misspell my name, I will not send it. If you mixing them up, they will go to the wrong places. Also be sure to fill out and sign the confidentiality waiver—meaning that you will not see the recommendation written for you. Letters of recommendation mean very little if you do not guarantee that it is written in confidence.
11. For this reason, all letters are confidential and will be sent by me directly to the university, employer, etc. There are no exceptions. While you will not see the letter I send, during our discussion of your application it is entirely appropriate for you to suggest things you would like me to talk about. And once again, if I feel I can’t write a good letter, I won’t write one at all. 12. As deadlines approach, remind me by email. 13. I will let you know when the letters have been sent. I also keep copies for future reference and in case anything goes wrong.