How to Obtain a Letter of Recommendation
In your academic and professional career, you may be asked to provide letters of recommendation for various reasons. A committee is usually assigned to review applications for an internship, employment, graduate school, etc. Often your letters of recommendation are reviewed critically and play a crucial role in their decision to select or reject your application. We have put together a few helpful hints to assist you in your future endeavors. How to choose the right person, ie: university faculty member vs. community college faculty. PI better than graduate student. May be based on what kind of a reference you need. Graduate school usually would like to know about your research experience. They probably write letters all the time. Don’t be afraid to ask for one. Keep in good contact with your professors and instructors in science and math courses so that you can build a good rapport. Go to office hours, ask questions in class, etc. Make their job easy. Provide them with a ready-made packet. Include the following: o Description of what your applying for and who they should write the letter to o Addressed and stamped envelope o Resume or CV o Personal statement o Transcripts (unofficial) o Outline of major qualifications you feel you would like them to point out in their letter (they may chose not to write about all of them!). Good letters vs. mediocre letters Friendly reminder about the deadline. Can’t always get what you want. Timing If applying to many positions, ask them to write all at the same time. Get more letters than you need for back up.
Center for Adaptive Optics Communication Curriculum - 2006