Letters of Recommendation (Some FAQs)
Will you write me a letter of recommendation?
Probably. Students often get nervous about asking professors for letters of recommendation because it can feel like you’re asking someone you barely know to do you a favor they’ve never offered to do. But you should know that we all write dozens of these letters every year, and it’s our job to do so. You don’t have to be the very best student in a class to merit a letter from a professor, and you should not feel embarrassed asking for one. However, I can only write strong letters for students who have done well in my courses. If you would like a letter from me, I would be happy to write you one if:
Will you write me another letter of recommendation?
If you’ve asked me for a letter in the past, and need another one for a new application, I would be happy to update my old letter for your new purpose. Just let me know what, if anything, has changed since the last one. If it has been a year or longer since then, send me a new resume.
I graduated years ago and am now applying to grad/law/etc. school. Do you remember me well enough to write me a letter?
If you have graduated and are now applying to graduate or professional school several years out, you should feel equally comfortable asking me for a letter if you meet the requirements listed above. Unless it’s been decades since we last spoke, there is a pretty good chance that I remember you. (In general, this is true of all your professors - it's completely normal to apply to graduate school several years after you finish college, and we are used to such requests.) You may also have to re-send me a copy of your best paper if I don’t have a digital copy to jog my memory about your writing.
Who should I be asking for letters for different kinds of applications?
If you’re thinking about applying to graduate or professional school (MA, PhD, JD, MD, MBA, or any other competitive degree program) in your fourth year or after you’ve graduated, you should think about who will be able to write you strong letters in advance. One rule of thumb is that at least one of your letters should be from a faculty member who knows you very well. That should be someone you’ve taken multiple courses with, a thesis advisor, someone you’ve done research for or with, or someone who is familiar with both your academic performance and your extracurricular activity. Start thinking about who that letter writer might be in your third year. Ideally, all your recommenders should know you well, but that’s not often possible, so don’t stress if one or two letters come from people who can only speak to your performance in one or two classes, as long as your performance there was very good.
How can I ensure that my letter will be persuasive and detailed?
One way to get stronger letters is to attend office hours occasionally or make appointments to talk to your professors outside of class about the readings or the ideas in the course, which gives them a chance to get to know you (and vice versa). Office hours are not just for students who need help; they are also for students who are doing very well and want to talk about the course material in greater depth. As with asking for letters, you should not feel at all embarrassed to do this; it is completely expected.
Can people other than professors write letters on my behalf?
If you are applying to an academic graduate program (an MA or PhD) all of your recommenders should ideally be professors, rather than coaches, work supervisors, etc. For other graduate/professional education, a mix of types of recommenders is more acceptable, but talk with people in your intended field to get a better sense of their expectations. For internships, it usually doesn’t matter much who your recommenders are unless they know your potential employer directly. Personal connections are, alas, almost always worth prioritizing.
Will you write me a letter of recommendation?
Probably. Students often get nervous about asking professors for letters of recommendation because it can feel like you’re asking someone you barely know to do you a favor they’ve never offered to do. But you should know that we all write dozens of these letters every year, and it’s our job to do so. You don’t have to be the very best student in a class to merit a letter from a professor, and you should not feel embarrassed asking for one. However, I can only write strong letters for students who have done well in my courses. If you would like a letter from me, I would be happy to write you one if:
- You received an A or A- in my course. Even better, if you’ve taken more than one course with me, which allows me to say more about how great you are. (In certain situations, a lower grade might be ok if you distinguished yourself in some other way, or took multiple courses with me and improved over time.)
- You give me at least two weeks’ notice before the letter is due.
- You send me your current resume, all the information I need to submit the letter (the link or email address), a short description of the position or award you’re applying for, and the deadline.
Will you write me another letter of recommendation?
If you’ve asked me for a letter in the past, and need another one for a new application, I would be happy to update my old letter for your new purpose. Just let me know what, if anything, has changed since the last one. If it has been a year or longer since then, send me a new resume.
I graduated years ago and am now applying to grad/law/etc. school. Do you remember me well enough to write me a letter?
If you have graduated and are now applying to graduate or professional school several years out, you should feel equally comfortable asking me for a letter if you meet the requirements listed above. Unless it’s been decades since we last spoke, there is a pretty good chance that I remember you. (In general, this is true of all your professors - it's completely normal to apply to graduate school several years after you finish college, and we are used to such requests.) You may also have to re-send me a copy of your best paper if I don’t have a digital copy to jog my memory about your writing.
Who should I be asking for letters for different kinds of applications?
If you’re thinking about applying to graduate or professional school (MA, PhD, JD, MD, MBA, or any other competitive degree program) in your fourth year or after you’ve graduated, you should think about who will be able to write you strong letters in advance. One rule of thumb is that at least one of your letters should be from a faculty member who knows you very well. That should be someone you’ve taken multiple courses with, a thesis advisor, someone you’ve done research for or with, or someone who is familiar with both your academic performance and your extracurricular activity. Start thinking about who that letter writer might be in your third year. Ideally, all your recommenders should know you well, but that’s not often possible, so don’t stress if one or two letters come from people who can only speak to your performance in one or two classes, as long as your performance there was very good.
How can I ensure that my letter will be persuasive and detailed?
One way to get stronger letters is to attend office hours occasionally or make appointments to talk to your professors outside of class about the readings or the ideas in the course, which gives them a chance to get to know you (and vice versa). Office hours are not just for students who need help; they are also for students who are doing very well and want to talk about the course material in greater depth. As with asking for letters, you should not feel at all embarrassed to do this; it is completely expected.
Can people other than professors write letters on my behalf?
If you are applying to an academic graduate program (an MA or PhD) all of your recommenders should ideally be professors, rather than coaches, work supervisors, etc. For other graduate/professional education, a mix of types of recommenders is more acceptable, but talk with people in your intended field to get a better sense of their expectations. For internships, it usually doesn’t matter much who your recommenders are unless they know your potential employer directly. Personal connections are, alas, almost always worth prioritizing.