|
| Requesting a Letter of Recommendation |
 |
Consideration
Faculty are happy to write letters of recommendation. It is of course better for you to have
more than just passing or casual experience with a recommender. How much and what kind of shared
experience of course can't be determined by any fixed rules. But writers of recommendation
letters feel that they should indicate how well qualified they are to comment on a student or
former student. Readers will know how to factor in the quality of the information and assessment
being made by the writer. Keep in mind that letter writers know that letter readers prefer
eyewitness accounts to hearsay.
A strong letter of recommendation might well make reference to special experiences that epitomize
your good character, breadth or depth of experiences or fine intellectual skills. So in considering
someone to be a recommender, you might consider someone with whom your fund of experiences is reasonably
rich; that may mean that they are also better aware of flaws or blemishes, but you have to trust that
your recommender will be judicious. Such trust is very rarely misplaced.
Approach
Give the professor an opportunity to tell you how strong a letter she or he can honestly write for
you. If this particular person cannot write a strong letter, think about thanking him or her for their
candor and asking someone else to write.
Helping the process move along efficiently
Provide an application form if there is one. Some application forms envision you filling out the
basic information about the recommender; the recommender then needs only to fill out the form and
sign. Having preparatory work done is appreciated.
Make sure the due date is clear to your recommender; it might be good to provide it in writing.
It might help for you to list the course(s) you have had with this professor; you might also indicate
work you did for a course; providing copies of work done to a recommender might be wise.
At Carlton College they ask for the following information, to go into a file for future reference
in writing recommendation letters: 1. Name; 2. Permanent address (where you can always be reached)
and phone number; 3. Age; 4. Class; 5. Major; 6. “Minors” (or other departments in which
you have done extensive work); 7. Mathematical background (including math, computer, statistics,
methodology) or other special skills; 8. Summer experiences; 9. Work experience at college; 10.
How good in general has your academic record been? In what courses did you excel? Why? In what
courses were you weak? Why?; 11. What about extra-curricular activities? Have you been active or
merely a member?; 12. What kind of job would you like to be recommended for? Is there any other
information you think would be helpful to us in preparing these letters? What aspects of your
background, abilities, and experience do you feel justify recommending you for this position?
Are there any other specific strengths or weaknesses you would like us to extol or explain in
our recommendations?
If called for in the application process, you will provide the envelope and postage. Otherwise it
is probably more appropriate for the recommender to use department stationary; the department
can pay the postage.
After the fact
It is an important courtesy, too often overlooked, for the student or former student to let
recommenders know what the outcome was of the application (they made the effort to write the
letter; accordingly, they deserve some feedback). And of course there is no shame in an unsuccessful
application.
Repeat business
Recommendation writers keep copies. They know how to rewrite an older letter either to
take account of new information that has become available since a letter was previously
written, or to redo a letter in light of differences in what kinds of assessments and
information a new reader will want.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Explore Pomona's Web |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Find It |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
