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Whether you're applying for graduate school, a job, or a summer internship,
chances are you will need letters of recommendation from professors who
know you. Here are some tips that will help make this process easier for
you and them, and get you the best possible letters to help you
reach your goals.
1. WHOM should I ask to write a letter?
The best and most obvious choice is a professor who gave
you a good grade in a class (or better yet, more than one class) and
has been impressed by your academic performance. Ideally, the professor
should also be able to comment on your creativity and personality. The
instructor of your proseminar might be a good choice -- but any upper-level
course (especially one requiring a paper) should give you a good opportunity
to distinguish yourself and establish the kind of relationship that
will result in a strong letter of recommendation.
2. WHEN do I start asking for letters?
As far in advance of your application deadline as possible.
If you are applying to graduate school, one month before the deadline
should be an acceptable lead-time. Do not wait until the last minute.
This is practical as well as courteous; if you wait too long to make
your request, the person may not have the time to write a letter or
complete a form.
3. HOW do I go about asking for a reference?
See the professor in person. Only send an e-mail
message if you are writing from out of town -- but definitely don't
leave a note in their mailbox or office door saying "I need 3 letters
to 3 different universities by Friday." If your schedule doesn't
allow you to stop by during their office hours, you should e-mail them
to arrange for an appointment. If you are writing, be formal and well-spoken
-- and unless the professor knows you well, mention the course(s) you
took with them (don't assume that they remember you by name.) If you
wrote a paper for the course, it would help to bring a copy to your
meeting, or if writing, mention the paper's topic.
4. WHAT do I give the professor when I ask for
a reference?
As much information as you can. Include all of the items
on this list:
a. A description of each position or program for which
you are applying
b. Application deadlines for each program/position
c. A statement of your interest in the program/position
(if applying to a graduate program, you will probably be required
to write such a statement anyway)
d. Your student record (you can request this through
My UW, or order a campus copy transcript from 123 Peterson)
e. Your resume (if you can't meet in person, this can
take the place of the student record; it would be helpful in this
case if you include your Art History coursework on the resume)
f. Any forms or specific instructions or questions requested
by the program/position for the letter of reference
g. A stamped, addressed envelope for each letter
of reference -- in the case of graduate applications, they should
be addressed to the program(s) you are applying to. For reasons
of confidentiality, most professors prefer to send recommendations
directly to the program, rather than let the student collect them
and send them with their application package. Do not put a return
address on the envelope.
NOTE: many programs now have a means of entering recommendations
online. In these cases, please provide the URL or email address for
submission of the letter.
5. AFTER the letter has been written, what should
I do?
Let the professor know when you hear about your application,
whether or not you were accepted. They will appreciate having a sense
of participation in your future, and knowing how it all turned out will
help them gauge future letters for you and other students.
6. WHAT is the Reference Letter Center, and how
do I use it?
If you are planning to go to graduate school, you may
find it helpful to open a file with the Reference Letter Center, a service
offered (for a nominal fee) by the L&S/Human Ecology Career Services
Office. You will still need to personally ask your professors to write
letters for you, but the center will do most of the "legwork"
in collecting and mailing recommendations, and they will keep all of
your references on file for seven years. Visit their
website, or stop by 905 University Avenue, Room 160, for more information
on how it all works!
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