Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation

Occasionally, I am asked to write letters of recommendation for current or former students.  I am happy to do this, but there are some conditions.

1) You must complete and submit the following form: Recommendation Request

2) You must have earned at least an "A-" in my course and you must give me at least 1 month to work on the letter (and of course, more time is better if you want a thoughtful letter).

For details, please read the policy shown below:

I am more than happy to write letters of recommendation for students. However, just as students have the right to ask for letters, I have the option of refusing to write such letters. My main criteria for agreement are these:

• The student must have earned at least a "A-" (preferably an "A") in one of my courses.

• I must be familiar with the student beyond a grade in my records--that is, he/she must have been a memorable presence either in the classroom or during my office hours.

These criteria ensure two things. First, if a student has earned a high grade in my course(s), we both know that I think highly of the student’s performance and abilities. The second restriction makes certain that I know a particular student well enough to write more than an extremely generic letter that would not ultimately serve to help secure acceptance to a graduate program. (Students should seek recommendation letters only from professors who have such respect and hopes for the individual applicant's academic endeavors.)

If I agree to write a recommendation, the student has several responsibilities:

• Give me at least one month to work on the letter. More time is, of course, better. I want to write a carefully crafted letter, but with my schedule, I cannot always make time in a particular day--or even week--to work on such a document. 

  • Make sure you send me a table listing the deadlines by which the letters must be received.

• Please remind me of the course(s) you took from me. 

• Please include a recent copy of your CV/Resume

• Furnish all the necessary forms and other documents I will need. Any parts of such forms that should/can be filled out by the applicant--name, address, desired program, etc.-- should come to me already completed.

While not required, it is helpful if you include any other relevant information, such as test scores (GMAT, GRE, etc.), your strengths and weaknesses, your statement of purpose, etc.

Please send me an e-mail reminder one week before the letter needs to be sent. In addition, I would appreciate it if you let me know where you get accepted.

Finally, realize that your request for a letter of recommendation represents your implicit permission for me to discuss otherwise confidential information concerning your performance in my course(s)--for example, the grade you received and the reasons why you earned it. I will provide an honest assessment of your academic skills.

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