Letters of Recommendation
Writing letters of recommendation for students applying to graduate schools
and to jobs can be a difficult and time-consuming task for professors or
other university personnel. Students may request a letter written to a specific
school or job, OR, they may request a general "To Whom It May Concern" letter.
Please use departmental letterhead for either of these.
You may want to request specific information from the student in order
to write the letter. Some of the things you could ask for are:
- A current resume
- Some academic information such as copies of transcripts or list of courses
completed.
- An explanation of the student's career goals or type of job or graduate
school he/she hopes to enter. (This could be requested in writing or in
an individual meeting with you.)
- Any ideas the student has on what he/she would like you to address in
the letter.
- A phone number and address of where the student can be reached.
- A deadline for when the letter is needed.
Some faculty develop a form they give to students that requests this information.
You may find that the qualities and skills that might predict potential
success in graduate school would be different than those for a job, so letters
of recommendations for jobs may differ from those for graduate school.
Tell the student how you feel about writing a letter for him/her. If you
do not feel you could provide a thorough enough or positive enough letter
on the student, let him/her know that when the request is made. If you do
write anything that is negative in a letter, you should provide evidence
for your statements.
The following outline may provide helpful information in determining what
to include in a letter of recommendation:
- Explain your contact with the applicant: Letters should
make clear how well you know the applicant. How many courses has the student
had from you? Did you have contact with the applicant outside of class?
- Personal attributes: The letter should attempt to give
insight into the student's personal qualities and his/her interactions
with others. Emphasis should be placed on characteristics that indicate
special promise or potential problems in the field. The letter could address
some of these questions: What first stimulated the applicant's interest
in the field? How well does the applicant organize his/her thoughts and
communicate them? What evidence is there of his/her judgement, reliability,
organizational ability and analytical skills?
- Academic achievement: Comments may be made which amplify
information on academic transcripts such as: a) Consistency of performance.
Was the student consistent or are there certain anomalies that can be
described? b) Extenuating circumstances that might account for atypical
grades or course loads, such as illness, employment or extensive extracurricular
involvement. c) Degree of difficulty of individual classes and overall
course loads e.g., upper division courses taken during freshman year,
or especially advanced classes.
- Employment/extracurricular activities: Since these are
listed on most applications, mention them only if you can elaborate meaningfully
on them. Activities that indicate motivation for advanced study are of
special interest. If involvement was extensive, what was the effect on
academic achievement?
- Honors received, academic or non-academic: Explain what
achievement the honor represents. Specify the competition or degree of
selectivity of such awards.
- Overall evaluation: It is very helpful to make a value
judgement, which is an overall appraisal of the applicant's potential.
This evaluation should be based on all the attributes of the applicant,
not merely academic performance. Maybe explain how this student compares
to other students.
Schools and employers appreciate specific examples or evidence to back
up what was said in the letter. The letter should place emphasis on the
student's skills, abilities and experience that fit the requirements of
the position or graduate school program. Do not include information that
might indicate the individual's race, color, religion, national origin,
age, disability, gender or marital status, UNLESS it is relevant to the
position for which he/she is applying and you've discussed it with the student.
(For example, if the student is applying for a position in which having
a multicultural background would be an asset in carrying out the duties
of the job.)
If you are willing to receive calls from employers or schools requesting
further information on the applicant, you could include your business phone
or home phone, and/or email, in the letter.
Most letters for employment are one page and most letters for graduate
school are 1 - 2 pages. Please give the student an approximate time when
the letter will be available.
The appearance of the letter is a reflection on both you and the candidate.
Typed letters are strongly recommended, with careful proofreading.
Some words/phrases that have impact in letters include:
- articulate • effective • sophisticated • self-confident
• intelligent • observant • significant • highly responsible
• expressive • creative • efficient • shows initiative
• cooperative • imaginative • assertive • energetic
• dependable • mature • innovative • self directed
