Student Resources
Letters of Recommendation
Many opportunities require letters of recommendation. Carefully consider whom you ask to write on your behalf. Recommenders should be able to speak extensively about more than just your class work; they should be able to write about your research, goals, personality and other qualities not reflected by transcripts and resumes.
Who should you ask?
For academic opportunities, most, if not all, of your recommenders should be faculty members who have taught you in class or overseen your research. They should be familiar with your academic performance, extra-curricular involvement, and character. They should also be able to articulate why you are a viable scholarship candidate. Non-faculty recommendations may be accepted; however, it depends on the opportunity. Advisors and supervisors need to be able to give concrete examples of skills or traits they have seen through direct observation.
Together, your recommenders should show multiple facets of your skills and experiences. For example, it is helpful to have one letter about your leadership experience and another about your research, rather than two letters from your research lab.
Requesting Letters
Writing recommendation letters is an expectation for faculty, so don't be afraid to ask. They might say no for a variety of reasons - scheduling, lack of contact or direct observation, too much time has passed, etc. It can be helpful to stay in touch with your favorite faculty after you have a class with them, so they remember you and stay updated on your goals. Ask to grab coffee or visit their office each semester.
For graduate school, students are encouraged to meet with their recommenders to discuss the format and content of their letters. Students applying to multiple graduate programs are encouraged to submit tailored letters of recommendation for each school; therefore, they should not hesitate to ask their recommenders for multiple letters. This is normal and expected.
Faculty should not ask you to write letters for them, but you can supply them with helpful tools to make the letter writing easier, including your application materials. Having your resume and essays can help them understand the context around your goals. You might even remind them of some of the work you did in their class. Send them your papers or presentations with summaries, and let them know what skills you gained in their class that pertain to the opportunity.