Letters of Recommendation
Students often ask for letters of recommendation one or two semesters (sometimes even two or three years) after having taken a class. Please remember that the letters of recommendation often assume that the professor knows the student well, and that the student excelled beyond the expectations of the class. Sometimes students believe that an A in the class automatically qualifies them for a good letter of recommendation. And yet in the letter of recommendation your instructor will be asked to judge the student not just on the merits of the class, but on other intangibles like "character," "leadership ability," "motivation," "community involvement" or "self-perception." Your instructor will also be asked how long (s)he has known the student. These qualities are very hard to determine in the context of the class setting. Thus for example, your instructor would judge motivation not only in the ability to get things done, but in the pro-activeness of seeking the information during office hours. Leadership ability can be demonstrated on the ability to serve as a positive influence in group work, or by participating actively in class discussion. Some of these qualities are gendered, and thus your instructor may try to make sure that a feminist angle is also used in the class discussion that will allow for across-the-board participation.
When asking for a letter of recommendation, please ask yourself whether you went beyond the expectations of the class, whether your instructor has known you for more than one semester, whether you participated actively in class, whether you showed your leadership ability with your group, whether you sought the instructor during office hours to make sure you asked the questions that guaranteed the understanding of the material. In order to make sure that your instructor knows about your community involvement, make sure you provide a Curriculum Vitae (or resume). If you want your instructor to make sure (s)he knows about your future plans, make sure you provide a statement of purpose. Also, make sure that you visit your instructor in person to ask for the letter of recommendation. An email with a deadline, a link to the website and the forms will be honored only in special circumstances. Please remember that you need to provide at least a month advance notice of the deadline after you have provided all the required material to your instructor. Please make sure that you schedule a follow-up office visit so that you can pick up the letter of recommendation, and it is suggested that you do so during the instructor's office hours. Please make sure that your instructor can provide the information requested in the forms. For example, if you are asking for a letter of recommendation for Study Abroad, and the Program is asking for somebody who can vouch for your Spanish-speaking ability, make sure that the class you have taken with the instructor was taught in Spanish. Below please find a checklist and a timeline for the required material:
1) Talk to your instructor in person during his/her office hours, letting him/her know that you will be asking for a letter of recommendation. Make sure your instructor knows why you are applying to this program. This office visit should be made at least six weeks before your deadline. Provide your instructor with a draft of your statement of purpose, a current CV/Resume, and the pertinent forms. Make an appointment with your instructor to pick up the recommendation. Make sure you encourage your instructor to give you suggestions for revisions to your documents, if pertinent.
2) At least two weeks before your appointment to pick up the letter, make sure you confirm the appointment with your instructor. If possible drop by the office hours to remind your instructor that the letter of recommendation deadline is coming up.
3) Pick up the letters of recommendation, with enough time to mail to the Programs to which you are applying.