Recommendation Letters

When asking for a letter...

When you ask someone to write a recommendation, you are asking for a favor. Therefore, do all you can to assist the writer. Provide that person with background information about yourself to expand their knowledge about you beyond your immediate contact so they can write a more relevant and focused letter.

You might share...

Your name and relation to them
(e.g. "My name is John Robert Doe and I was a student in your Bio 151 and Bio 157 classes in the fall of 2002 and the spring of 2003, respectively").

Your present status
(e.g. "Senior ECO major graduating in May 2004 ").

Your related qualifications and involvement.
(e.g. "I am in ODE, the economics honor society, and have done volunteer work for Long Island Blood Services")

Your grades and other relevant achievements/strong points.
In activities relevant to your application/goals
(e.g. "I was a TA for introductory Economics during Spring, 2002 ").

Your phone number and/or the location at which you can readily be reached in case the recommender has any questions.

Remember, it is helpful to give the recommender an idea of your timing needs
(e.g. "I will be sending out applications to meet mid-February deadlines")