Guidelines for Students

Please contact me at least one month before the deadline to ask if I can write a letter for you.

If I agree to write a letter, please send me the following information at least three weeks before the letter deadline:

• A complete list of all the program/award applications for which you need a letter.

  • Please include deadlines for all applications.

  • Specify how the letter should be submitted (e.g., send me the URL to the submission page, the email the letter should be sent to, let me know if I should be receiving an email with a submission link, etc.).

  • Please include a name/committee/etc. to whom the letter should be addressed.

• An unofficial copy of your transcript.

• A copy of your CV or resume.

• A draft of your personal and/or research statement (this doesn’t need to be final, it just helps me understand why you are applying to this particular program and helps me write a letter that is more specifically tailored to your application).

• The following details:

  • Your full name, year of graduation, and major.

  • What you’re applying for (e.g., graduate school, medical school, a scholarship, etc.). If you’re applying for graduate school, please include the degree (e.g., MA, PhD) and field of study (e.g., anthropology, biology).

  • How long I’ve known you and in what capacity (e.g., instructor, research supervisor, etc.)? If I was your instructor, please list which course you took with me, what grade you earned, and how you felt you distinguished yourself in the course.

  • Your strongest academic accomplishments.

  • Your strongest non-academic accomplishments.

  • Why you’re asking me to write this letter for you. What is it that you feel I can comment on?

  • What makes you qualified for the position/award you’re applying for. (Please do brag about yourself, this will help me write you a strong letter.)

  • What your long-term goals are and how this position/award will help you reach them.

  • Anything you’re uncomfortable mentioning in your application that you’d like me to include. For example, did you face difficult circumstances at some point that affected your grades? Have you had to work while going to school full-time? Are you the first person in your family to go to college/pursue a higher degree/etc.?

Please send me an email reminder one week before the deadline. If by two days before the deadline I have not yet confirmed that your letter has been submitted, please email me again. Please don’t be shy about emailing me – I welcome the reminders!

Please let me know if you are selected for whatever it is that you’re applying to. It is really rewarding as an instructor and mentor to watch students pursue their goals, and I really appreciate and enjoy staying in touch.

And lastly, good luck!