Recommendation Letters

Writing recommendation letters is one of the best parts of my job. I am happy to write a recommendation for students who have worked with me and done well. Typically, I expect you to have taken at least two courses with me and performed reasonably well — at least a B in the earlier course and a B+ or better in the later one. Alternatively, if you took only one course with me and earned an A along with an “end-of-term” note, that also qualifies.

If your only course with me ended with a B or lower, I may not be the best person to ask.

Many programs — especially graduate schools — give you the right to read my letter after I submit it, and also give you the option to waive that right.

I recommend that you waive it. I will write the letter either way, but the content differs. When a student retains the right to read their letter, I write something more formulaic — that protects both of us from misunderstandings. When you waive your right, I can be more candid and provide a more genuinely useful assessment of your abilities, and I can do so more quickly.

Either way, if I agree to write a letter for you, it means I think highly of you and want to help. Waiving your right simply allows me to write the strongest letter in the least amount of time.

When requesting a letter, please share: a copy of your resume, a list of the courses you took with me and your grades, and three or four points you would like me to emphasize. The more context you give me, the stronger the letter. Also plan ahead — I cannot turn a letter around in fewer than three to four days.