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.
Eligibility#
To request a letter from me, you must have taken at least one course with me and earned a grade of B+ or better in it. If you have not met that bar, I may not be the best person to ask.
Your reflection statement#
In addition, I need you to send me a brief reflection statement of 150–250 words. It helps me write a letter that is specific and accurate rather than generic. Please address the following:
Why are you applying to grad school? What draws you to the field and to the specific program(s) you are applying to?
How do the course(s) you took with me prepare you for grad school? Be concrete: name the course(s), and point to projects, topics, skills, or habits of mind that you will build on.
What are your plans for after grad school? Industry, research, teaching, entrepreneurship, public service — whatever it is, tell me.
Anything else that would help me write a stronger letter. Some suggestions:
Research, internship, work, or project experience that I may not know about.
A specific moment in my class (a project, a hard problem you worked through, a contribution to discussion) that you think shows your strengths.
Challenges you have overcome, or context that helps explain your record.
Other people writing on your behalf, so that I can complement rather than duplicate them.
Your deadlines and how each program wants the letter submitted.
The more context you give me, the stronger the letter.
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 plan ahead — I cannot turn a letter around in fewer than three to four days.