Letters of recommendation for internships, graduate school or other post-undergraduate programs

If you would like me to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf, here is what to do:

• Send an email to me asking if I would be willing to write you letters of recommendation at least a week before the deadline. Be sure to communicate how many letters I should expect to write (e.g., 3-4 graduate school applications, 2-3 summer internships). It is fine if more get added to this list later as long as you keep me posted and send along additional information. I have likely sent you to this list after you have already sent me such an email.
• If I agree to write recommendation letters for you, send me an email that contains the following information and documents. Having these materials helps me to write a more informative and personalized letter on your behalf.
  • A list of the schools/programs you are applying to with their deadlines and in order of their deadlines. In this list, describe which potential advisor(s) you have identified and what kinds of projects you would be excited to work on. If the letter is for an internship, summer job or other such program why have you selected the particular program(s)?
  • A copy of your resume or curriculum vitae.
  • An unofficial copy of your transcript (more for me to see the courses that you have taken than for the grades themselves).
  • A quick description of experiences you have had in courses with me largely to jog my memory.
  • A copy of the personal statement you have put together for the applications. If you don’t have these materials together yet, feel free to send them later
• I will send you an email once I send out letters. Typically I will submit the letters on the deadline of the first program on your list. If you haven’t heard from me a few days before a deadline, please send me an email reminder.

The idea for this list came from Sarah Titus of Carleton College as did much of the text which I modified into the text above.