Hampshire College

As an undergraduate, as well as after graduation, you will need letters of recommendation from people who know you well. Prospective employers, graduate institutions, and scholarship foundations will usually ask for 2-3 letters to support your application. It is important to establish relationships with teachers and mentors who are qualified to comment on your academic accomplishments, work habits, personality, and likelihood of succeeding at a given endeavor.

Depending on the application, your recommenders may be professors or staff at your school, supervisors at your part-time job, summer internship, or community service activity. Your recommenders will always be asked to comment on the capacity in which they know you, and how long they have known you; obviously, their recommendations will be taken more seriously if they can show that they know you well.

When should you ask for a letter of recommendation?

Even if you are not planning to apply for anything just yet, keep an eye out for suitable recommenders. You may want to ask a supervisor at the end of a successful internship, or a professor in whose class you did well, whether they would be willing to write a letter on your behalf. A recommender may agree to support you for a future application, or may write a general letter of recommendation for you to keep on file (see "How to store and send letters of recommendation").

Give your recommender plenty of advance notice when asking for letters of support. Not only is it good manners, but it will also allow him/her to compose a thoughtful letter that can effectively support your application. Asking early will also allow you to find another recommender if your first choice is busy, absent, or reluctant to recommend you.

How should you ask professors for letters of recommendation?

If you are on campus, make the request in person. That will allow the professor to ask you about your goals and plans, and give you a chance to gauge the professor’s willingness to write a positive letter. If you've graduated and left the area, you will need to make the request by phone or in writing. It might be a good idea, especially if it's been a few years since the professor has seen you, to attach a small photo of yourself to your request.

Ask your recommender if he or she would be willing to write a good (i.e. strong, supportive) letter on your behalf. Don't assume - some people will agree to write letters only for students they know very well, or for students who did well in their classes. Some will not agree to write letters unless they have several weeks’ notice, especially at busy times of the year. (Should you decide not to follow through with your application, be sure to let your recommender know immediately.)

Follow up.

Always check in with your recommender several days before the letter is due. Sometimes even the most organized and conscientious recommendation writer will appreciate a reminder. A thank you note is always in order when someone writes a letter on your behalf. (Gifts are not necessary, and often considered inappropriate.) Be sure to inform the recommender about the outcome of your application.