Advice on Seeking Letters of Recommendation for Graduate School

Over the years I've written many letters of recommendation. I've also sat on various graduate admission committees, reading letters written by others. Here's my best advice for students seeking such letters:

• Get as many letters as possible from professors who taught you or supervised your research, rather than outside employers. Admissions committees want to know if you're a good student, and if applying to doctoral programs, a good researcher. Your supervisor at work may know you better as a person, especially if you've been out of school for a while, but this is not a job application.

• Ask for letters from professors who taught courses in which you got an A or A+ Again, the goal is to get letters that will say you are a great student. I typically provide the rank in the course for every letter (i.e., "John earned the second highest grade in my class.") If necessary you can dip into the A- range or lower for letters, but consider carefully how that will impact the strength of their recommendation letters. Did you distinguish yourself as an excellent student, but have a hospitalization or other emergency that affected your final course grade? If your professor truly believes and can easily explain why your final course grade does not reflect your abilities and typical level of effort, the letter may be helpful. But tread carefully here--your professor may not share your rosy view of your own potential, and multiple letters explaining why you haven't lived up to your potential may do more harm than good.

• If you have any research experience and are applying to research-based graduate programs, get a letter from your research supervisor and/or principal investigator. A letter from the principal investigator (typically a professor if your research was at a university) are best, but if you primarily interacted with a lab manager, postdoc, or other supervisor consider asking that person to write a letter co-signed by the principal investigator. The goal here is to have a recognized professor write (or at least co-sign) a letter that says you already are or can become a great researcher!

• If following the above advice leaves you with many potential letter writers, consider who will write the strongest letters. A strong letter does more than reiterate your final grade; it explains how you impressed the professor with your thoughtful questions, writing, class presentation, and/or final exam performance. It may also praise your work ethic. Some of the strongest letters I've written were for students who struggled and didn't necessarily enjoy statistics or my required course, but who committed completely to learning the material and succeeded, earning top grades in my course. Now I know they can do anything!

• Once you've decided who to ask, make the job easy for your letter writers. Send them your unofficial transcripts, resume/CV, and a draft statement of purpose. Put yourself in their shoes; what details will they be able to provide to explain why you should be accepted? Do they know why you're applying to graduate school? Even if you've discussed this with your letter writers in person, provide the information in writing. Be clear about where the letters need to be sent, and when. Ask at least a few weeks in advance so that the letter writing isn't rushed.

• Follow up with your letter writers once you've made a decision. Thank you notes are fine, but what I really want is to know where my students were accepted and decided to attend! Even if you weren't accepted anywhere, following up with your letter writers might provide opportunities to discuss how to strengthen your application for the next round, other universities to which you might apply, or other career options.