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Letters of Recommendation

I enjoy writing letters of recommendation, but doing a good job takes both time and effort. If this wasn't the case, then the letter likely wouldn't serve anybody's goals.

To ensure that the letter process is fair to all parties involved—you get a good letter and I have enough time to write it—I ask you to do the following:

• Request a recommendation letter at least three weeks before the deadline.
• Thoughtfully fill out the following form. I ask that you complete the form for each individual letter, although after the first letter, I only ask that you fill out the logistical information (e.g., description of the opportunity, deadline, how to submit, etc.). Note that the more thoughtful you make your responses, the stronger and more personal your letter will be, which is in everyone's best interests.
• Follow up with an email to get confirmation that I received your request(s).
• Send me a follow-up email before any deadlines to ensure that I have submitted your letter. (The last thing I want is for your application to be incomplete because I unknowingly missed a deadline.)

I will try to write as many letters as I can, but I may decline letter requests for a variety of reasons, many that have nothing to do with you. For instance, if I do not fit the ideal profile of a letter writer for some opportunity, I may direct you to a better letter-writer for that particular opportunity. This is often the case when there is a mismatch between my experience level/discipline and the program's goals. I may also need to decline requests after receiving too many requests in a given semester. So please ask early!