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Interdepartmental
Program in Afro-American Studies: Letters of Recommendation
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
(Excerpted in part from and with permission of Joseph DiStefano, Chair, Cybernetics Interdepartmental Major)
- WHO
SHOULD I ASK TO WRITE MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION?
- If
you must submit three letters of recommendation, at least TWO should
be from professors or instructors who know your individual work very
well.
- Ideally,
you should have taken more than one class with that instructor, so he
or she can write about your work IN DETAIL.
- Note:
Even if your recommender is supportive of your efforts, but does not
know you very well, she or he cannot provide the kind of letter you
need to accomplish your goal of getting into the department or school
of your choosing.
- WHAT
IS THE GOAL OF A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?
1. Ideally,
you want letters based on personal knowledge of your exemplary performance
as a student.
2. If
you get a letter from someone who knows and likes you, but has only a
casual knowledge of your actual academic performance, such a letter may be
considered “neutral” rather than helpful.
Note: Just having been in someone’s class
may not be enough. You may have to
remind the professor of what you specifically accomplished in his or her
class. (Remember, instructors have
many students.)
- HOW
DO I REQUEST A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?
1. Try to
make the request in a timely manner.
If at all possible, give the professor at least two weeks to write
it BEFORE you need to mail it out.
2. Type
your request neatly in the form of a business letter (not a scrawled
Post-It Note or a hasty email).
Demonstrate your professionalism.
3. In
the letter, list the names and addresses of the schools to which you want
the letters sent.
4. Neatly
paperclip the appropriate forms. Be
sure to fill out the top portion regarding your information and the
professor’s name and title, etc. Sign your portion of the form.
5. Make
Xerox copies of the forms and keep in a folder, in case the originals get
lost.
- WHAT
SHOULD MY REQUEST LETTER INCLUDE?
1. In
your request letter, list the following:
1.
When you took course(s) with the professor. Be specific as to the term and year.
2.
What you accomplished in the class. Again, be as specific as possible.
1. For
instance, did you bring your grades up by the end of the course?
2. Did
you overcome shyness and become a good participant in class discussions?
3. What
grade did you receive? Did you get
it in spite of difficult circumstances at home or in other classes?
4. Did
you write an excellent paper? If
you, remind the professor of the grade and the topic.
3.
Indicate your overall research and/or study
interests and major; also include your future academic and career
plans. Be as specific as possible.
4.
Indicate the date by which you hope the
professor may write the letters for you.
1. (Remember,
you have to accommodate his or her schedule. They are not obligated to accommodate
yours. So do NOT wait until the last minute!)
5.
Thank the professor for his or her assistance.
6.
Provide envelopes for all letters you
request.
1. If
not provided in the application packet, purchase business envelopes of your
own.
7.
Neatly type all address information. Be sure to
clip the correct envelope to the correct form!
1. In
short, do not expect your instructor to do all of the “busy
work” of typing the forms and envelopes.
Remember, letters of recommendation are a
crucial part of an application. You need letters from people who can speak
on your behalf and get beyond superficial remarks.
Brenda Stevenson, Ph.D., IDP Chair
Lisbeth Gant-Britton, Ph.D., Student Affairs Officer
Interdepartmental Program in Afro-American Studies
lbritton@bunche.ucla.edu
Ralph J. Bunche Center for
African American Studies at UCLA
160 Haines Hall, Box 951545, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1545
(310) 825-3776
(310) 825-7403
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