I love getting to write letters of recommendation for my students. It gives me an excellent opportunity to talk about how great you are! Sometimes students don’t know all of the norms around asking for a letter of recommendation, so this document is supposed to be a guide to that. If you are thinking about asking me for a letter of recommendation, please read through this page first.
What is a Recommendation Letter?
Letters of recommendation in academia are different from recommendations for most jobs. They are usually 1-2 pages long, so they take time to write! Please give me at least two weeks notice before the deadline, and preferably longer. If you ask me with less than two weeks to go, I may not be able to write a letter for you.
In your letter, I’ll include examples of course work that you’ve done, and any other stories/anecdotes that give evidence of how amazing you are. So please help me do this by reminding me of what cool things you’ve done. If our interactions are limited to lectures and assigning you a grade, I may not be able to write a very strong letter for you. It helps me if you come to student hours, or if we have other interactions outside of class time.
How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter
If you’d like me to write you a letter, please set up a meeting time with me at calend.ly/murphykate. You deserve a strong letter of recommendation. Letters are kept private from the recommendee, so you won’t see the letter. But you should ask me explicitly (in person, during our meeting): “Can you write me a strong letter of recommendation?” If I say no, then you should probably ask someone else. (You should also ask them if they will write you a strong letter!)
If we’ve agreed that I’ll write you a letter…
…please fill out this google form. It will ask you to remind me of how amazing you are (this is not the time to be humble!), and to upload the following files: (1) programs you are applying to and how I should submit a letter (template here), (2) CV, (3) personal statements, (4) transcripts, and (5) other files you will submit with your application. You will also need to submit (6) a Letter of Recommendation Release Form so that I can share non-directory information (without this release, it is a violation of FERPA to include information about your grades, attendance, or performance in class in a letter of recommendation).
