Some of the most common questions I am asked as a Graduate Admissions Counselor are on the topic of letters of recommendation. I would like to offer some helpful tips for applicants who aren’t sure where to begin the process of asking people to recommend them for a graduate program. Enjoy!
1 – Choose people who can truly attest to the quality of your work. Letters of recommendation should support your academic and professional accomplishments. People who have worked closely with you throughout your academic and professional careers are great candidates for letter-writers. Some examples include an academic advisor, professor within your major, supervisor at a job, or co-worker. These people should be able to tell the review committee that you have the ability to complete graduate-level coursework based on their personal experiences with you as a student or professional. In other words, they have experienced your work ethic and can back it up. Additionally, community leaders can be a good choice for a letter-writer as long as you have a strong history of involvement within the organization or community. For example, you might spend every Saturday volunteering at a pet shelter. You can ask the director of the shelter to write a letter for you based on your commitment and involvement.
2 – Be sure to give the people recommending you adequate time and information. Know when the letters are due and the procedures for submitting them to the Graduate Admissions Office. Give the people writing your letters specific due dates and instructions for submitting the letters in advance. Do NOT wait until the last minute to ask someone to write a letter for you – remember, life happens and people are not always available when you want them to be. Keep in mind that the people who you would like to write the letters have jobs, vacations, kids, pets, hobbies, etc. that take up time in their busy schedules. The best advice I can give is to ask for letters of recommendation as soon as you decide to apply for a graduate program.
3 – Give the people writing your recommendations a stamped envelope that already has the Graduate Admissions Office’s address written on the front. You will also need to provide them with the standard form that is used by Kutztown University for recommendation letters. This form can be found on our website under the “forms” section. Many people find that they are not able to provide us with enough information through the form alone, so it is absolutely fine for them write a supporting letter if they choose.
4 – It is acceptable to check the status of the letters of recommendation. You can call us to find out which letters we received a few weeks before the application deadline. If we are missing any of the letters, this will give you time to contact the people we haven’t received letters from and ask whether they have had time to write the letter – just be professional and kind, and reaffirm the deadline of the application. People get busy, and it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t going to write the letter. They might be in progress and were suddenly faced with a family emergency. As I mentioned, life happens!
5 – IF for some reason one of the people recommending you does not complete the letter of recommendation and the deadline is very quickly approaching, have a back-up plan. Think quickly about someone who fits the profile of an acceptable letter-writer and let them know of the situation. Apologize for the late notice, and be sure they know that you are grateful for their last-minute help. Finally, notify the Graduate Admissions Office of the situation and make arrangements to deliver the letter to the office before the deadline. This may require re-arranging your schedule, but spending the time on your graduate school application is well worth it!
6 – Thank the people who have recommended you. Let them know that you appreciate their time and also follow up to let them know the decision after your receive notification. They will be excited to know of your success and that they had a part in it.