Letters of Recommendation Packet

If you would like a letter of recommendation from me, and we've worked closely together in some capacity (e.g., a teaching assistant, a co-author, etc.), I'm happy to help out. Be aware that for almost all purposes, if you worked more closely with some other faculty member, a letter from that person is more likely to be useful to you.

I write numerous letters of recommendation (especially during Fall and Spring), and so as much lead-time as you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Please include all of the following. Failure to include all of the following may result in either a delay in the letter or even stop the entire process.

1. Full name.

2. Year in school and major.

3. Current transcript (may be a copy).

4. Name and address of person to whom the letter should be addressed.

5. Deadline date (important to include!).

6. Current resume or vita including extracurricular activities. Emphasize any positions you think might be relevant to the position for which you are applying - e.g., tutoring, community service, campus or department service, or any other position that might demonstrate leadership, and intellectual/emotional maturity.

7. Personal Statement for the school/job to which you are applying.

8. Official copies of LSAT scores if applying to law school and/or GRE scores if applying to graduate school. If you’re applying for a specific job, indicate any special skills you may have obtained that might help you in this position.

9. If you are applying to graduate school, please provide a writing sample. This can be a paper that you did for my class or another class. On some occasions, I reserve the right to request a specific paper.

10. Classes with me (assignments you did, etc.).

11. Also, please include a list of relevant items you want to make sure I remember when I sit down to start writing. These items can include standard resume items (accomplishments, etc), but should also include relevant anecdotes that might make useful stories to illustrate characteristics of you or your work. This is not the time for modesty. In addition, if there is something negative on your record (e.g., bad quarter's GPA), then include a plausible explanation for what happened. I will treat this memo in confidence and will destroy it after I draft my letter.