What To Ask For From The Student

  • A resume or vita;

  • A transcript, if necessary;

  • A statement of purpose - what is the student applying for? What is being asked of you?

  • A detailed list of accomplishments;

  • A reminder of contacts you've had with the student (Courses, Projects, Work study/Honors Apprentice, advisee, etc.);

  • The graduate program application materials, scholarship description, or job description - see what the criteria are for successful applicants;

  • A copy of the applicant's personal statement, application essays or application letter - you want to dovetail with, not conflict with or duplicate, the rest of the application.

Potential Topics To Discuss in a Reference/Recommendation Letter

  • Student's potential

  • Student's goals

  • Research skills

  • Contributions to class discussions

  • Interpersonal skills

  • Leadership ability

  • Extracurricular activity

  • Scholarship (any outstanding papers?)

Source:  http://gradschool.about.com/library/blletters.htm?once=true& (accessed 10/18/06)

 

10 Tips For Recommenders

  1. Describe your qualifications for comparing the applicant to other applicants:

I have been teaching for twenty years and have advised approximately 450 students on independent research projects over the last five years.

  1. Discuss how well you know the applicant and your affiliation/relationship with the person:

    I got to know Mr. Doe well because he attended two of my sections every week when only one was required.

    Ms. Smith was both my student in an English Educational Methods class and my employee in the campus writing center.
     
  2. Choose two to three qualities that you observed in the applicant:

    Jane has a rare blend of top writing and interpersonal skills.

    The combination of tenacity, analytical abilities, and good communications skills found in Mr. Doe is truly unique.
     
  3. In discussing those qualities, support your statements with specific instances in which he or she demonstrated those attributes.  Be as concrete and detailed as possible:


    He is the only student I ever had who came to all my office hours as part of a relentless, and ultimately successful, drive to master financial theory.  He was one of just ten percent in the class to receive an A.

    Jane's excellent feasibility study on handicap access on our campus, written for my technical writing class, was used by the Disabled Student Services Committee in lobbying for increased funding.
     
  4.   Try to quantify the student's strengths or rank him or her vis a vis other applicants that you have observed:


    She has the best analytical skills of any person her age that I have ever supervised.

    He was in the top 10% of his class.
     

  5. Avoid generalities and platitudes:

    Avoid bland words such as: nice, good, fairly, reasonable, decent, satisfactory.

    Use powerful words such as: articulate, effective, sophisticated, intelligent, observant, significant, expressive, creative, efficient, cooperative, imaginative, assertive, dependable, mature, and innovative.
     
  6. Include some mild criticism, typically the flip side of a strength:

    The only fault I have encountered in him is his retiring nature.  His modesty sometimes hides a young man of remarkable strength and broad interests.
     
  7. Discuss the applicant's potential in his or her chosen field.

    I enthusiastically recommend Mr. Doe to your business school.  This well-rounded student will be a fine businessperson. 

    With her exceptional leadership, writing, and quantitative skills, Ms. Smith will be an outstanding strategic consultant and a credit to the business school she attends.
     

  8. Please return the recommendation promptly because a job may depend on the punctuality of the recommendation.
     

  9. The appearance of a letter is a reflection on both you and the candidate and it can also determine whether it will be read or not.  Please word process your recommendation.
     

Sources: 

http://www.jobweb.com/Research/reftips.html (June 25, 2002, accessed)

http://www.accepted.com/grad/LettersRec.aspx (May 20, 2002, accessed)