How does one go about asking faculty for recommendations? Anyone making application to graduate school or seeking employment may need references. But, how does one approach faculty for this important role? And, how does one select faculty for this task?
In answering this question, I will not address the question of how to participate in class
and make a nice impression on faculty or howto get to know faculty.These are important questions and I would encourage you
to review the columns on those important topics.
If you are asking this question in advance, congratulations. You are off
to a good start.
Many students wait until they have completed their finals prior to seeking a reference. After they turn in their final papers, they heave a sigh of relief and set about seeking out faculty prior to heading home for a relaxing holiday break. Contrary to popular belief, however, faculty, too, celebrate the holidays. And, remember the (even you can't believe that you are applying to so many) 20 schools to which you are applying - each wanting you to complete unique forms! Add to that the fact that you are not alone - many of your classmates are following suit.
In an effort to avoid devoting my winter vacation to this
sort of undertaking, I have an official policy, which I attempt to articulate at the beginning of every term. I ask that students request references by Thanksgiving.
Of course, when last minute things come up, I try to be helpful. But, like
many faculty, I do not have any secretarial support for this sort of undertaking,
so I appreciate advance notice.
It is important to me to be an effective
advocate for my students. I encourage them to take advantage of any opportunity
for pre-professional development. To support them in their efforts, I try
to write thoughtful letters of recommendation. Often, I end-up devoting
several hours to constructing a careful, hopefully helpful, reference. In
asking faculty for references, I would encourage you to allow your faculty
about six weeks notice, or more, whenever possible.
HOW SHOULD YOU APPROACH FACULTY FOR THIS IMPORTANT ROLE?
Remember, in
asking for a reference, particularly where you don't know the faculty person
well, this is an opportunity to remake your first impression. You want to
show, by how you handle this situation, that you are a highly responsible,
mature, professional person. Every year in my summer course, Research internship
in Clinical Psychology, I am asked for advice regarding this issue. Also,
because I am frequently sought out to provide references. It is my customary
practice in agreeing to write references for a student, particularly those
with whom I have had little contact, to ask for a packet of materials. I
would encourage you to consider, when requesting a reference, providing
most of these things to any faculty person who you approach. They are:
- Your statement of purpose or letter of application. This helps you.
You are forced to stop procrastinating and to move the application process
along. It tells the faculty person that you are really serious about this
application. The statement provides you with an opportunity to show the
faculty person, how well you write and how well you plan. It allows the
faculty person to learn about the case that you are making on your own behalf
and to corroborate it.
- Your unofficial transcript. This allows the faculty person to comment
on other relevant course work, of which they might not otherwise be aware.
- The official description of the graduate program. This helps the faculty
person to target their letter.
- A copy of your work in the faculty person's class or a writing sample
if they have no knowledge of your writing skills. This allows the faculty
person to comment on the quality of your work. Don't ask faculty to rely
on their memories. Provide a copy of your best work. Incidentally, faculty are more concerned about what you can do today - than what you did yesterday. Provide a current writing sample.
- An updated copy of your resume or vita.
- Sometimes, I ask the student to write a draft of the letter of reference
for me. Some students shirk this request or merely supply a list of superlatives.
This is not helpful to me. I am seeking your description of those traits
(and, examples of them) which the you view as relevant.
PLEASE NOTE: Many faculty would think it audacious to receive this type
of letter unsolicited. A less presumptuous approach is to write a letter
to the faculty person saying, I am applying to graduate school. They are
seeking an individual with skills in, for example, written expression, organization
and data management. I believe that I have skills in exactly these areas.
As is evidenced in the attached transcript, I have taken considerable course
work in writing and statistics and I have done well. Also, your class provided
me with several opportunities to further refine these skills. I have enclosed
a copy of my final paper from your class......in other words, make their
case for them....they will be grateful to you....they want to be helpful....
- I ask that students fill out all aspects of the reference forms that
they are able to complete, this includes their name and address and my name, title and
address.
- I ask that students address all envelopes to the schools (not to themselves,
even if the university asks them to do the thing where the faculty person
signs the envelope); and that they place two stamps (my letters are typically
long and weigh two stamps worth) on each envelope.
I must say that I get a bad taste in my mouth when students leave these tasks to me....Often I don't discover it until they are already gone
for break....going the extra mile will leave the faculty person with a good
feeling, precisely the sort of feeling that you want them to have when they sit down to write about you!
On a somewhat related note, students sometimes attempt to give me gifts
when asking for a reference. It is my practice to refuse ALL and any gifts
from students. I feel that accepting any gifts could be compromising.
Although others may disagree with me on this, I would recommend that you
do not give gifts to faculty (I confess, though I know that the intention
is to convey gratitude, I feel a bit bribed.) However, what I do appreciate,
particularly if the student has worked for me (say, as a Teaching Assistant)
is a job well done or a student who goes above and beyond the call of duty
on a task.
Now for the issue of who to ask. There are three important considerations
here. First, you should pick someone who knows you well. Second, choose
someone with stature in the field. Third, select someone who will write
a very nice letter for you. Note that you should ask faculty, not employers
from an unrelated job (such as waitressing) or family friends.
CHOOSE FACULTY WHO KNOW YOU WELL. This means that you should begin to get to know faculty
during your freshman year. Start early, because this
can be challenging especially in a large university.
NATIONAL STATURE. In an ideal world, you would like references from faculty
who are well known in the field which you would like to enter. However,
there are trade-offs. These faculty may be so busy with graduate students
and post-doctoral fellows, that they do not have time for you. In contrast,
a new faculty person may be very willing to get to know you and to enfranchise
you as a full-fledged member of their research team. If you have to make
this choice, I feel that it is better for you to work with a junior person
closely than with a senior person at a great distance.
PEOPLE WHO WILL WRITE GOOD LETTERS. This entails two considerations. First,
is the faculty person sophisticated about reference writing? Second, will
they give YOU personally a good reference? Regarding the first, not all
faculty know how to write a good reference, particularly if they are required
to do so outside of the confines of their field. For example, not every
biology professor knows how to write a good reference for a medical school.
So, if you have a number of potential faculty who you could ask, then you
may want to assess this dimension. The best way to do this is to talk it
over confidentially with faculty who know you and who are committed to your
future success. For example, in this case, you might seek out guidance from
the pre-med advisor or from your faculty advisor. Alternatively, you might,
in your letter requesting the reference, describe the kinds of things for
which medical schools are looking.
Now, for the more delicate issue of will they write YOU a good letter.
Faculty vary in their practices. My view is, "if I don't have anything
nice to say, I won't say anything at all". That is, if I feel that
I do not know a student well or if I would prefer not to write for them,
I tell them so. However, some faculty do not have this policy. Although
you run the risk of offending some faculty, I advise you to ask faculty,
"do you feel you can write me a good letter of reference". Many students are quite apprehensive about seeking references from faculty. Take heart, however, many faculty view this as a part of their job. Assuming that you've worked hard in class, been a good community citizen and given plenty of notice many faculty will be pleased to collaborate in your success!
