graduate school recommendations

[ladylearner]

Any suggestions for how to approach former professors for graduate school recommendations?

I already have the professors in mind. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. My idea was to email them a nice letter as an attachment in which I graciously ask for a recommendation and tell them what program(s) I'm applying to, what my goals and some background info about my qualifications and coursework. Should I attach a resume? Or is the nice letter sufficient?

FYI, these are professors with whom I had a good rapport and whose classes I've taken in the last few months and gotten an A.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, everyone!

[kdubbub]

I think it's a good idea to send a fairly detailed email. Tell them what field you're interested in, what programs youre applying to, what you got out of the class you took with them, etc. Then state at the end that you'd be happy to provide a resume and the personal statement for your application if they'd like. That's what I did when I recently reached out to a professor I had several years ago.

[cookderosa]

Good for you! So often people bail out on some grad schools because they won't bother approaching former professors. I did a test back when I was considering med school, and emailed multiple online science teachers asking if they'd be willing to write me a letter if I was a student in their online class- all positive replies (with limitations obviously) and I'm confident that if an online SCIENCE lab teacher will do this, that others will too. So, I just wanted to say good job!

I love everything about what you're outlining. I'd add the REASON you want/need their letter so it's clear. "ABC university requires 2 letters verifying my <skills>" or "ABC university's admission criteria asks for letters of recommendation from past professors....." etc. This let's them know what you need, and they can decide if they can do it and it keeps them on track to hit the points you need them to hit on.

I think you could attach a resume, or you could provide a summary in your letter to them. This is good because they probably don't know any of this about you, and it helps them see how their class aided in your career or academic goals. Either how their course exposed you to a new subject that lit a spark, or maybe how your career was the foundation and their course encouraged you to attend grad school, or even how it helped you change directions.... But, I would give some background and I would bridge it to some way in their course. When they think they've helped you, they will be extra motivated to help you go the rest of the way.

Congratulations, and are you sharing your grad school aspirations or not yet?

P.S. EDIT TO ADD - if there is a deadline, you should say so in your email to them. Make your deadline that you need the letter from them at least 2 weeks before you REALLY need it to CYA. Knock em dead!

[Prloko]

Any suggestions for how to approach former professors for graduate school recommendations?

I already have the professors in mind. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. My idea was to email them a nice letter as an attachment in which I graciously ask for a recommendation and tell them what program(s) I'm applying to, what my goals and some background info about my qualifications and coursework. Should I attach a resume? Or is the nice letter sufficient?

FYI, these are professors with whom I had a good rapport and whose classes I've taken in the last few months and gotten an A.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, everyone!

I reminded my mentor of who I was and I also went ahead and WROTE the recommendation for her. All she needed to do was sign it.

[Mamasaphire]

I reminded my mentor of who I was and I also went ahead and WROTE the recommendation for her. All she needed to do was sign it.

Did she sign it and return it to you? In my CC Capstone course we were told that it's not typically a good idea to suggest to the mentor what to say because they could get offended, but I don't know how it works irl.

[kdubbub]

I reminded my mentor of who I was and I also went ahead and WROTE the recommendation for her. All she needed to do was sign it.

Wow. I would love to do this. Did you ask her first if you could do it this way?

[dfrecore]

Did she sign it and return it to you? In my CC Capstone course we were told that it's not typically a good idea to suggest to the mentor what to say because they could get offended, but I don't know how it works irl.

I would be super hesitant to do this, as I too think they might get offended. If they were slow getting a letter to you, then I might try to find a way to suggest that I could write it for them if they wanted me to - but I wouldn't just do that first thing.

I personally have been offended a couple of times lately by someone presuming that I was ok with something that was sent out with my name attached to it. It was not well-written and didn't say what I would have said, and I just did NOT like it. This is not exactly the same thing, but it's close enough that I wouldn't chance it.

[ladylearner]

I'm not comfortable writing the letter myself. I don't think it would go over well, even though people are sloooooow to respond.

[Mamasaphire]

I'm not comfortable writing the letter myself. I don't think it would go over well, even though people are sloooooow to respond.

My teacher did say that you can follow up the initial request (that had a reminder of who you are, your accomplishments & goals, etc) with a reminder-type email a week or so later. At that time it would probably be okay to include a link to a sample of what type of letter you are looking for.

She didn't give any link suggestions, but said to Google it, lol. Here is my initial search result

https://www.google.com/search?q=sample+g...l+rec&aqs=

[Mamasaphire]

My teacher did say that you can follow up the initial request (that had a reminder of who you are, your accomplishments & goals, etc) with a reminder-type email a week or so later. At that time it would probably be okay to include a link to a sample of what type of letter you are looking for.

She didn't give any link suggestions, but said to Google it, lol. Here is my initial search result

https://www.google.com/search?q=sample+g...l+rec&aqs=

She also said a student might call as well, if you have the individual's office number. It was also suggested to us to make a list of 5 or 6 people to ask. If there isn't a good response, do you have any CC teachers or other local professionals who might write the letter(s) for you?