Untitled

Information for Students Seeking
Recommendation Letters


In order to help faculty members write the strongest, most informed letter of recommendation possible, we ask students seeking letters of all kinds (including letters for graduate school, jobs, internships, study abroad programs, residence life, honor societies, etc.) to prepare an information sheet that includes pertinent information about your background, grades, honors, and interests.

Specifically, you should include (in a neatly typed page or two) the following information:

* your name, address, and phone number

* your overall GPA as well as your GPA in your major (plus expected graduate date)

* any honors and awards that you have received; briefly (i.e., in a few words) describe any that are not obvious

* organizations/activities (including service or social organizations, student government, other campus activities); again, briefly describe

* any employment or job experience, including paid work as well as volunteer work and internships; include a brief description of your duties and/or responsibilities

* your hobbies and interests (i.e., what you do in your spare time)

* a brief description of your future goals and plans

* what you consider to be your primary strengths and skills

* specific information about the program/job you are applying for; this is absolutely critical! In addition to due dates and a description of the program, state very specifically why you are interested in the program and why you make a good candidate (e.g., if you are going abroad, explain why you want to go to that particular country, what traits you have that make you qualified, and what you expect to get out of your trip)

* a list of courses you have taken from the professor (important: include semester, year, and grade)

Once you have prepared this information form, print it and give it to all professors from whom you ask for letters of recommendation; not only will they appreciate it, but it should help them to write stronger letters as well. (Be sure to save a copy on your hard drive so you can add to it throughout your career.)

If you are a psychology major, you should consider putting some of this information into a mini "vita" (which is the technical term for an academic resume). Click here to see examples of undergraduate vitas. Information that is not appropriate for the vita (e.g., hobbies, future goals, strengths) can be appended to the vita in a second sheet.

Finally, because writing good letters of recommendation takes time, please be sure to give professors at least 2 weeks advance notice before the recommendation is due. As a courtesy, fill out as much information on required forms as you can, and include self-addressed stamped envelopes for each letter requested. [Note: Because grad school reference letters are not taken seriously if student consent to view them isn't waived, they aren't worth our time to write.]