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Recommendations

In general, I am happy to write a letter of recommendation for students who have taken at least TWO classes with me and who have earned a grade of at least a B in both classes. Please give me as much advance notice as possible, and also send me a deadline reminder at least one week before the letter is due. I also ask each student to fill out the following questionnaire and e-mail it to me.

  • What is the exact title of the fellowship, job, or program?
  • Please provide an explanation of the program(s).
  • When is the deadline for the recommendation?
  • What is your full official name?
  • What course(s) of mine did you take and in what term?
  • What were the titles of some of your best projects/papers? Attach one of them if you still have them.
  • What makes you particularly suited for this training and career path?
  • What about you do you want me to make sure to mention?
  • Who else is writing you a recommendation? (For instance, it helps if I know that I am the only professor writing on your behalf, that the others are former employers, or that I’m the only humanities professor for example)
  • What kind of applicant do you think they are looking for?
  • Why do you want this particular grant, fellowship, job, etc.?
  • What are your main strengths?
  • What are you career goals?
  • Attach your application essay and resume.