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.