Meeting with the Student

Even if you know your recommender well it is ideal if you meet with your recommender in person to solicit a recommendation letter.

Obtaining Written Materials

As you arrange a meeting with a recommender, you should also bring the following items:

1) a resume or curriculum vitae,

2) a paper or an exam written for your course,

3) a copy of the application essay or fellowship statement of purpose

4) a transcript

5) any literature that describes the fellowship or program for which the student is applying; specific recommendation forms or questionnaires if they are provided for the letter writer to complete

6) the date on which the recommendation is due, as well as the address - preferably an addressed envelope to which it must be sent

7) a waiver form indicating whether or not the student waives his or her right to see the letter of recommendation. If the student has any questions about this decision, you might point out that there are important benefits in maintaining the confidentiality of letters. Selection committees, for example, tend to view confidential letters as having greater credibility and assign them greater weight; also, some letter writers actually feel less inhibited in their praise of students in confidential letters. While making these points, be sure to make it clear that it is up to the student to decide.

One other factor that greatly facilitates letter writing is if your recommender can write a letter as soon as possible after you have taught a student, while his/her impressions are still vivid and fresh. You might consider making their requests early, rather than waiting until a senior year or beyond. These early letters can be placed in the students' Career Center files, as well as maintained in your own files for future reference.