Letters of recommendation sample?

How to ask for recommendation letter

• Hi, I am a foreign student from taiwan. I obtained my M.S. degree at the U.S. and would like to apply for a Ph.D degree. Due to the different culture of the two countries, I don't know how to ask my professors to write recommendation letters for me. I preferred sending them e-mails first, asking if they are willing to do so. I'd appreciate sample letters of this kind of email or information of how to write them politely. Thanks. Ao-Jan

• Answer:

  Hello Congratulations on getting your M.S. First I'd like to say there is no need to feel hesitant about asking your professors for recommendation letters. They are asked for this kind of help all the time and most will see it as just part of the job. They expect students to need letters of recommendation so that they can move on to the next stage of their education or career. One very important point is to leave plenty of time for the professor to fit your letter of recommendation in amongst all his other commitments. All the advice I've found stresses that you should give him a minimum of three weeks notice and some people suggest more. So, if you're short of time, I suggest not emailing in case the professor is slow about replying. But a preliminary email would be a nice polite touch otherwise. I'm afraid I haven't found a sample request letter but there is plenty of advice available. Here's a good general guide which tells you what to send, including "a file with all of your background information". So make sure you remind your professors of all achievements which might support your application. You do not have to be modest to be polite: http://gradschool.about.com/library/weekly/aa092400a.htm There are similar useful tips at: http://gradschool.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialpsychology.org%2Frectips.htm In this advice - "Getting a GOOD Letter of Recommendation" they suggest asking in person. Since you can't do this, how about sending a photograph? It's a great memory jogger for absent-minded professors.: http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:4Y6BdYoBJJIC:www.psichi.org/content/publications/eye/volume/vol_5/5_1/rewey.asp Advice here gives a helpful list of what you should include with your request - "full name, major classes taken (also when and grade earned) from the referee and other classes taken in the department, relevant classes taken in other departments, special skills or talents, statement of career interests and goals, list of professionally relevant extracurricular and summer activities, honors, professional associations, formal research experience (papers written, read, submitted for publication), and anything else which would serve to identify you and your strengths." It also suggests that you should be both cordial and formal in your approach. So don't start 'Hi there, prof' but be reasonably relaxed and friendly all the same. http://www.hanover.edu/soc/letters.html This advice emphasises how important it is to choose the right person: http://career.berkeley.edu/Grad/GradLetter.stm I do hope this is helpful. If anything I've written is unclear, or you have trouble with a link, please feel free to ask for clarification. Good luck with your grad school application. Regards - Leli search used; ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=recommendation+letters+request+grad+school&btnG=Google+Search