Requesting reference letters for grad school

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Graduate programs require two or more letters of recommendation.

Graduate admissions committees generally prefer letters from your previous professors; since, you will be in a classroom setting. If you have been out of school for a while and you did not know your professors well, one of the letters may be submitted from your current or previous employer. These letters provide some insight into your personal attributes and qualities that cannot be found elsewhere. References need to be chosen carefully. A poor reference can ruin your chances for admission. 

You should give your professors at least one month’s notice prior to the due date. Be sensitive to the busiest times of the year. Be sure to include your current resume, a photo of yourself taken about the time that you took the professor’s class, anything that might help the professor to remember you specifically, and your personal statement. Provide information on how the reference is to be given. The professor may receive an email providing this information from the graduate admissions office or a hard copy may be required in a sealed envelope. If a professor declines to submit a reference letter or seems lukewarm, it is best to seek a different reference.

You will be asked during the application process to the graduate school, if you want to waive your rights to view the reference letters. You may wish to maintain your right to see the letters; though, letters that you have not seen carry much more weight with admissions committees.

You shoudl always send a handwritten thank you note to your professors after they have submitted your reference letters. You will leave a positive impression on your professor. You may need another letter one day.

If you are in your junior or senior year and you have not made any connections with your professors, now is the time to start. Visit professors during their office hours. You may want to join a student organization with a particular professor who serves as the advisor. You may be an outstanding student in the class, or you may complete some undergraduate research or an independent study.