Applying for Graduate School

Quick Tips:

1. Choose your recommenders carefully. They should be someone know and, more importantly, someone who knows you. Many programs find recommendations from current or former professors preferrable, but you can also choose a former supervisor or someone (not family) who you have worked closely with in a professional capacity.

2. Ask early. Writing a good letter of recommendation takes time, and you don't want your recommender to feel pressured by a looming deadline.

3. Meet in person. Show your recommender that you are willing to take time and put in effort to receive their recommendation. Take the opportunity to answer any questions they may have about your qualifications, goals, or experiences that would help them prepare a strong recommendation for you.

4. Come prepared. Your recommender may not know everything about your history, provide them a copy of your graduate application's resume. Be aware of the format of the recommendation, some programs may send your recommender a form while others may ask for a letter of recommendation.

5. Be polite, professional, and courteous. Thank your recommender and, if you get accepted, follow up and let them know their recommendation helped you.

For more in-depth guides, see the links below.