HOW TO WRITE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION REQUESTSteps

Steps• Your complete name (as listed in the SAE directory), plus

current postal and e-mail addresses• Date the letter of recommendation is due• To whom the letter should be sent—name, title, and

address. If you want it sent to you, then provide a self-addressed envelope.

• If the recommendation is to be completed on a form, be sure you have completely filled out your part of the form. Leave no blanks on your section of the form.

More Steps• Why you need this letter—what are you applying for?• Specifics about the position—needed knowledge, skills,

and experience• List all classes you have taken from this teacher/instructor

• specify course numbers, titles, year, brief descriptions of projects you developed,

• how they might relate to your current application, and final grade.

• List other kinds of work you may have done with this teacher/instructor—thesis, portfolio, internship, independent study, etc.

Steps Continued• Your current status—semester, year, planned or actual date of

graduation, and current job if any.

• Include a copy of your vita or resume, and still include the information above in your request.

• Remember that it is unlikely that your recommender will be able to address accomplishments that he or she was not involved in with you, such as pre- or post-SAE activities, work done for other teacher/instructors, or work done outside of the program.

• Do not assume that your teacher/instructors will agree to write a letter for you. Ask politely for a response to your request. • Allow one week for the response. If the answer is yes, write a brief thank-you note.

If the answer is no, contact the next person on your list. If you do not receive a response, contact the teacher/instructor again with a reminder.

Sample Letter

Dear (Professor, Dr., Mr., or Ms.) Higgins,

As part of the prerequisites for acceptance to (graduate school, the IUP honors track, etc.), I have been asked to provide a letter of recommendation. Would you be so kind as to write such a letter, with particular comments in regard to our past association in (the honors program, an internship, coursework, conference, etc.)?

The deadline for submitting the letter is (date), and if you are unable to provide a letter, please let me know by (one week from the date of this letter).

Thank you in advance for your time.

Regards,

Eliza Doolittle

Due Monday• I want you to come up with your list of people you want to

request a letter from. (minimum four people )• Two request letters completed (ready to be sent)• Make sure Ms. Fletcher has a copy of typed personal

statement follows MLA format (this is past due)