Asking Faculty for a Letter of Recommendation
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
A strong letter of recommendation can be valuable for jobs, internships, scholarships, or graduate school. The best time to ask is while you’re still fresh in your professor’s mind—ideally during or right after the course. Professors receive many requests, so be professional, prepared, and give plenty of notice (at least 4-6 weeks).
Steps to Request a Letter
1. Build Relationships Early
- Participate in class and visit office hours.
- Get involved in research or independent projects if possible.
2. Ask Professionally
- Request in person when possible; if not, email works. (Faculty are busy, allow them a week to respond. If you have not received a response to whether they will serve as a recommender, visit them during office hours after a week, or follow up with a friendly email)
- Make sure they feel comfortable writing a strong letter.
- Provide at least one month’s notice before the deadline.
3. Keep it short and to the point, and provide supporting documents
- Summary document (courses, projects, grades).
- Resume with extracurriculars and work experience.
- Personal statement (if relevant and applying to grad school).
- Indicate what you are applying for and where
4. Follow Up & Say Thank You
- Send a reminder two weeks before the deadline.
- Write a thank-you email or note within a week of them submitting the letter.
If you’ve already graduated, reconnect with professors early, provide past coursework, and update them on your goals.
Plan ahead and always be professional—your future self will thank you!
