We all know that getting letters of recommendation is an imperative part of your academic career, especially if you plan on attending graduate school. The problem most of us face is actually getting them. You may wonder how you can approach your professor in asking them to write your letter of recommendation or what steps to take in order to ensure they write you an excellent letter. These concerns are completely natural and are often found throughout the student population. Today, we will try and assist you in getting that letter you deserve!
Particularly if you have aspirations of attending graduate school, I highly recommend developing a relationship with your professor early on during your undergraduate career. Attending office hours for questions related to the material, or even for the occasional intellectual conversation, are great ways to showcase your enthusiasm for the subject. Another conversation you may want to strike up is one related to the professor’s research. If you are aware of any projects they are conducting, inquiring about the process or the research project’s goals and how it may relate to any material the professor has covered in class will indubitably solidify your relationship with the professor. Inevitably over time, they will know your name and face, and they will recognize your passion for learning.
While I am recommending you sway the conversation towards the interest of the professor, it is also crucial to make known your curiosities about relevant material and your career or academic goals. With this established, the professor will have a basis in which they will be able to evaluate you in a letter of recommendation. It is furthermore necessary that you maintain this relationship with your professor in your undergraduate career semesters later. If you judge it appropriate, it is perfectly acceptable to visit this professor in office hours every once in a while to check in with them. This will let the professor know you haven’t discarded his class or the material he’s taught you.
If, on the other hand, you have not established such an ideal relationship with a professor, it is still possible to attain that same level of connection with a GSI/TA. Often times, GSIs are a more fit choice to evaluate a student in a letter of recommendation, as they generally attain more one-on-one time with them and are grading their work on a regular basis. In such a case, it would be appropriate to ask a GSI to write you a letter of recommendation, and perhaps even ask them to have the professor co-sign the letter. This eliminates any doubt that the letter is devalued because of its author; a professor’s signature for approval is always a positive point. The only downside to this method is that some graduate schools like to do a thorough check on their applicants. If they receive a letter signed by your professor and ask him or her questions about the contents of the letter, the professor might not be able to answer adequately because they were not involved in the writing process or if they skimmed it over, they may have difficulties supporting their claims because they did not have enough contact with you. This is something to keep in mind if you are struggling to find a professor to write you a letter.
If you are a junior transfer and have not had enough time to know a professor it is also reasonable to ask a professor from your Junior College to write you a letter of recommendation for positions, scholarships, grants, etc. at Berkeley. Once here, however, you should begin to get to know your professors as their letters will be the ones needed in applying to graduate school.
Once you have chosen the author of your letter, it is up to you to judge whether it is more appropriate to ask through email or in person. In either case, the initial step is asking the professor if they feel comfortable or are willing to write you a letter of recommendation (in other words, don’t assume!) before proceeding to sending them the material they would need. It is important to keep a few other details in mind: always point out the activities on your resume (on that note, don’t forget to give the professor a copy of your resume!) you would like the author to highlight, as well as any qualities that you believe will aid you further in the admissions process; most importantly, allow the professor to provide a personal evaluation of you and how they have witnessed your work as a student and professional; finally, try as much as possible to plan ahead in this process. Professors are undoubtedly busy with duties beyond teaching and it is important to keep that in mind when setting a timeline. I recommend asking for letters of recommendation as far as a month in advance, and checking in with the author once or twice on how they’re progressing.
On a final note, I would like to highlight the Letter Service by the Career Center. If you plan on taking some time off between undergraduate and graduate school, or if believe you will need these letters of recommendation for future applications of any kind, the Career Center will hold your letters for up to 5 or 10 years depending on the programs you will be applying to. For more information, please click here.
Thank you and be sure to drop by the Career Center if you have any questions!
Blog written by: Angela Haddad
Comments