Letters of Recommendation
For the 2022-2023 school year, please make all requests for recommendations by October 21 and send me the information for each recommendation by October 21.
I would be honored to write you a letter of recommendation, with the following stipulations:
Summary
You need to give me 6 things. Please give them to me all at the same time once I've agreed to write your recommendation. You may include the requirements all in a single email (clearly separate the sections) or you may bring the required information in a manila folder labeled with your name.
Many thanks to Lee Ferguson for her thoughtful guidelines upon which I have based the information above.
I would be honored to write you a letter of recommendation, with the following stipulations:
- You have been a student in my class for at least 9 weeks at the time you ask for the recommendation: This gives me a chance to get to know you, your work ethic, and things that may set you apart from other applicants. I do not write generic recommendation letters and cannot write a quality letter if I don't know you well.
- You provide me with a resume that tells me about your activities outside of school. This is important because it provides insight into extracurricular activities that have contributed to your leadership ability, academic strengths, and work ethic. There are things that I just won't know about you from the limited time we've spent together in class. At the bottom of this resume, please describe the following: Any unique challenges you've faced (illness, poverty, first in family to go to college, etc.) and anything from your resume you'd like me to highlight while writing your recommendation.
- You provide a paragraph or so that explains what this recommendation is for. If this is a college recommendation, tell me which colleges it is for so I can cater your recommendation to your universities of choice. Explain why you want to attend these colleges. If this is for a summer internship or something else, explain what this opportunity is and why you want to attend.
- You provide me with a statement that tells me what you plan on doing after high school/college. This gives me a sense of the direction you'd like your life to go once you leave high school.
- You provide me with a paragraph that explains whether you have experienced any undue hardships (family, financial, disability, illness, unique life trial, etc.) so I can attest to your resilience in your recommendation letter.
- You ask for your letter at least 2 weeks in advance of the deadline you need it for. Do not ask the day before and expect me to write a glowing recommendation. You want a quality recommendation, not a rushed, generic one. I will not write recommendations that are due less than two weeks from the day of your request.
- Use the Common App or CFNC whenever possible. Online recommendations are much easier and convenient (and cheap! no stamps!).
- Any forms or online forms I need to fill in should be brought in or emailed to me. Make sure you have signed any forms that require your signature. Fill in any of the generic information that goes at the top.
- If something must be mailed, bring a pre-addressed envelope and stamps. I will not provide you with stamps or envelopes.
- Finally, give me a deadline. I will NOT write a letter of recommendation without a deadline attached to it. Trust me when I tell you this is more for your benefit than it is for mine--without a deadline, I will not make your letter a priority to get done.
Summary
You need to give me 6 things. Please give them to me all at the same time once I've agreed to write your recommendation. You may include the requirements all in a single email (clearly separate the sections) or you may bring the required information in a manila folder labeled with your name.
- Resume with notes at the bottom (see above).
- Paragraph explaining what the recommendation is for/why you want to attend.
- A paragraph or so explaining what you plan on doing after high school/college.
- Hard copies of any forms that are needed, with generic info (like your name) already filled in.
- Pre-addressed envelope with stamp (if needed).
- Deadline.
Many thanks to Lee Ferguson for her thoughtful guidelines upon which I have based the information above.