You may need to ask me (or another instructor/faculty member) for a recommendation/reference letter for an internship, a scholarship, graduate studies, etc. I take such requests extremely seriously and I assume that you do too. Please consider the following advice/requirements when making such a request to me or to other instructors:

1. Before you approach an instructor for a letter, make sure that he/she knows you on an individual basis and has not only merely seen you in class. You want him/her to remember about your strengths and about one or more positive incidents about you. One good strategy is to be a good student in class, participate in class discussions, take up challenges offered during the course, visit the instructor during his/her office hour to demonstrate your interest in the topic and so that he/she remembers you, etc.


2. Generally speaking you want to ask a person with you whom you have taken at least two courses (e.g., one advanced course and one basic course).

When you want me to write a letter for you, I will always ask you to first send me a draft written by yourself, about yourself. Please do not be surprised or think that I am not being helpful: I never write a letter for a student without asking for a draft.

In this draft, I want you to put all the great things that you want me to write about you: you should feel free to be as supportive of yourself as possible, that is, shamelessly promoting yourself, listing every one of your accomplishments and highlighting each one of your abilities. This opportunity is one of the rare ones in your life where you really want to shamelessly promote yourself. I am asking you to do exactly that.

If you forget to include things, then do not assume that I will remember them. I retain the right to edit the letter, add to it or remove from it whatever I see fit. The reasons that I ask for such a draft are the following:

1. You know yourself better than I do.


2. You may remember more positive incidents about your performance in my class than I am likely to (although I do keep detailed records). It is only fair that you be given the opportunity to remind me of them.


3. I never mean any harm to anyone and least of all to a student, but I do have a defective memory. If you list all the things that you are proud of, chances are that I will include them in the letter or at least they may trigger some memories of your past performance in my class.


4. Most importantly, it is much easier for me to edit a draft (even if I have to rewrite it entirely) than to start one from scratch. I was told that this apparently well-known fact holds for most faculty members! Along the years, I was shocked to realize how true that fact is: "Ask a faculty to write a document, she/he will procrastinate for ever. Give them a badly written draft, and they will jump at the opportunity of editing and correcting it." Believe me, it works. I was the first one surprised.


5. Never ask for a letter at the last moment, but always provide a few weeks, at least.


6. Finally, never shy from sending 'friendly' reminders. "The squeeky wheel gets the grease..".