• Asking for a Letter of Recommendation
  
  Please follow the directions on this page carefully.   

 

• I cannot write a recommendation for you without the following information:
  
  the forms from the school(s) or company(ies) to which you are applying 
  a list of the courses you've taken with me 
  a copy of your c.v. (curriculum vitae), or resume. You should list 
  - all paid jobs you have held and a description of your duties
  - all volunteer positions and description of duties
  - any honors you have received
  - any clubs/organizations you belong to (on campus or off)
  - your GPA, and your GPA in your major
  - skills (languages you speak, programming languages you know, etc.) 
  a statement of purpose or list of career goals 
  (optional) If you have a paper or project that you’re particularly proud of, it would help me to read that.
  
  Tips:
  
  Be sure that you fill out and sign the top of the form(s) you give me.  Where it says "I do/do not waive my right to inspect this reference" consider what the impact of your checking "I do not" has.  The school/company that receives the recommendation will take it less seriously if they think you have not waived the right to see it.   I normally send recommendations on MSU stationary through MSU’s mail service, so I don’t need a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope), but check with your other references on this. Providing a SASE is considered the correct thing to do.  If the recommendation is to be returned to you, provide an envelope larger than standard size in which I can return it.  Ask for the recommendation at least four weeks before it is due. 
  
  
• Be careful in choosing whom to ask for a reference.
  If you are a good student and/or if I know you well through advising or other contacts, I can write good things about you; otherwise not.   It is also often reasonable to ask an employer or volunteer coordinator to write a reference. While they usually can't attest to your intellectual skills, they can comment on important issues like your reliability, flexibility, initiative, etc.