How To Get the Letters of Recommendation

• Choose your recommenders carefully. Make a list of the adults outside your immediate family who have spent time with you and know you best as a person.

• Once you have some possible people on your list, narrow it down to the people who know you best. Try to pick people who you believe can write well, too, since the way a person puts something on paper is often just as important as the idea that person is trying to convey.

• Ask the right way. It is very important for you to make a specific appointment to discuss your letter of recommendation with each person you are planning to ask. If you are casual in your approach, your writer will be too!

• Make your request specific. Don't just ask, "Can you write me a recommendation letter?" Say instead, "I'm planning on applying to such and such university in such and such country. I think I have the academic credentials to qualify and possibly get a scholarship. However, the admission office also wants a letter from someone who can write about me personally. I was hoping you would be able to write an informative letter. Would you be willing to give me a positive recommendation?"

• Give your recommender help. Prepare a resume of your academic interests, desired university degree options, extracurricular activities you have been involved in at high school and anything that might be of help to your referee.

• Be sure your recommender understands your deadline. That is why ask them in advance!

• Send a short note one to two weeks before the deadline thanking each recommender for writing your letter. The ones who have already written the letter will appreciate this, and the one who has forgotten has been politely reminded.

• Once you have received your acceptances and rejections, let your recommenders know what happened and what choice you have made. They helped you and have an interest in your decision.