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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.
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