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Letters of Recommendation for Graduate School

Everything you need to know about letters of recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Letters of Recommendation
Letters are a critical, but not well understood, part of your graduate school application. If you're like most applicants, you have questions about seeking letters of recommendation. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions.
How Do I Get a Letter of Recommendation When I Attend an Online University?
My Bachelor's Degree Is From an Online University: How Do I Get a Letter of Recommendation?
Is Returning Recommendation Letters in Signed, Sealed Envelopes Too Much to Ask?
Recently a reader asked me whether it's an imposition to ask faculty to not only write letters of recommendation but to return them to the student, each in a separate signed and sealed envelope. Is it too much to ask? Is organizing all that paperwork unreasonable?
Sample Letters of Recommendation
Writing a letter of recommendation isn't easy. Review a few sample letters and you'll have a better idea of to say (or not say) about your student.
How Do I Get a Letter of Recommendation Five Years After Graduation?
You've been out of school for several years and want to go to grad school. What do you about getting letters of recommendation?
What Is a Letter of Recommendation?
What is a letter of recommendation?
All About Recommendation Letters
Nearly all graduate programs require recommendation letters from their applicants. What is a letter of recommendation and how do you get one?
What Is a Good Letter of Recommendation?
Writing a letter of recommendation isn't easy. What makes for a good letter? Effective letters of recommendation have these 8 characteristics in common.
Get a Letter of Recommendation
The letter of recommendation is the part of the graduate school application that students stress most over. How do you get a great letter of recommendation that will win you a spot in graduate school?
Recommendation Letters: Choosing Referees
By now you know that letters of recommendation are critical to your success in gaining entry to graduate school. But how do you choose people to approach for recommendation letters?
How To Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
The letter of recommendation is critical to your graduate admissions application, yet is entirely dependent on someone else -- your professor. How you request a letter influences professors' responses and ultimately the quality of your letter of recommendation.
12 Don'ts for Getting Letters of Recommendation
Sure, there are lots of things that you can do to improve your chances of getting a good letter of recommendation from a faculty member. But, what shouldn't you do? Even students with the best intentions make mistakes. Don't be one of them.
Getting Good Letters of Recommendation; Experiences that Matter
What are the experiences that will help you to earn excellent letters of recommendation from faculty?
Frequently Asked Questions About Recommendation Letters
Common questions answered. If your question doesn't appear, send an email.
Letters of Recommendation for Midlife Applicants to Graduate
Midlife applicants to graduate school have special concerns. For example, what do you do about letters of recommendation when you've been out of college for a decade?
Thanking Your Letter Writers
Thanking those who write letters of recommendation on your behalf is not just good manners, it's solid professional advice. Here's a sample letter to illustrate this simple but very effective note.
Sample Thank You Note to Your Recommenders
It only takes a moment, but leaves a big impression. Send a thank you note to those who have written on behalf of your graduate school application.
Recommendation Wars
Article from Salon.com criticises the tradition of recommendation letters in academia. Scathing, sarcastic, and quite witty!
Advice on Seeking Letters of Recommendation
Advice from the career center at UC Berkeley
How to Get Good Letters
How do you ensure that your recommendation letter for graduate school is good?

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