Articles Index
Characteristics of a Poor Letter of Recommendation
Some letters of recommendation are bad - they don't help students. Here are 7 things you should not do when writing a letter 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.
Getting Good Letters of Recommendation: Experiences that Matter
What are the experiences that will help you to earn excellent letters of recommendation from faculty?
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?
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.
Work Through Your Own Baggage to Write a Good Letter of Recommendation
Some grad students and new faculty find writing recommendation letters challenging because letter writers must work though their own baggage.
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.
Asking for a Letter of Recommendation: Do's and Don'ts
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.
An Effective Recommendation Letter: Sample
Whether a letter is good or simply adequate depends not just on it's content but on how well it fits the program to which you’re applying. Consider this sample letter of recommendation.
Sample Poor Letter of Recommendation
Take care in requesting your recommendation letter because not all letters are helpful. Here's an example of a poor letter.
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.