How to Ask a Professor for a Letter of Recommendation by Email

A letter of recommendation can go a long way toward helping you reach your goal, whether it is acceptance to graduate school or landing that perfect job interview. Since email is such a quick and effective way to communicate, it's a great method to speed up the process of obtaining a recommendation. Follow these tips to know how to ask a professor for a letter of recommendation by email.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose a professor with whom you have had a positive academic relationship. This might be a professor who advised you or led a major project that you participated in. You will get a much stronger recommendation if the professor is familiar with you and your work.

2. Confirm the email address you have on file for your professor. You might do this by sending a short email letting him know that you plan to send a more detailed email request and asking whether he is available to write your recommendation. Since professors are sometimes on sabbatical for a semester, you can prevent unnecessary delays and last-minute scrambling to find an alternate choice for your recommendation by being prepared.

3. Allow plenty of time between the day you send the email and the day the materials are due. Send the email at least three to four weeks in advance.

4. Provide the professor with everything she needs to make a valid recommendation. Attach a copy of the academic program or job description you are applying for and a short list of your accomplishments. Include any special regulations about the format the recommendation must arrive in and note anything specific you want her to reference.

5. Inform the professor in your email that you are sending pre-addressed, stamped envelopes via regular mail for your recommendations to be sent to the appropriate parties. Often, recommendations must be kept confidential and you will not be allowed to see what your professor has written.

6. Ask your professor to email you a confirmation that he has mailed your recommendations. Be sure to reply and thank him.