How to Ask Your Professor For a Letter of Recommendation For Graduate School Application

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By Rockney
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Ask Your Professor For a Letter of Recommendation For Graduate School Application

If you are planning to attend a graduate school after finishing your studies as an undergraduate you are probably aware of the importance of receiving strong letters of recommendations from your professors and advisors. Usually the graduate schools ask for at least three letters of recommendation. Out of three one could be from the place you did the volunteer work or performed an outstanding research project. You can follow the following advice to ask your favorite professors for a letter of recommendation.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Make sure that you received an "A" grade in your professor's class you are asking for a letter of recommendation from. It gives a lot of legitimacy to your letter when your professor comments on your academic skills and understanding of the subject matter.
Step 2

Make sure your professor knows you well on a personal level. Visiting his office hours during the course and discussing new material or advancement in the subject matter will help.
Step 3

Taking an extra assignment in the class or volunteering for a short project or event is also a great idea to impress your professor.
Step 4

Ask your professor for a letter of recommendation after you have finished the class or a project you were working on, early on. Give your professor at least two weeks notice to write you a letter.
Step 5

Provide a summary of your extra curricular activites and interests as well. Giving your professor a short biography about yourself is a great idea to receive maximum recommendation from the professor of your personality, intellectual maturity, and hard work overall.

Resources

How to Write Powerful Letters of Recommendation

Comments

ramblin62 said

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on 8/21/2009 Helpful advice for getting professors to give recommendations to graduate school. The bit about the bio is especially important. TX!

teresasharlene said

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on 2/4/2009 Politely stalking them also helps to remind them of upcoming deadlines. It's also nice to send flowers and thank yous after you hear back from your schools.