HOW TO EARN STRONG LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION CLASSROOM

HOW TO EARN STRONG LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR • ACTIVE PARTICIPANT • FREQUENTLY LATE • ATTENTIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC • PASSION FOR LEARNING • OFTEN DISTRACTED BY TECHNOLOGY • RESPECTFUL • SHY • WORKS WELL IN GROUPS • MAKES EXCUSES • MATURE • UNDERACHIEVES • FRIENDLY/OUTGOING • FREQUENTLY TIRED • SHOWS INITIATIVE • POOR ATTITUDE • INATTENTIVE

OUTSIDE OF CLASS • FREQUENTS OFFICE HOURS • ACTIVE IN STUDENT CLUBS • SEEKS LEADERSHIP ROLES • PRESENTED RESEARCH AT NATIONAL/REGIONAL CONFERENCE • INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEERS • SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES • MAINTAINS HEALTHY BOUNDARIES • POSITIVE SELF-CARE

HOW TO REQUEST A LETTER • SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO MAKE THE REQUEST IN-PERSON • EXPLAIN THE REASONS THAT YOU THINK THE PERSON IS A GOOD FIT FOR WRITING YOU A LETTER (DISCUSS YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THEIR CLASS[ES], REMIND THEM OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO, PRESENT WORK THAT YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF) • BE FRANK AND ASK THEM IF THEY FEEL THEY CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A STRONG LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

INFORMATION TO PROVIDE YOUR LETTER WRITERS • OVERALL GPA • PSYCHOLOGY GPA • UPDATED RESUME • A STATEMENT OF YOUR CAREER GOALS • A LIST OF THE PROGRAMS YOU ARE APPLYING TO WITH CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH • DUE DATES (GIVE WRITERS AT LEAST 1 MONTH OF ADVANCE NOTICE) • SOME HAVE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION FORMS • MANY ARE SUBMITTED THROUGH AN ONLINE FORM

ALSO DO THESE THINGS • BE SURE TO WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO VIEW THE RECOMMENDATION • SEND YOUR LETTER WRITERS A THANK YOU NOTE (NOT A THANK YOU EMAIL) • KEEP YOUR LETTER WRITERS INFORMED OF YOUR PROGRESS – THEY DO CARE