Need a reference letter for your graduate school or job application?
How to ask for a reference letter
So, you’re in your senior year and it’s time to start finding professors to write you a reference letter for your graduate school or job application. How do you go about getting a winning recommendation?
1. Make sure you professors know you
Ideally, you’ve made a point of ensuring that your professors have gotten to know you on a first-name basis since freshman year. Even if you haven’t, it’s not too late to start now.
You want to become a memorable student (in a good way) and not just a name on paper. Sit at the front of the class, ask questions, answer questions, attend professor office hours, and introduce yourself. Display interest in their class and they will display interest in you.
It’s much easier asking for a reference letter from a professor who knows you personally—as opposed to being a face they can’t remember.
2. Stay in touch
Just because you’ve finished a course doesn’t mean you can’t keep up with your favorite faculty members. Make sure you email them from time to time or drop by their office just to say hello. This ensures they’ll remember you well beyond your presence in the classroom.
You don’t want professors to feel like you are only coming to them for a reference letter when you didn’t care to participate in class or maintain communication afterwards. Professors appreciate students who drop by their office.
3. You don’t need to be a perfect student
Even if you didn’t do amazing in their class, professors may still be willing to write a reference letter as long as you showed a genuine interest in learning. That said, avoid asking for a reference from professors whose classes you got a very low grade in.
4. Respect the professor’s time
Let your professor know far enough in advance of the graduate school or job application deadline. If you don’t give them enough time to give a reference, they will not only feel annoyed, but they may also rush it and write you a mediocre letter.
Professors are very busy people—they might even reject your request if you don’t give them sufficient time.
5. Provide resources
Your professor may not know everything that you would like them to mention in the reference letter. It will actually make the entire process much easier for them if you provide some key information that you want them to include: your major, career goals, GPA, accomplishments, extracurricular involvement, etc.
6. Ask to volunteer
Maybe you didn’t get to know your professors while taking their class and now you want a reference letter from one of them. What do you do?
Ask the professor if you could volunteer for them in their lab, class, or office. This will give them an opportunity to learn more about you—and hopefully give them the chance to write a more genuine reference. They will also appreciate the free help.
7. Connect with alumni
It is possible that the graduate school to which you are applying is also where one of your professors attended. Do your research and learn about all your professors. Having an alumni reference letter looks great in an application and can really help your chances of admission.
Professors understand that students will need reference letters and it is not uncommon for several students to be requesting them each semester, so don’t be nervous when politely asking for one.
Ready to give your graduate school application a winning advantage ? Challenge yourself to our free 20-minute GMAT workout.
The post Asking Professors to Write a Reference Letter appeared first on Business School Insider.
