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Request for a Letter of Recommendation

To: Students applying for graduate school

From: Sociology faculty

Re: Obtaining letters of recommendation

The Sociology Department wants to help you complete applications for graduate school in a timely and efficient manner. We consider writing letters of recommendation to be a significant part of our commitment to supportstudents’ career and academic goals. Many students ask us to write letters of recommendation around the same time of the year, sometimes with only a weeks notice. We want to write a detailed and informative letter tailored to your individual strengths and theacademic program and/or degree. To do this we ask you to organize all of the materials we need in the form below. Also, we require several weeks notice prior to the time the letter is due.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

  • Discuss the letter of recommendation with the professor at least 3-4 weeks prior to the due date. Send a follow-up e-mail 1 week prior to the due date. Visit during office hours to discuss your plans for graduate study.
  • Include information in the form below that distinguishes your qualities.
  • Attach your resume and/or personal statement to the form below. Only include the final version of personal statements.
  • Request letters of recommendation for all the schoolsyou are applying to at the same time.
  • Send all of the material in one e-mail or print it out and put in a folder.

NAME:______PHONE:______DATE:______

  1. Class(es) taken with professor and semester/year______
  2. Present GPA: Overall______GPA: Name Major(s)______Name Minor(s)

GRE: Verbal = _____ Math = _____ Analytic = _____

LSAT______

  1. Please explain any unusually high or low GPA semesters and/or GREscores.
  2. Please list all of your grades in the courses required for yourmajor:
  3. Please list all of your grades in sociology courses (if sociology is not your major).
  4. What do you consider to be your strongest academic point(s) or skills?
  5. What do you consider to be your weakest academic point(s) or skills?
  6. List the academic awards, recognition, etc., you have received while at Drew.
  7. What activities have you been involved with on campus? i.e.,team or club memberships, offices held, DIS, etc.
  8. What activities have you been involved with off-campus?
  9. What work experiences have you had during college (includingsummers).
  10. Do you speak or read in another language? If so, how fluent are you?
  11. What research skills do you have? (Be specific and include skills taught and used in class or for a paper). Were you involved in any research projects?
  12. Describe an important academic realization or insight.
  13. List the faculty members whom you have asked to write letters ofrecommendation.
  14. Describe, in as much detail as possible, your interest in the field you have chosen to pursue. What first interested you in the field? Do you have any background and experience in the field? How do you know the field is right for you? etc. (The response to this question can be from your personal statement).

Graduate Program Information

List the programs and schools to which you are applying, and thedates the letters of recommendation are due. (Be sureto supply an addressed and stamped envelope for each letter.)

Due Date / School Name / Program Name / Type of Degree / Address and title of recipient
Example
1/23/06 / Steinhardt School of Education, New York University / Environmental Science Program / MA / Office of Admissions
212 Mercer St
NY, NY10012

Graduate schools are usually looking for several pieces of

information in letters of recommendation; especially comments

about your academic abilities, research abilities, motivation,

and character. On the back of this page, remind your letter

writer of specific examples illustrating your strengths in these

domains. Don't be shy about promoting yourself!

10/10/2018