For most faculty, you should request a letter at least FOUR WEEKS in advance. Not only is it a courtesy to give your letter writers time to plan, but it also gives them ample time to write a high quality letter for you. Furthermore, asking a professor \/ instructor a day or two in advance of a due date may give the faculty member the impression that you don\u2019t really care about the letter or the position you\u2019re applying for. Of course, there are exceptions to this timeline, but you\u2019ll want to be especially courteous when you make any last-minute requests.<\/p>\n
In addition, many graduate and professional schools have early deadlines so you must pay regular attention to these or you may miss them.<\/p>\n
Your letter writers should know you well, especially your academic achievements and potential. This means you\u2019ve had them for at least one class and preferably more. You should choose professors \/ instructors of the classes in which you earned no lower than a \u201cB\u201d (unless you MUST include specific required coursework \/ recommendations). The more detailed and specific a recommendation \/ referral letter, the more effective it will be. You\u2019ll also want to identify as many professors \/ instructors as possible since you\u2019ll commonly need two or more writers for a school \/ job application. Finally, do not be offended if a professor \/ instructor declines to write for you – it might be that they feel they don\u2019t know you well enough to write a strong letter on your behalf.<\/p>\n
Send a detailed and well-written email to the professors \/ instructors you\u2019ve chosen asking if they would be willing to write for you. Your emails should address each professor \/ instructor individually using their full title and should include proper grammar (remember, this is a professional communication!). Be certain to indicate the type of evaluation \/ letter you need (e.g., a letter written, a rating form completed). You should also inquire if the faculty member can meet with you so you can talk about your plans and ask their advice (note: some faculty require a meeting before they\u2019ll agree to provide an evaluation). This will show that you not only care about what they say about you, but that you also care about what they have to say to you.<\/p>\n
First, send your email request(s) to the appropriate faculty.<\/p>\n
If they agree to write for you, log on to the Western Oregon University Portal and complete the \u201cReferrals & Recommendations for students\u201d form.<\/p>\n
Next, send the following to each confirmed letter writer:<\/p>\n
In ALL cases, keep your letter writers informed and provide polite reminders about due dates!<\/p>\n
Once your letters have been completed, be certain to send each writer a personal thank you.\u00a0 This should typically be done within a month and is most appropriately expressed via a hand-written thank you.\u00a0 If hand-written notes aren\u2019t feasible, then send a warm and heart-felt\u00a0email at the very least.\u00a0 In addition, your letter-writers are always interested in learning about you and the outcome of your applications.\u00a0 And even though this may include unsuccessful attempts, this information will help your letter writers hone their skills.<\/p>\n