Letters of Recommendation

Graduate school applications typically require that you submit the names of three people who will write you a letter of recommendation. These individuals should be able to speak positively about your academic and research experiences and your ability to be successful in a graduate program. Professors who know you well are the best choice; other options are support staff, lecturers, or others who know you in an academic and professional context. You should not include personal references such as friends or family members.

Be sure that you request your letters of recommendation well in advance of the due date as a strong letter can take time to write. Ask your recommenders what materials you can provide. You might be asked to share your CV/resume and statement of purpose (see more about these below).

In the online application, you will typically be asked to provide the recommender’s name, email, and relationship to you. Requests for a letter can then be sent immediately through the online system, but in some cases, the request is not sent until the application is complete. It is very important that you pay attention to this to give your recommenders time to write and upload the letter.