HOW
TO
ASK
FOR
A LETTER
OF
HE
COMMENDATION
GENERAL
THOUGHTS
FROM
IISSA
COUNSELORS
•
IF
YOU
KNOW
YOUR
PROFESSOR
WELL
this
will
be
easy.
If
you
do
not,
GET
TO
KNOW
HIM
OR
HER.
o
They
will
put
in
as
much
effort
as
you
will.
You
put
in
the
time
to
get
to
know
them; they
will
put
in
the
time
to
write
you
an
excellent
letter.
o
If
you
cannot
approach
them,
either
make
it
so
you
can,
or
choose someone
else.
•
HOW
TO
GET
TO
KNOW
YOUR
PROFESSORS
o
Sit
on
the
front
row,
and
in
the
same
area
for
all
lectures
o
Actively
participate
in
class
o
Introduce
yourself
to
your
professor
at
the
first
class
o
Go
to
office
hours
frequently/on
a
regular
basis
Go
prepared
to
discuss
the course,
your
research,
their
research, ask
questions,
even
if
you
know
the answers,
anything
interesting.
Professor
office
hours
are
for
students.
Take advantage
of
their availability.
o
Answer
or
Challenge
questions
•
HOW
TO
ASK
o Start
with
an
email
or
phone
message
and
request
for
a
meeting
to
fonnally
ask
for
a
letter
of
recommendation
•
Identify
yourself,
how
you
know
the
professor,
and
what
you
want
from
them.
•
If
they
do
not
respond
immediately
to
your
email,
don’t
panic,
they
are
very
busy
individuals.
Allow
a
week
or
two
and
follow
up
again
by email
or
in
person.
•
Choose
carefully
whom
to
email,
since
if
the
professor
doesn’t
know
you,
it
is
easy
to
just
respond
back
no.
o
BE
DIRECT
AND
HONEST—
•
Don’t
beat
around
the
bush,
they
know
why
you
are
there.
•
They
are
direct;
ask
them
directly
“Do
you
feel
you
can
write
me
a
STRONG
letter
of
recommendation?”
Not
just
any
letter
but
a
STRONG
letter.
o
Once
a
meeting
is
set:
•
Be
prepared
and go
in
as
if
it
were
an
interview.
Dress
appropriately/professional
o
If
the
professor
has
already
said
yes
and
asked
you
to
bring
the
paperwork
do
so
at
this
time.
o
What you
should
provide
them
•
UCI
waiver
form
and
if
applicable other
letter
of
recommendation
forms
from
other
application
services
(such
as
PharmCAS,
OptomCAS,
CASPA
forms).
•
If
the
other
forms
are
not
available
to
you
at
the
time,
inform
the
professor
you
will
be
providing
the
forms to them
ASAP
on
...
date.
• (TIP:
HSAC
can
only
accept
letters
and
approved
centralized
application
letter
forms. Check
HSAC
Policies
and
FAQ
link
to
see
what
these
forms
are,
which
forms
can
be
accepted
by
our
office
and
which
forms
need
to
be
mailed
directly from
professor
to
admissions).
•
Other
then
letters
of
recommendation forms
you
should
not
need
to
provide additional
materials,
however
some
professors
may
require
more
paperwork,
ie
transcripts
or
a
personal
statement.
a
Provide
it
if
asked,
but
be
careful
with
the
personal
statement—
recommenders
are
to
write
about
their
OWN
knowledge
of
you,
not
the
history
that
you
have
already
written
in your
personal
statement.
•
Some
students
have
taken
cover
letters,
academic
resumes
or
a
CV.
a
You
can
offer
to
provide
postage and
an
address
label
with
HSAC
address
already
on
it.
Letters
coming
from
UCI
staff/faculty
do
not
need
postage
because
it
can
be
sent
through inner
campus
mail. However
if
your
recommender
is
off
campus
be
sure
to
offer
postage.
(TIP:
use
a
larger
address
label
so
the
label
isn’t
lost
after
you
give
it
to
your
professor)
•
Remind
the
professors
that
the
letters
need
to
be
TYPED,
on
their
own
letterhead,
and
sent
in
their
own
letterhead
envelopes.
(Additional
instructions
are
also
on the
UCI
waiver form).
o
GIVE
THEM
A
DEADLINE
AND
ALWAYS
FOLLOW
UP
•
A
reasonable
deadline to
write
the
letter
is
30
days.
Give
a
specific
date
so
that
you
know
when
you
can
follow
up.
Even
with
deadlines
be
prepared
for
delays.
a
Use
proper
etiquette
or
manners
when
following
up.
Be
polite
and
patient.
a
Have
a
backup plan.
Sometimes
things
don’t
go
as
you
plan.
If
your
recommender
has
not
written
your
letter
after
several
follow
up
attempts
and
your
deadline
is
fast
approaching.
You
may
find
yourself
needing
to
look
for
another
recommender
or
completing
your
packet
without
the
letter. (Check
with
a
LOR
advisor
for
recommendations.
•
Once the
letter
has
arrived
be
sure
to
thank
your
recommender.
A
simple
thank
you
card is
sufficient.
WHAT
IF
I
REALLY
DON’T
KNOW
ANY
OF
MY
PROFESSORS???
a
Remember
that
you
are
competing
with
other
applicants
that
will
make
the
effort
to
get
to
know their
professor.
a
To
be
a
strong
applicant
you
will
need
to
be
active
and
make the
initiative.
•
Combat
your
fears
and
make the
effort.
The
best
time
to
start is
at
the
beginning
of
a
new
class.
a
If
you
pressure
a
professor
to
write
you
a
letter
even
if
they
have
shown
hesitation
or
told
you that
they
don’t
really
know
you,
you
are
unlikely
to
receive
a
quality
letter.
A
letter that
only
states
how
strong
of
an
applicant
you
are
based
solely
on
grades
will
show
admissions
you
failed
to
get
to
know
your
recommender.
Remember,
your
letters
are
painting
a
picture
for
admissions
to
get
to
know
you
better.
