Recommendation Letters

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If you would like me to write you a recommendation letter for anything such as REUs (which you can find a list of here), graduate school, or anything else, please ask me at least one month in advance and tell me your soonest deadline. In rare emergencies, I may agree to write a letter two weeks in advance.

Usually programs and schools get a LOT of applications. Please don't get discouraged: you know how to write a good application for things, and good evidence for that is that you are currently a student at Amherst (or another one of the 5 colleges, or have been a student at Georgia Tech or Rice). However, part of writing a good application is to have materials that show you off as an individual and not simply a convincing set of generic documents that could belong to any capable and hard-working student. This is particularly important in the age of Generative AI, where it is very easy and quick to ``write" documents that are fine, but not excellent.

In order to write a personalized and detailed recommendation letter for you, please email me the following information at least two weeks before the deadline. This information gathering is to help you pick out some of the parts of your application that will make you stand out, too!

1. What is your name, year, and major?
2. For what are you applying and what is the earliest deadline? (scholarship, internship, graduate school, etc.)
3. If you're applying to multiple programs, list the programs to which you are applying, together with due dates and how recommendations will be submitted (many programs automatically generate an email with a link for submission, but others might require me to send an email by the deadline).
4. How long have I known you, and what is (are) my relationship(s) to you? (instructor, advisor, etc.)
5. For what class(es) have I had you, what final grade(s) did I assign you, and how did you distinguish yourself in my class(es)?
6. Please choose four adjectives you think describe you well.
7. What are some of your academic accomplishments?
8. What are some of your nonacademic accomplishments (if any)?
9. What makes me particularly qualified to write a letter for you?
10. What makes you particularly qualified for this position/honor/award?
11. What are your long term goals and, if relevant, how does this position/honor/award fit in?
12. Additional comments (REU’s, summer research, interesting jobs, hobbies, etc.)?

Please also attach the following documents, preferably as pdfs:

1. An unofficial copy of your transcript
2. The latest (preferably final) draft of your personal statement (if applicable)
3. The latest version of your resume or CV (if you have one), and
4. Any necessary forms and/or login information for the application

As your deadlines approach, please send me email reminders (I won't be offended and appreciate the second set of eyes on the deadlines). Good luck with your application!

Thanks to Brittney Bailey for inspiring me to provide these questions to students asking for recommendation letters.