Before Asking for a Letter of Recommendation
(Guidelines from the Faculty)

Please do not underestimate how difficult it is for us to write strong letters of recommendation that will actually help you to gain admission to law school or graduate school or to receive a grant.

►Please visit us in person before giving us the file described below. Do not rely on e-mail contacts unless you are so far from San Diego that you cannot come to campus.

To help us write stronger letters of recommendation, we suggest that you complete the following steps:

____ 1. Folder. Assemble all your forms, envelopes, and supporting materials (that is, all the materials described below) in a single manila folder. Do not give this material to us piece-by-piece. Do not send it by e-mail.

____ 2. Picture. Include a picture in your file (you can probably print the picture from your TritonLink page). Nothing makes it harder to write a letter than trying to remember: "Now which student was this?" Nothing subverts a letter more than referring to a student incorrectly - for example, using the wrong gender - because it instantly signals that we haven't the vaguest recollection and our praise cannot be trusted.

____ 3. Cover letter/note. Remind the faculty member what the letter of recommendation is for and that we have already talked about this. Remind her/him of evidence - such as participation in class discussions - that is not documented in the file.

____ 4. Forms. Include all forms that must be sent with the letters of recommendation. Please READ these forms, FILL OUT the parts that must be completed by the student, and SIGN the form where appropriate. For example, some LSDAS forms say that their staff will return a letter to the faculty member if the student fails to complete the form properly.

____ 5. Stamped and addressed envelopes for each letter that you want sent.

____ 6. Unofficial transcript. Please INDICATE on the transcript the courses you have taken with the faculty member who will write the letter.

____ 7. Examples of writing. Include a paper or two from one of the courses that you took with the faculty member. The best paper would show that you are a clever and industrious researcher, you have extraordinary analytic skills, you develop your own arguments logically and clearly, and you write like a professional-to-be.

____ 8. TA testimonials. If a TA in the course is able to provide the faculty member additional information about your performance, ask the TA to send a paragraph or so directly to the faculty member. The faculty member may be able to quote this as a second, corroborating opinion.

In assembling your file you are providing materials not only to remind us of your many qualities, but also to provide us supporting evidence that we can cite in our letters to give substance and credibility to our claims on your behalf. Please be selective when you include materials; we cannot legitimately comment on your many accomplishments in which we were not involved.