How to Ask?

I am generally happy to provide recommendation letters to students. Please, understand that to write the best possible letter, I need information.

I appreciate it if you could share.

• A deadline! (and it can be a deadline that you set, asking for a letter ahead of when it is actually due is fine, as long as you ask reasonably early),
• The name of the school / program / scholarship / internship / grant / position to which you are applying, with a link if possible, with a short description if not,
• Your current resume,
• What makes you think that you are a good fit for that school / program / scholarship / internship / grant / position,
• If there is something in particular that I should write because it could increase your chances.

If, additionally, you could provide:

• How you know me (typically, when you had me as an instructor, or when we first met and how),
• Some ideas as to what I should include in your letter,
• The contact of the person likely to contact me about your application (if you have it),

this would make your letter even stronger.

Thanks!