Letters of Recommendation
I will be happy to write academic references for graduate and professional schools for students that follow these guidelines.- You have done well in my class: this means getting an A or A+.
- I know who you are: This means we have interacted during the semester, during office hours or in class. If I don't recognize your name chances are I have no idea who you are.
- You use the ASU pre-health office (unless you don't have that option for the program you are applying to).
- You waive your right to see the letter: this is standard, and it will look bad for you if you don't waive your right.
- You give me at least a month to write the letter.
- Why do you want to be a doctor/dentist/pharmacist/etc? (or if you are applying to graduate school: Why do you want to pursue a PhD?)
- What are your long term plans (related to the degree)?
- Describe any volunteer work and emphasize how that shaped you as a good candidate for medical/dental/etc school. This is not needed for graduate (PhD) school.
- What makes you different from the rest? Give examples of experiences or personal qualities that make you exceptional.
- If research is an important aspect of your application materials, please describe what you have done in a short paragraph. Be sure you tell me who your advisor/s were.
- What else you feel should be addressed in my letter?
I will e-mail you when I submit the letter to the ASU pre-health office. If you don't hear from me one week before the deadline e-mail me with a reminder.
Please don't bring chocolates or other gifts. I love them, but you don't need to do it. To show your gratitude, just let me know if you got admitted to a shool of your choice :-)