The first step to getting a letter of recommendation is to ask me! Please make an appointment with me during my office hours so that we can discuss the possibility of me writing a letter.
If you have only taken one or two classes with me, it may be difficult for me to write a good letter of recommendation for you. Good letters of recommendation are written by professors or supervisors who know the person well and have worked closely with them. A letter of recommendation without a lot of detail or information could be detrimental to a student getting into a graduate program, even if the letter is positive. If I don’t think my letter will help you, then I will not agree to write a letter for you.
The best letters I write are for students who have worked closely with me, such as in an RA or TA capacity. However, I will write letters for students who have taken classes with me (but not been my RA or TA), depending on 1) what they need the letter for, and 2) how well I know them. For example, if it’s for a Ph.D. program and I don’t know you well, then I’ll likely say no. My saying yes will likely only hurt you, which I would never want to do. If it’s for a summer program and I know you somewhat, I may be more likely to write a letter. Writing a letter for a master’s program also has a lower bar than writing a letter for a Ph.D. program.
If you’d like to strategize with me about who might be able to write the best letters for you, given your situation, feel free to make an appointment with me! I’m happy to help mentor you through your application process and help you determine who might write the best letters for you.
If I agree to write a letter of recommendation for you, I’ll send you a link where you can provide some information to help me write a strong letter. It’ll take a bit of time for you to fill out the form, and I’d ideally like it to be completed at least a month before the first letter is due.
Questions? Let’s talk!