Begin an email request with “Dear Dr. Hamilton” or “Good morning, Dr. Johnson. ” If you’re not sure what your professor’s preferred title is, look up your class syllabus on their website (or the school’s website).
“My name is Katie Williams. I took your fiction writing workshop my junior and senior year, and you helped me outline my senior capstone project. ”
Use assertive and specific language to project confidence. Rather than asking, “Can you write a letter of recommendation?” ask your professor for the type of letter you want with words like “strong” or “compelling. ” “I’m applying to UCLA’s graduate program for Film and Television, and I was hoping that you’d write a compelling letter of recommendation for me. ”
Add a little flattery to your request! Your professor might be more enthusiastic about writing you a letter as a result. “Your classes helped me grow as a writer. Thanks to your help, my story has been accepted for publication. I’m grateful to have such a skillful, imaginative instructor to offer me guidance. ”
“The employer is looking for someone with programming skills and a strong work ethic. I believe you can speak to my drive and commitment after I tackled the app-creation project in your Computer Science class. ” “This internship calls for a candidate with strong drawing and painting skills. As my advanced painting professor, I was hoping you could speak about the projects I completed in your class. ”
“The letter of recommendation is due January 15, 2023. You can send it to myprogram@emailaddress. com. ”
“Thank you for reading this request and for everything you’ve taught me. I really appreciate the time and energy you spent guiding me, and I hope you’ll consider writing my letter of recommendation. ” Send a follow-up thank-you email when your professor agrees to write the letter, and let them know if you eventually get the job or get admitted. They’ll appreciate hearing from you.
“Sincerely, Alex Hudson. ”
“Below, I’ve attached my resume and cover letter for reference. If there’s any other information you need, I’m happy to provide it!” “With this email, you’ll find my resume, cover letter, and qualifications for the job. Let me know if there’s anything else you need from me!”
You might also attach samples of your work and a draft of your application essay. This will help your professor tailor your letter to your application. Don’t include your formal request as a letter attachment. Write it directly in the body of the email and only attach additional key documents like the summary and resume.
Your subject line might read, “Request for a letter of recommendation for graduate school,” or “Request for a letter of recommendation for a summer internship. ”
Pick a professor who has a good opinion of you, knows you by name, is familiar with your work, and has witnessed your growth as a student. It’s also a good idea to ask a professor that you’ve taken more than 1 class with and worked with outside of class; they’ve had more time to form an impression of you. Ask yourself: did I perform well in their classes? Did I act professionally and ethically as their student? If the answer is “yes,” go ahead and ask for a recommendation.
Remember that it’s impolite to assume a professor will say “yes,” just because you ask. You never know if something will come up, and they won’t be able to do it.
Double-check the letter of recommendation’s due date since you’ll need to include it in your request. Let your professor know if you’d like the letter sent to you a little early, too. Ask one professor for a letter at a time (unless you need multiple letters). It can be tempting to cast a wide net and ask several at once, but it’s better to be considerate of their time and only ask when you need to.
“I’m writing to touch base about the letter of recommendation for my internship application and ensure you have everything you need from me since the deadline is April 1st. Let me know if there’s anything else I can provide for you!”
