Recommendation Letters

I ask for 4-6 weeks of notice (not including breaks) for writing a letter for a student the first time. Future letters can be managed with around three weeks notice.

I may be able to do them faster or with less notice, but rushed letters are not good letters, so it is in your interest to ask early.

Upload your documents

If I agree to write you a letter of recommendation, please upload the following to the Google Drive link I provide you with, ideally three weeks before the deadline:

  • A summary document titled “OPPORTUNITY - DUE DATE” with the following

    • Name of position or opportunity and a description (links are great, feel free to also upload any informational documents to the folder).

    • A brief description of why you are interested in the position, and what you hope I would emphasize in my letter. If applicable, please remind me of any major projects or essays you wrote in my class, for instance. This should be less than a paragraph, just give me context for the application materials I’ll read.

    • Any links I need to submit my reference letter, or just note that I’ll get an email.

  • Any materials (e.g. a cover letter, essay, etc.) or answers to questions you will be sending. Early drafts are fine, just update them periodically - I will check this folder when I sit down to write and will read your newest version.

  • Your CV or resume

  • Any aforementioned exemplary work of yours (e.g. a final essay you wrote in my class) that would help remind me why you’re such a great student/candidate for this opportunity.

Multiple letters?

  • If you need different letters (e.g. one for grad school, one for an internship), please make separate folders for each one.

  • If you are applying to multiple opportunities that are very related (i.e. you are applying to five law schools and will use nearly the same statement of purpose for each and my letter therefore would look the same), then please just list all of them in the summary document, chronologically by due date, and note any slight differences that matter.

Only you and I will have access to this google drive folder (I make one for each student).

Reminders, reminders, reminders

Like you, I’m busy. And I have a small child who makes me easily distracted. Please email me:

  • Four to six weeks before the deadline: to ask for the letter

  • At least three weeks before the letter is due: let me know the materials are uploaded (don’t count on me to check)

  • A week before the letters are due: remind me of the due date

  • Three days before they are due: reminder again

  • (in the rare instance it is not done yet) morning of actual due date: reminder again with URGENT in subject line.

I tend to do the letters a week to a few days before they are due; but I may be traveling or busy and do them before, so do not count on this. I do not tend to forget, so don’t fret, but do remind!