Recommendations and Essays

Career Development Center

Most schools request 2 or 3 letters of recommendation. Strong letters of recommendation may increase your chances of being admitted. Admissions committees want to know something unique about you that cannot be measured by grades and test scores. To enhance the credibility of your letters of recommendation consider these suggestions:  

  1. Choose faculty members who know you well inside and outside of the classroom or employers who can sincerely and critically appraise your work.

  2. To allow ample time for a response, ask writer early in the fall semester or beforehand if he/she will be on sabbatical. Inform writer of deadlines.

  3. Provide writer with a resume

  4. Make an appointment with writer to discuss your goals and reasons for applying to particular schools.

  5. Discuss confidentiality of the letter with the reference writer. Most graduate schools prefer that you do not read the letter.

  6. Present recommendation forms with stamped, addressed envelopes.

  7. Ask one writer to emphasize one aspect of your background and the others something different. The admissions committee will then have a broad but detailed overview of your character.

  8. Send handwritten thank you notes to your writer. Inform them of your acceptances and your final choice.

Additional things to consider:  

  1. Is the Recommender in contact with the admissions committee and is his/her opinion is valued?

  2. Did the Recommender attend the school where you are applying?

  3. Is the Recommender familiar with your field of interest?

ESSAYS:  

Applicants are able to express their uniqueness to the admissions committee in an essay. Essay topics will, of course, vary from school to school. Most questions are broad and open-ended, although you are usually asked to provide a personal statement. By relating experiences which underline your maturity, independence, and ability to see projects to their end, you can communicate to the admissions committee that you are a serious candidate. Tailor the essay to a particular school to show that you have done some research and are sincerely interested in their program.

Ask yourself these questions: 

  1. What is my major area of interest? Why have I chosen to pursue a particular field of study?

  2. What are my career interests? What can I contribute to society?

  3. What circumstances have hindered my academic performance and how can my academic potential be measured more accurately? You should always express any negative experiences in a positive way by explaining how your character was strengthened or what you have learned.

  4. Which extracurricular activities or interest have been meaningful to me? How have they added to my personal development/ How can these experiences be related to my graduate work and future profession?

  5. Why have I chosen to apply to a particular school? Does the school offer a special program and curriculum that appeals to me?

  6. How has my job experience prepared me for graduate work? Which skills are applicable to my studies and future career?

Read all instructions and essay questions thoroughly. Do not exceed length limitations or disregard the questions. Write a quality essay - write several drafts before submitting a final copy. The Writing Center (Roberts Hall) can help you with the writing process.