Letters of recommendation are letters written by individuals intimately familiar with you and your work.

These letters are geared toward convincing the reader that you are competent and qualified for admission to their graduate program. These letters should highlight your strengths and de-emphasize your shortcomings. They should include some specifics by the recommender regarding how they came to know you and your work, and their justification for recommending you for admission.

When selecting your recommenders the first and most obvious consideration is the individual’s familiarity with you and your work. In addition, it is important to consider the academic reputation of the potential recommender. If you have a good relationship with a well known scholar at your university, then you should ask him or her to write a letter for you.

You should select your potential recommenders and formally ask them no later than September of your senior year. The fact is that many prominent professors are asked to write letters and, with their busy teaching and research schedules, they can forget. By requesting the letters early, in addition to sending periodic follow-up emails, you will ensure that the letters are submitted on time. Finally, make sure to indicate to the recommender whether the letters must be submitted on-line or via hard copy.