Tips for Getting Great Personal Recommendations
Friday, May 9th by Terreece M. ClarkePersonal recommendations. You’ve got to have them for most scholarship applications, internships, grad school applications and a host of other education related scenarios. Some may think that getting a good recommendation is as easy as asking for one, but there are some things you should consider:
Ask Early. Most people have a pretty busy schedule, this is no different for former teachers, bosses, school counselors, etc. In fact, these people are often so bombarded for recommendationst they have to turn away some students’ requests. Asking early for a recommendation allows the writer to have time to really give attention to your letter as opposed to firing off a generic "Angela is a great student, I think she will do well in college. Signed Student Counselor Overworked."
Set an Early Deadline. Give your writer a set time by which the letter needs to be written and sent to the committee or given directly to you - and make sure their deadline is well before the scholarship deadline.
Ask and Remind Gently. Remember, you are asking for a favor, don’t ride your recommendation person until they send the letter and don’t ask, beg, demand or hint at a positive recommendation. Obviously you want a postive one, being a demanding stalker won’t get you there.
Give Clear Instructions. Explain and send an accompanying sheet to the writer specifying what the letter is for, what organization or scholarship, whether it needs to be on specific letterhead, i.e. school, whether the letter is an open or closed letter and then instructions on when, where and how to mail the letter and how many to mail. This allows the writer to address the scholarship committee directly and helps them formulate what they are going to say about you so they can show you in your best light.
Choose Wisely. Once a letter of recommendation is sent you can’t get it back. So be careful about who you choose to write it. Your batty neighbor next door may love you, but if she can’t write a letter that is accurate and contains a certain amount of eloquence, you’re sunk. Likewise, asking someone you don’t know, or someone you are on rocky terms with, i.e. a professor whose class you failed, isn’t going to score you any points, in fact it can negatively affect your chances.
