Student Resources - Oklahoma State University (2024)

4 Steps to Request a Letter of Recommendation

Requesting a Letter of Recommendation

Step 1

Preparation

  • Seek Mentors Early

    Seek mentors early.Begin getting to know your professorsorother mentors early in your college career. Mentors may include teaching assistants, professionals in the field, volunteer coordinators, internship supervisors or other professionals.

    Don't wait until your senior year to seek out a mentor. Your mentor can provide valuable guidance and advice throughout your college experience. Your priorities and passions may change over time and it is not uncommon that you may have a few mentors through different experiences.

    Maintain your relationships throughoutcollege. The better an individualtrulyknows you, the more they can speak on your behalf as part of a letter of recommendation for an admissions committee to consider you for professional school.

  • Common Letter Sources for Health Professions

    Alwaysdetermine if anyspecifictypes of letter(s) of recommendation are required for an individual program of your choice.It is common for letters to typically be requested from:

    • Science Faculty & Non-Science Faculty
    • Research Mentor
    • Committee (PAC at OSU. For physicians/dentists only)
    • Faculty Advisor
    • Employer
    • Health Care Provider
    • Volunteer Supervisor/Manager

Step 2

Professionally Network

Professional habits and networking strategies to adopt early in your collegiate career

  • Professionalism
    • Sit up front and speak up in class.
    • Attend office hours.
    • Introduce yourself and communicate in person, not just by email.
    • Be consistent: come prepared and ready to participate each week, be prompt and dress professionally (business casual) to class, events or in work settings.
    • Be present: when you are in class or any professional setting, avoid distractions such as your phone or social media. Be an active listener, thoughtfully reflect and respond when called upon to contribute with an individual or a group.
  • Networking
    • Familiarize yourself with your professor's research or other responsibilities. How do they spend their professional time other than teaching your class?
    • Acquaint yourself with a person’s organization or company. What is theirspecificrole in the organization and how do they spend their professional time beyond their direct role?
    • Look for opportunities to enroll in a second, more advanced course with the same professor (ifthis is an option).
    • Consider serving as a teaching assistant, peer mentor, or research assistant for a professor you have taken a class with.
    • Take the time to find ways to serve or be proactive when approaching others.
    • Be positive and always thank someone for their time or send them a thank you note.

Step 3

Ask Your Recommender

  • Who should I approach?

    First,brainstorm 3-5specificpeoplewhom you might approach. Consider people who have observed your work (academic or other environments) and can speak to your abilities, personal qualities, characteristics, competencies and capabilities.

    Ask yourself:

    • What is your relationship to them?
    • How well do they know me professionally?
    • In what context have they seen me develop?
    • What would they have to say about me?
    • Does this source meet any required, specific type of letter requiredfor my professional application?
  • How should I approach them?

    Schedule an appointment early in your application process with your potential recommender(s) to discuss your intended goals and be prepared with:

    • Current Resume
    • Personal Statement
    • Project or copy of work completed for the recommender’s class or community setting

    Ask if they would be willing to write you astrongletter of recommendation versus just a recommendation letter. Consider offering the individual the opportunity to interview youifyou feel they would like to consider your request. It may make them feel more comfortable if it has been a length of time since you have worked together.

    Be respectful and if they say no, please thank them for their time and consider alternative sources.

  • If they accept, what are my next steps?

    If they accept, please remember to:

    • Offer your writer the “Resources for Recommenders” below as acourtesy guideto assist them.
    • Give your letter writer 6-8 weeks to write your letter of recommendation.
    • Please provide them with an agreed-upon deadline.
    • Provide detailed instructions on how to send your recommendation letter to the appropriate application portal.
    • Send a thank you note and keep your recommenderupdatedabout your acceptances.
  • If theydeny, what should I do?

    First, remember there are many reasons someone may defer from providing a recommendation. Consider:

    • Writing a strong letter of recommendation will usually take the recommender a large portion of their time and they may have pressing obligations that prevent them from being able to complete a letter in the time frameyou require
    • They may be unable to write you a strong letter
    • Some individuals simply don't write letters of recommendation

    If you approached someone early in your application process there is still time to review your list of potentialrecommenders and schedule other appointments. If it is late in your application process, review the requirements for your potential programs before planning your next step. Depending on your scenario, you may already have enough recommendations or you may need to broaden or reconsider your options for potential recommenders.

Resources for Your Recommenders

Step 4

Letter Submission

The process to submit letters of recommendation differs among professional schools depending on their application process. Some request letters be submitted through a centralized application service, while other programs may request letters sent directly to the program. It is important to confirm the application specifics for each individual program where you plan to apply.

  • Electronic Centralized Application System Submission: Free

    For accredited programs participating in a national centralized application system (e.g. AACOMAS, AMCAS, CASPA, PTCAS, OTCAS, PharmCAS, etc.) you may request the direct, electronic submission of your completed letter through the professional application portal system. Please refer to your application system for specific instructions through our website area labeled "apply."

  • For medical (physician) and dental applicants only, submission of letters throughInterfolio or PrivateFolio Dossier tool mightbe an alternative way to assist candidates who desire to store letters from individual recommenders –over time.

    Pros

    • Allows your individual letters to be written as soon as possible (immediately after your class, end of your experience with a recommender, etc.)
    • Letter(s) stored until your official specific professional medical/dental school application cycle opens and you are holistically prepared to apply/disburse letters.

    Cons

    • Fee(s) to use Interfolio dossier or PrivateFolio tool(s) for-profit service.
    • No automation of the individual letter writer to agree to write you a strong letter of recommendation.
    • Still requires the agreement of your individual mentor to write you a letter of recommendation.
    • Please plan accordingly (costs and agreement of letter writer in advance).

    Resources

  • Other

    Note:ifan accredited professional school program isnota memberof the national application systems they will have their ownindividualapplication process and letter submission procedures.

    Please revieweach program's official admissions website for full details and instructions about their individual application process and letter submission instructions.

Student Resources - Oklahoma State University (2024)
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