Letter of Recommendation Question

ggmae · November 2009

If you were asked to write a letter of recommendation for someone for graduate school admission, how much time would you wish to be given to write the letter? I know that if someone were to ask me to write one, I'd have it done for them in a few days. That isn't the same for everyone though, so I wanted to take a poll of sorts.

megk8oz · November 2009

FI has actually done quite of few of these for former employees, and he usually gets them done in 2 or 3 days.I don't think anybody I know would actually WANT my recommendation, lol.

nda_roxybabe · November 2009

A week. I'd probably do it ASAP but I'd want a week just in case something came up.

Brie2010 · November 2009

I'd honestly give it a month. The best letters of rec we get are from professors, and they are busy and need time to think about it first.

katiewhompus · November 2009

When former employees ask me for letters of recommendation I ask them to give me at least a week. Between work, animals, and tools of procrastination it will take me that long to write something that will do them justice.For college prof's I would give them a months notice in case they had multiple letters for other students on their plate already.

RachNRich · November 2009

If you need it ASAP--I would give a weeks notice. But, like Brie said, if someone is asking a prof for it--a weeks notice it not nearly enough. Between prepping classes, teaching, grading, etc--those things take time. Unless, of course, you are willing to write your own LOR's. My boss (a prof) has everyone write their own LOR's, and he just signs them.

BioGirl21 · November 2009

When I was getting letters of recommendation, I gave my profs about a month. Two had them done in a week or so, the other took the month.

ggmae · November 2009

Brie - That's what I was worried about w/ the professor I have in mind. I'd only be able to give him 3 weeks tops and he is someone I haven't spoken to in over a year. I didn't have personal relationships with any of my professors, so that's the only admissions requirement that is stumping me. I don't even know if he'd remember me, but I hope he would. He took all of his students' pictures so that if they asked for letters of recommendations, he'd be able to put a face w/ a name.

RachNRich · November 2009

gg--it's worth a shot, even if you only have three weeks. He might ask you for background information about yourself (what you've been up to, any community service you've done, etc) for filler to make up for not being up-to-date with the going-ons in your life. Worst case scenario--he won't have the time. Do you have a backup person in mind?

Brie2010 · November 2009

Recs from professors are a huge plus, and it's true. Bosses are nice, but nobody can speak to your ability to withstand the academic rigor like a professor can. It says a lot about a candidate to see a rec from a good professor as opposed one from to your boss at Starbucks.I would ask him, but also ask a back-up just in case he doesn't pan out.

ggmae · November 2009

Rach - My backup professor left the university this past year and there are 83904892 people with her name in Massachusetts. :-\ I'm kicking myself for not getting her contact info before I graduated.

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