Requesting Letter of Recommendation

If you’re seeing this page, I probably shared it because you asked (or are thinking of asking) me for a letter of recommendation.

I’m glad to help when I can. Strong letters take time and context. To make sure I can support you effectively, please follow the steps below:

1. Before You Ask #

Make sure I am a good fit to write a letter:

• Did we actually work together? I can write a good letter only if I’ve seen you do work, like in a class you took with me, a project we worked on, or something similar.
• Am I the best person to ask? If another professor or supervisor knows your work better or more recently, they might be a better choice for this specific application.
• Will I likely agree? I generally won’t write letters for students I haven’t worked with directly, or for requests made with very short notice (less than one week). In true emergencies I’ll do my best, but short timelines often make strong letters impossible.

2. Asking Me #

Send me a brief email message that includes:

• A reminder of how we know each other (e.g., “I was in your Fall 2024 Security class”)
• What you’re applying for
• The timeline and deadlines
• The total number of letters you’re hoping I can write

Please wait for me to confirm before listing me as a recommender or entering my name into any system. It’s considered poor etiquette to assume someone will write for you without checking first and it can create issues with scheduling.

If you’re asking for more than about five letters, I may suggest that you consider splitting the load between multiple recommenders.

Also, if you want me to mention specific grades or performance details in my classes, I may need to ask you to sign a FERPA waiver to allow that level of disclosure.

3. After I Agree #

Once I confirm that I can write for you, please send the full materials, ideally at least one week before the first deadline. Include:

• Your current CV or resume
• Other application documents that help me align tone and focus of the letter with the rest of you application (statement of purpose, cover letter, or research proposal)
• For each of the letters a short paragraph about what you’re applying for and why. This helps me tailor the letter to specific programs, research groups, or advisors. For example:

  “Applying to the PhD program in Human-Centered Computing at Sample Tech to work with Prof. Y. Their recent work on supply chain integrity in collaborative systems connects closely with my undergraduate thesis and my internship at SecureCorp. This is a professional track program, and it might help to mention my teaching assistant experience in your letter.”

• An overview table of all programs you’re expecting letters for, like this:

4. Letter Writing and Follow-up #

• All my letters are generally submitted on institutional letterhead and follow a standard academic format unless otherwise specified by the program.
• If you haven’t heard from me a week before a deadline, feel free to send a reminder.
• If anything changes (new deadlines, added programs, dropped applications) please let me know immediately so I can adjust accordingly.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Following these steps helps me write the strongest letter I can for you.