Is there a perfect recipe for requesting letters of recommendation?

It's that time of year where the majority of my meetings are with students focused graduate school applications. While each program is unique, it will usually require the following: Official transcripts, a resume or CV, a personal statement, and two to three letters of recommendation.

Asking for a letter of recommendation is a lot like asking someone to cook for you. I promise, this analogy will make sense in the end. ?????? Soliciting letters from relevant faculty and/or supervisors can feel overwhelming. With a little extra planning, the process can be quite seamless. Providing your recommender with enough information up front gives them exactly what they need to write you a stellar letter. Ultimately, it's a lot like delivering a meal kit with all the pre-measured ingredients and instructions rather than sending them to the grocery store without a list.

Step one: Ask if they are available. Before you prepare anything else, ask your recommender about their availability to write you one or more letters. This can happen in person or via email. If they are available, go to step two.

Step two: Share a list of ingredients. In this scenario, your documents serve as the ingredients. You will want your recommender to have an updated CV or resume, an unofficial copy of your transcript, and a draft of your personal statement. Similar to the photos in a recipe tutorial, these documents give a snapshot of who you are and where you are headed. Your transcript details what you have studied, Your resume or cv shows your research and educational involvement, and your personal statement highlights any professional goals related to the Master's or PhD programs to which you are applying. Remember that it's ok to share a rough draft of your personal statement rather than a finished copy at this point in your process.

Step three: Give them a recipe. This isn't "The Great British Baking Show" where recipes are limited to scant information. In fact, I would encourage you to give your recommender specific guidelines for what to include in your letter. Would you like them to highlight your leadership style evidenced through a specific group project or task? Have they watched you facilitate class discussions? Are you assisting them with research or lab work? These are all specific guidelines that will make it easier for your your recommender to tailor their letter to you. Don't be afraid to give them two to three keywords that you believe describe who your personality and work style. Additionally, if there are instructions from the institution, make sure to share those. It's a bit like letting a host know if there are any food allergies or preferences. ??

Final step: Let them know how long they have to prepare. The majority of applications are due in December, January, and February. Make sure to inform your recommenders of all pertinent due dates. Some students choose to share a spreadsheet while others send calendar invites with due dates, attachments of professional documents, and other relevant instructions.

Chef's tip: A few students I'm working with are using a free platform called "Notion." It helps to keep you organized throughout the process of applying to grad school. Think of it as the ultimate storage for your documents that also has timelines, checklists, and important links. They even have a free graduate school template. You can check it out here.

If you are in the throes of graduate school applications, I hope you find these tips to be helpful. Feel free to comment with questions as well as your own tips and stories about graduate school applications.

Bon appétit and best of luck!