Asking for Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are a required part to the UMSI application process therefore there is a lot to consider regarding who to ask and what the contents should include. Deadlines are also imperative, so it’s important to make sure you ask your recommenders (once you choose them) as early as possible, to give them ample time to produce and send a thoughtful letter.  This process can feel daunting, especially when it’s out of your hands, so keep reading to find out how to make this process as manageable and painless as possible to ultimately make your application complete and ready for the admissions committee.

Who makes a good recommender?
This is a very important factor to consider since you are asking people to write positively on your behalf and highlight your strengths. Think about what you are trying to convey in your application. For example, are you a leader, actively involved in volunteer programs, or someone who has been successful in overcoming challenges? Once you answer this question, you can decide who the best people are in your academic or professional life who can express your attributes and strengths. Remember, it is essential to make sure these people come from your academic and professional paths: a recent professor or faculty advisor, a work supervisor, or someone who managed a project you worked on. Ultimately, you want to choose people who can speak substantially of your talents, qualities, and potential to succeed.

How to ask
Your recommenders are people that know you, so it should feel relatively comfortable asking for a letter.

In my opinion, there are three ways to ask for a letter of recommendation (and there may be more!). If you have a strictly professional relationship with the individual, the best way to ask is in person if possible. This could be during the professor’s office hours or a quick meeting with your supervisor or over coffee. The next best option would be a telephone call, especially if there is distance between the two of you. The third option would be email, especially if you have a more relaxed or comfortable relationship with this person (or if this person is extremely busy and prefers email contact). In the end, you will know what method is best for you and your recommender. Regardless of the type of communication, your conversation should include why you are asking for this letter of recommendation – why you are applying to graduate school and UMSI in particular.

It would be best to provide your recommenders with information on the field of information, what you intend to study, and what qualities you possess to succeed as a graduate student.  The more prompting you do, the easier it may be for the recommender to accept your request to write the letter.

Once they agree, provide your recommender with information that allows them to tailor the letter of recommendation to you. Here are some suggestions on what to include:

• Why you chose them: previous experiences, class projects / papers, interactions and the qualities you know they can highlight best
• A copy of your résumé 
• A copy of your personal statement and statement of purpose
• Information and links to UMSI
• The directions for submission which are in the CollegeNet application for UMSI

Ask early!

This is essentially the most important thing to remember, since requesting the letter is an on-going and sometimes lengthy process. From requesting a meeting or asking for the first time, to writing and submitting the letter, the many steps can easily span over several weeks. Start your conversation early, and remain thoughtful of your academic calendar and deadlines. Since you want your recommender to have time to write a thoughtful letter, and more than likely they have busy schedules, you’ll want to aim for a six-week notice. You can always ask your recommender for a timeline on the completion of the letter, and then check-in at a later date; however, don’t wait until the deadline of your application!

Follow-up!

For your application to be complete at UMSI, all materials must be submitted – including your three (3) letters of recommendation. Assume your recommenders are busy and will need time to write your letter. Once the recommender has agreed to write the letter, you can check your CollegeNet account to see if the letters have been submitted.

Extra advice:

Use Recent Letters:  The Letters of Recommendation should come from someone who has recently overseen your work or studies.

"Name Dropping" vs. Using Your Direct Supervisor or Professor:  You want a recommender who knows you!  We know that UMSI students come from many backgrounds and experiences, and not everyone has had an opportunity to work with someone who understands or works in the information field.  Your letter and recommender should showcase how your qualities demonstrate leadership potential, a team-approach to problem solving, capable of dealing with ambiguity and change, and have a strong commitment to service.  These are all qualities that can take place anywhere and you don't need to "name drop" (mentioning important or influential people to make you look better) for the admissions committee to see this side of you.

Waiving your right to review the letter? This is an option where you allow your recommender to know that you will not be reviewing the letter.  Waiving your reviewing right may allow the recommender to be more honest with the admissions committee, and it may affect what your recommender decides to write.  While you can discuss this with your recommender for his/her preference, the norm is to waive this right, as many reviewers have concerns if you don’t. Almost 100% of the letters have waived rights.

While asking for letters of recommendation can be intimidating, it is well worth the time to invest in finding the right recommender. These people are speaking on your behalf and will be additional opportunities for the admissions committee to understand who you are and why you would be successful as a graduate student at UMSI. In this regard, the recommendations provide the perfect compliment to your application and your essays.

Regardless of program, you can visit the UMSI application website more requirement information or contact umsi.admissions@umich.edu with questions.

•     For MSI applications, please visit: MSI Application Requirements
•   For MHI applications, please visit: MHI Application Requirements
•   For Ph.D. applications, please visit: Ph.D Application Requirements

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written by:
Alexis Peregoy
Information Mentor