LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION – INFORMATION & GUIDELINES
Letters of recommendation (also called letters of reference) are often required as part of the application process
for universities, graduate and professional schools, jobs, and scholarships/fellowships. If you would like one of
your CIEP teachers to write a letter for you, please follow these guidelines:
Choose the teacher(s) carefully. Teachers take these letters seriously. They will write an honest
assessment of your performance in class and of your abilities. It is best to ask for a recommendation from
the teacher of a class which you did well in. For some applications, a letter from an ESL teacher might
not be as well received as one from a professor in your major area of study. Your CIEP teacher cannot
speak to your competence in business or engineering.
Ask the teacher directly. The teacher will probably have many questions about the letter. That is why it
is best to talk about the letter face-to-face. If necessary, e-mail can be used, but only if you are certain
that the teacher already knows you well.
Give specific information about the purpose of the letter. Is it for a graduate school application?
Which school? Which program/department? When is the due date? What things do you want the letter
to focus on? Give the teacher as much information as you can. If there is a precise description of what
the letter should include, what questions it should answer, or to whom it should be addressed, include a
copy of this information for the teacher.
Clarify whether or not the letter is to be confidential. Some applications require a “closed file” in
which the letter is confidential; the teacher usually encloses the letter in a sealed / signed envelope. Some
teachers will give you a copy of the letter they write. Others will not do so. This is a personal policy that
varies. Make sure you are comfortable with the teacher’s policy.
Ask for the letter at least (2) weeks before you need it! This is common courtesy. In an emergency
situation, most teachers are willing to write a letter more quickly. However, two weeks notice is
generally considered standard.
Do not request a letter after Week 8 (Week 7 in Summer Quarter.) The final weeks of the quarter are
quite busy for students and teachers alike. If you need a letter of recommendation, talk to your teacher
before the end of the quarter. Many teachers travel during the break between quarters, so that is also not a
good time for a letter request.
If you have other questions about letters of recommendation, talk to the Academic Advisor or to the Director of
Campus Programs.