CONTACT INFORMATION

Each year, students ask for letters of recommendation for graduate school. Rarely am I able to honor these requests. It is my practice to only write letters of recommendation for those students I believe to be a good candidate for graduate education. To that end, I cannot and will not write a letter of recommendation for a student whom I have only known in my class. Three hours a week during a lecture in no way affords me an opportunity to gauge your potential as a graduate student. If I have only seen you in weekly lectures, even with high in-class participation, the most I could ever say is that you attended class and earned a grade. This will not be helpful to you in the graduate admissions process. As such, I only write letters of recommendation for those students who have made a strong impression outside of the classroom, such as teaching assistants or interns.

Requirements for Letters of Recommendation

• Completed at least one semester as my teaching assistant or intern.
• Must have exceeded all expectations as a teaching assistant or intern, and not merely met the minimum criteria for credit. Hence, if you just showed up and did your job, this does not qualify. What did you do to truly avail yourself of the opportunity? How did you shine?.
• Submit a CV. Include your GPA in your CV.
• Include all necessary forms that must be completed with your letters. Attach each form to the self-addressed, stamped envelope that is to be mailed to the school.
• All requests must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the applications deadline for each school.