TEM #043: Get that faculty letter of recommendation.
If you're planning to apply to graduate school this year and will need a faculty letter of recommendation - this is your sign to email them next week.
Why?
This may be a broad brush stroke, but college faculty who are not teaching over the summer may fade into the email mist from June until early August when they're ready to prepare for fall classes.
Today I'm highlighting how to ask faculty for a letter of recommendation (even if you don't need it for a few more months).
This week’s highlights:
Your education affirmation
How to ask faculty for a letter of recommendation
What faculty are actually doing all day
What’s your burning question right now? 🔥
Education affirmation.
"Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher." - Japanese Proverb
How to ask faculty for a letter of recommendation.
Depending on their schedule, the faculty member(s) you're planning to ask for a letter of recommendation may be less available over the summer.
They're not necessarily gallivanting across the world - although some do - but they may be intently focused on research versus administrative tasks like letter writing.
This could mean that they'll check email less frequently, or only respond to high-priority emails from their university or leadership... and not really for letter of recommendation requests.
If you'll need a letter of recommendation this fall, the best time to reconnect with a faculty member and ask if they'd be willing to write one (in a few months) is now.
Keep reading for tips on:
how to ask for a letter of recommendation
what information to provide to ensure it's a strong letter
how to follow up and ensure it's submitted on time
Fun fact.
What do faculty do when they're not in the classroom? A lot, actually.
A few examples:
conduct research
write and publish scholarly articles
attend conferences
serve on university committees
advise students
develop new classes or update their program's curriculum
assist with recruitment and admissions
participate in training (ex. instructional design or DEI work)
So if you don't hear back via email right away, this is why.
What's your burning question right now? 🔥
As an avid reader of this newsletter, you’re one of my favorite people whose input I value most* (next to my 98-year-old grandma, Betty).
* Before you check out for the long weekend, can you reply with one (1) question you have about grad school right now?
I’m preparing this summer’s newsletter and will cover everything you need to hear most 🎓
Thanks for being here, have a fun and safe holiday weekend!
Dr. Jena
Whenever you are ready, here are 4 ways I can help
If you’re thinking about graduate school 🤔
If you’re ready to apply this year 😃
