Letters of Recommendation

1. A few tips
2. Keeping letters of recommendation in your house file
3. Sending letters of recommendation to third parties
4. Letters of recommendation for medical and law school

Requesting letters of recommendation? A few tips.

Be sure to ask someone who both writes well and knows you well; don't choose someone based on prestige or title. In general, you should ask someone who can write about much more than the great grade you received in his or her course. Having letters from different perspectives will give the committee a broader perspective of you who are. The best letters speak about your personality and accomplishments and relate those to your potential.

You should also ask the reference if he or she can write you a strong, favorable recommendation letter. Many people often overlook this but you shouldn’t assume that the reference will be strong.

Help your reference. Provide him or her with some details about the program/ fellowship, your resume, and if applicable, a brief synopsis of your paper(s) and other coursework. The more information you provide, the better your letter will be.

Be courteous. Always give the reference a deadline with ample time (at least several weeks, preferably a month) to write the letter. Also, you should provide your reference with the waiver form and a stamped, addressed envelope to make posting convenient and fast. If electronic submission is required, state the email or website clearly as well as the deadline for submission.

Keeping letters of recommendation in your House file

Storing letters of recommendation in your student file is simple. Just follow these steps:

1. Download and complete Section 1 of the Recommendation Waiver Form. Hard copies are available in the House Office.
2. Give your reference the Recommendation Waiver Form when you request the recommendation.
3. Highlight and encourage the reference to sign and complete Section 2 of the form entirely, including authorization for future use.
4. Ask him/her to send both the waiver and the letter to the Eliot House Office.

Sending letters of recommendation to third parties

If you would like to send an LOR already stored in your student file to a program please contact Laura, the Assistant to the Resident Dean, and provide the following information:

• The name(s) of the reference(s)
• Adequately stamped (more than 44 cents for thicker packets), pre-addressed, and self-adhesive envelopes for each school, program or fellowship.
• Any applicable deadlines
• Your year of graduation

Letters of recommendation for Medical School

If you are applying to medical school, an additional LOR called the Dean/House Letter can be submitted on your behalf. You should contact the Eliot House Pre-Med Committee to discuss this and other aspects of the application process. You should also complete the Dean's Letter Waiver Form. You are also welcome to contact Laura, the Assistant to the Resident Dean, who can also assist you.