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. In general, you should ask someone who can write about much more than the great grade you received in his or her course.

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.

Be courteous. Always give the reference a deadline with ample time to write the letter. Also, you should provide your reference with a stamped, addressed envelope to make posting convenient and fast.

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 office.
2. Give your reference the 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 or 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 Emily and provide the following information:

• The name(s) of the reference(s)
• Adequately stamped (more than 41 cents for thicker packets), pre-addressed envelopes for each school, program or fellowship.
• Any applicable deadlines.
• Your year of graduation

Letters of recommendation for pre-professional programs

If you are applying to law school or medical school, an additional LOR called the Dean/House Letter can be submitted on your behalf. You should contact the House’s advising committee for your program 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 Emily who can also assist you. Please note that recommendations usually go out within 1-2 days. For students whose files are no longer housed in Eliot, the process is longer.