Letters of recommendation
Admission committees use letters of recommendation to understand how other professionals evaluate an applicant's traits and characteristics such as:
- Academic performance
- Interpersonal qualities
- Communication skills
- Collaboration/teamwork capabilities
- Ability to show compassion
- Work ethic
- Timeliness
Factors to consider:
Selecting your recommenders:
- You will need a minimum of 3 letters (ideally to include 2 science faculty).
- Consider individuals who have personal knowledge of your accomplishments.
- Identify activities you have extensive involvement in, and consider approaching professors/supervisors who often see you "in action".
- Seek out individuals that can assess your
- abilities
- talents
- strengths
- level of maturity
Communicating with recommenders:
- Start meeting your professors regularly, and take advantage of office hours.
- Share your plans, activities, grades, and motivations so that they will see the whole picture of who you are.
- Reflect and share what you have learned about yourself and the environment in which they observed you.
- Remember that these individuals are signing their names and their credentials in support of your application, so be professional when communicating with them.
Providing adequate time for the recommendations:
- Open your letter of recommendation file in the winter prior to applying.
- Give your recommenders ample time to write the letters (6-8 weeks).
