Letters of Recommendation

If you would like me to write you a letter of recommendation, please read the information below first.

1. Be sure I'm the right person to recommend you.
   

   If I am to write you a strong letter, it is important that I know you well and have had significant positive experiences with you. You must have shown me that you have a mature, responsible, and enthusiastic attitude toward learning. This typically means that you have worked with me as a TA or RA, although being in a few of my classes may be sufficient if you've been the type of student who is punctual, doesn't make excuses, speaks up in class, talks with me outside of class, etc.

2. Provide me with information about the program/job to which you are applying.
   

   I need to have a brief description of the types of graduate programs, jobs, or whatever it is you are applying for. At the very least, I need to know the exact name of the program (e.g. Experimental, Social Psychology, School Counseling, etc.) for each place you are applying.

3. Provide me with information about you.
   

   The more information I have, the better your recommendation will be. Such information may include:

   • A copy of your CAPP report, with the courses you took with me hi-lighted
   • GPA, SAT and/or GRE scores
   • Activities you have participated in, honor societies, leadership roles, and any other accomplishments.
   • Resume or curriculum vitae
   • Why you chose this program/career/etc. A copy of the "personal statement" that you typically have to write for graduate school would be appropriate (even if it isn't the final polished version.)
   • Any particular "qualities" you have that you would like me to emphasize, or that the place you are applying to seems to particularly look for.
4. Provide me with all necessary forms.
   

   If there are recommendation forms that I need to fill out, give them to me. You must fill out as much information as possible on these forms before giving them to me. This includes information about ME. Any information you need to fill out should be type-written if at all possible, unless you have extremely neat handwriting. Below is my information, for you to type on your forms:

   My name is: Dr. Wendy Braje
   My position/title is: Associate Professor of Psychology
   My address is: Department of Psychology, Plattsburgh State University, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
   My phone number is (518) 564-3383
   My email address is brajewl@plattsburgh.edu

   If you don't fill out this information, then I have to do it, which is mildly irritating, and you don't want someone to be irritated while writing you a recommendation!

5. Waive your access to the recommendation.
   

   On the recommendation form (if there is one), you should agree to "waive your right to access" the recommendation, which means that your recommendation will remain confidential and you will not be able to look at it. This is not because I am afraid of you seeing my letter, but because non-confidential letters are often seen as weaker than confidential ones by the admissions boards, and I want you to appear as strong as possible.

6. Tell me where to send each letter.
   

   Provide me with all necessary envelopes, stamped and addressed to the appropriate places. If I am supposed to return the recommendation to you in an envelope, be sure to indicate on the envelope the name of the school/job/etc. that the recommendation is for, so that you know what to do with it when you get it back. Please make it clear to me which forms I should mail directly to the schools and which ones go back to you.

7. Indicate the due date for each letter.
   

   Please let me know when I need to have each letter done (e.g. stick a post-it on the form). Please give me at least 2 weeks notice.

8. Give me all of your requests together.
   

   If you are applying for more than one school/job, please try to give me all of your requests at the same time. I am happy to write several recommendations, and I prefer to work on them all at once.

9. Follow-up with me.
   

   Finally, come back and let me know how it all turned out! Where did you get accepted? Where are you going?