Recommendation Letters (Credentials)
Students planning to apply to a graduate or professional school may
establish a confidential credentials file with Career Services. A file
serves to consolidate the process of providing each school with letters
of recommendation from faculty members, teaching assistants, and other
members of the Princeton University community.
Here are some guidelines to consider as you begin to write your student's
letter of recommendation:
1. How do you know the student? Has he or she taken your classes? Been
your advisee? Assisted with your research?
2. If you have instructed the student, which classes of yours has he
or she completed? What was the difficulty level of the class and how did
the student perform in comparison to classmates?
3. What are the student's intellectual strengths and personal qualities?
Some related qualities on which to comment include the student's ability to: work successfully
in groups; conduct research; write effectively; demonstrate intellectual development
throughout the semester; conduct data analysis; demonstrate leadership qualities; be creative. Does he or she clearly
express opinions in class? How do other students in the class view the
applicant?
4. What is the student's potential for successful graduate study? Use
specific examples to give an admissions committee a clear impression
of the student.
Your typed letter of recommendation should be approximately one to
two pages in length. Career Services will send copies
of this letter to the graduate programs the student specifies, so ask the student to what type of program he or she will apply and tailor the letter to the program type (not the specific university). Remember
to ask the student for any supporting materials, such as a resume and
personal statement, that might help you to write a thorough
letter.
For additional information on writing letters of recommendation, please
refer to the following articles:
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