How to Get Started on Your Letters of Recommendation for Graduate School
Discover the essential steps for obtaining strong letters of recommendation for your grad school application, including tips on crafting a persuasive request and maintaining strong relationships with your recommenders.
By Debby C.
Former Stanford Graduate Admissions | Master's Admissions Expert
Posted June 13, 2025
To apply to graduate school, applicants are typically required to provide three letters of recommendation. These letters should come from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic abilities and achievements, as well as their character and personality traits. In addition, letters of recommendation should come from people who are experts in the applicant’s intended area of study, such as professors, research advisors, academic mentors, and/or work supervisors.
For example, a strong letter of recommendation will include specific details to provide admission committee members with examples of the applicant's strengths and abilities. This can be done by including anecdotes on the applicant's past achievements, such as how they excelled on a project or demonstrated leadership skills in a particular situation. By highlighting these specific instances, the recommender can effectively illustrate the applicant's potential for success to admission committee members.
Many applicants find this step in the application process particularly challenging, especially when they're unsure about who to ask.
Below are some tips to help you approach your professors and begin the conversation about letters of recommendation. If you’ve graduated from college and have not kept in touch with professors, these tips may also be helpful as you work with your supervisor, mentor, or someone you intend to ask for a letter of recommendation.
- Attend classes or scheduled meetings regularly and be on time. Professors/supervisors often notice and appreciate people who try to be present and punctual.
- Participate in discussions and ask questions. This shows that you are engaged and interested in the material, and it can also help to clarify concepts that you may need help with.
- Take advantage of office hours. Office hours are a great time to ask questions, seek feedback, or chat about your interests and goals with your professor or supervisor.
- Show initiative and interest in the subject. This can be done by attending extra lectures, joining clubs or groups related to the subject, or doing research on your own. Discuss these activities with your professor or supervisor to share your progress and plans.
- Lastly, remember that professors and supervisors are busy and might have many students/employees, so be mindful of their time and give them adequate notice when you ask them to write a letter of recommendation for you.
Finally, remember to be thoughtful about whom to ask for letters of recommendation. When asking for a letter of recommendation, try to gauge how enthusiastic the person is about writing a letter for you. A halfhearted or lukewarm letter is often worse than no letter at all.
If you have questions about the graduate school admissions process, feel free to reach out for a free 30-minute intro call on my Leland coaching profile. We will discuss your individual circumstances during our meeting and brainstorm ways to strengthen your application.
Written by Debby
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For almost ten years, I worked in graduate admissions at Stanford University — reviewing applications, sitting on admissions committees, and building admissions offices in both the School of Engineering and the School of Education. I know how these decisions get made, because I was part of making them. Since 2013, I've worked as a full-time graduate admissions consultant, helping hundreds of students worldwide gain admission to some of the most competitive programs in the world. My clients come from every corner of graduate education — engineering, the natural sciences, education, social work, policy, psychology, business, medicine, and more — and from countries across six continents. I've traveled to meet students and their families in person, and I understand the different cultural expectations and pressures that surround the decision to pursue an advanced degree. What I offer is honest, personalized support — not shortcuts or tricks. I'm not here to help anyone "game" the system. I'm here to make sure the admissions committee sees the most accurate and compelling version of who you actually are. That means helping you find and articulate your story, strengthening your statement of purpose, building a smart school list, and preparing you for every step of the process. I don't screen clients based on GPA or academic record. In fact, some of my most rewarding work has been with students who weren't sure they belonged in graduate school at all — and who went on to get in. Everyone has a story worth telling. My job is to help you tell it well. My past client results include (for a complete list of my admissions results, click here: (https://www.wisegradadmissions.com/results) STANFORD UNIVERSITY Civil & Environmental Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Management Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering International Education Policy Learning, Design & Technology Policy, Organization & Leadership HARVARD UNIVERSITY Data Science Education Leadership. Organization & Entrepreneurship Human Development & Education Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology Prevention Science & Practice UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA Chemical Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Materials Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering Systems Engineering Education & Psychology Behavioral Economics Counseling & Mental Health Services Human Development International Education Development Learning Sciences and Technologies Social Psychology WHARTON MBA (joint program with Computer Engineering Management Technology) CORNELL UNIVERSITY Electrical & Computer Engineering Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Operations Research & Information Engineering Statistics Agricultural Economics Food Science Financial Mathematics Management JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY Applied Physics Computer Science Electrical & Computer Engineering Robotics Mental Health Counseling Public Health & Epidemiology Public Policy, Global Affairs & International Relations Financial Mathematics COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Computer Science Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Management Science & Engineering Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Operations Research Agricultural Economics Biostatistics Statistics Financial Mathematics Applied Behavior Analysis Counseling Psychology Developmental Psychology Instructional Technology & Media International Comparative Education International Studies MSW School Psychology UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MBA Public Policy/Global Affairs MSW Psychology GEORGETOWN Public Policy/Global Affairs Asian Studies NYU Computer Science Data Science Electrical Engineering Financial Engineering Biostatistics Food Studies Physics Behavioral Economics Counseling Human Development & Social Interaction MSW UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Aero/Astro Engineering Chemical Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Materials Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering Biostatistics Survey Methodology Financial Mathematics Public Policy & International Studies Japanese Studies MSW CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Chemical Engineering Computer Science Electric and Computer Engineering Environmental Engineering HCI Materials Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering Statistical Practice Computational Finance UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Computer Science Chemical Engineering Electrical Engineering Applied Physics Biostatistics Education/Psychology Learning Sciences and Human Development MSW
Debby has helped clients get into organizations like:
Columbia University
Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
New York University
