Letters of recommendation serve as a method of faculty member communication. The admissions committees want to know about how you will perform in a research setting and what characteristics you will add to their communities. This is often best relayed through letters of recommendation.

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Who should write my letters of recommendation?

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TLDR: faculty. The more complicated answer is that it depends on you. I have heard from many individuals that faculty letter writers are the most powerful. After all, this gives faculty the chance to learn information from people just like themselves. If you excelled in three different labs with faculty similar to the faculty at the university reading your application and all three of your mentors can speak to that, odds are that you will also succeed in a similar environment at their university. And, if this is you, that's great. But the reality is that's not every student. 

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If you have done undergraduate research and have a strong relationship with your PI, you should absolutely ask them for a letter. If you excelled in a course and built a relationship with the professor that is stronger than just seeing them in class, you should consider asking them for a letter. If you have a solid relationship with a faculty member that mentored you or oversaw your work in someway, you should think about asking them for a letter. 

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The moral of the story is that you want to find someone who can really speak to your abilities. You don't want someone who will write a few short sentences, "Sarah was a great student. She worked days and nights to earn an A in my course". 

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What information should my letters contain?

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First and foremost, your letters should describe you as an individual, with a focus on your potential to succeed in research. Your letter writer should be able to describe the context of how they know you, the value that you added to their team or organization, and what they believe you will contribute to the university that you are applying to. You can help make the writing process a little easier for your letter writers by providing an updated copy of your CV or resume. 

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Some letters will ask for specific information, such as your role in mentoring other students or an example of how you overcame adversity. You should make sure that your letter writers know what is expected in each letter, including information like page limits. 

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Letter writers may also ask to see your statement of purpose, a bulleted list of information you feel important to include in your letter, or even a short synopsis of what you want to highlight from your relationship. This not only helps your letter writer remember key moments in your relationship, making it easier for them to write, but also gives you the opportunity to work with your letter writer to create a letter that complements your statement of purpose. For instance, if a faculty member writes, "Sarah worked diligently on Project X to ensure that we met our deadlines" and Sarah has written in her statement that she is hardworking and efficiently manages time, the admissions committee has the opportunity to see Sarah from multiple perspectives that affirm one another. 

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How many letters do I need?

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Most universities will require 3 letters of recommendation, however there are exceptions of schools allowing additional letters or requiring 4. This information should be easily available on each school's application website. If not, you should reach out to their admissions department.

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When should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

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As with most things when applying to grad school, the earlier the better. As a rule of thumb, you should ask faculty at least a month before the application is due. If you know the faculty member well enough to know that they are usually late, give them (and yourself) a buffer on the due date, maybe a few days or a week.

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Watch out for red flags. 

 

The last thing you want is a weak letter of recommendation or, in the absolute worst case, a letter that speaks poorly about you. I have heard multiple stories about an applicant who had an unbelievably impressive application, but one bad letter and that was it for them. The best way to avoid being this student is to be upfront when asking for a letter. Ask if your letter writer can write you a "strong letter of recommendation". If the person you ask seems lukewarm about writing you a letter, walk away. The person writing on your behalf should be excited to help you and want to see you succeed.