Letters of Evaluation/Recommendation
While we are eager to
assist you by writing letters of recommendation, recent legal decisions
involving The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also
known as the Buckley Amendment, now require that we have you fill out a “letter
of evaluation/recommendation waiver and permission form” (WORD FILE) (PDF)
for each letter you request. This will
require you to fill out a formal request before we can write you a letter of
recommendation and will require additional time and planning on your part. You may download the form from this site. Contact any of the Math/Science faculty if
you want to know more.
Printable Waiver and Permission Form
Suggestions for Students Requesting
Letters of Evaluation/Recommendation:
Letters of evaluation/recommendation
play an important role during the application process for postgraduate work
and/or employment and may make a difference in whether you are accepted/hired or not.
Letters often provide information about the applicant’s character,
personality traits,
and motivation, as well as achievements not apparent from exams
or academic transcripts. Students should
therefore request letters from people who:
(1)
Have known you long enough and in a capacity that he/she can speak to
your qualifications in some detail;
(2) Have an understanding of the expertise required for the area
you are applying;
(3)
Feel comfortable writing a detailed and positive letter for you.
Students should make an appointment with a potential
letter writer and discuss whether a strong letter can be written on your
behalf. This should be done several
weeks before the deadline in order for the writer to have time to be able to
write a complete and representative letter.
You should feel free to check back with the writer several days or a
week before the letter is due to make sure the letter has been completed.
The letter writer should be provided with the
following information at the time you request the letter:
(1)
Exact purpose of the letter (for admittance to professional/graduate
school, employment, etc.);
(2)
An up-to-date copy of your academic transcript;
(3) An up-to-date copy of your resume –
which should include specific information about your academic and
extracurricular activities, particularly research experience, internships,
shadowing, volunteering, awards, honors, and any other information you feel
relates to your strengths;
(4)
Specific forms required by the school, program, or employer;
(5)
A clear identification of the timeline necessary to meet deadlines;
(6)
Detailed instructions as whether the letter needs to be sent by the
writer or included within an application packet sent by you;
(7)
A signed and filled-out letter of evaluation waiver and permission form
(may be downloaded here à (WORD
FILE) (PDF)).
Back to the Department of Biology
Last Updated on 14
January 2007 JCW