Asking for a letter of recommendation for graduate school can sometimes be a daunting task. Who should you ask? Will they write a great letter that will get you into graduate school? What characteristics should be mentioned to make it an effective letter to stand out from other grad school applicants?
Asking A College Professor for A Letter of Recommendation
Usually the first person that comes to mind for a letter of recommendation is your college professor. Former professors can speak to your academic ability and mastery of the course material after teaching you for an entire semester. But is that all they can attest to? Contrary to popular belief, an effective letter doesn’t just state: “Applicant got an A in my class therefore they would be well-suited for graduate study.” There are many more elements that go into making someone well-suited for graduate study, especially if we are talking on the doctoral level. Many programs, including psychology programs, focus on critical thinking, writing skills, and prior research experience. In many cases, the professor you worked with as a research assistant or your advisor for your Senior thesis may be able to shed more light on your aptitude for graduate study than the professor that you earned an A in their class. They will be able to add more detail to the letter that speaks to your personal capabilities.
Can A Graduate Student Write A Letter of Recommendation?
Many applicants feel as if only former college professors are able to write a great letter of recommendation. This cannot be the furthest from the truth. If you have attended a large university, your contact with a college professor may be limited. In fact, you may have had more personal contact with a graduate student or teaching assistant (T.A.). If a graduate student taught you, graded your term papers, and had conversations with you about how to get into graduate school, then they may be the best choice to ask for a letter of recommendation.
Asking a Work Supervisor For A Letter of Recommendation
What if you’ve been out of college for quite a few years? If you have been working or volunteering in a similar field that you want to pursue for graduate study, your supervisor is an excellent choice! Have a conversation with them about your desire to attend graduate school and ask if they would be willing to write a letter for you. You do not have to chase down several former professors in the event that they remember you from a class taken years ago. Also remember that there are lots of transferrable skills that identify good candidates for graduate study. Ask your supervisor to evaluate your writing skills or critical thinking skills, your initiative, or dedication to the task at hand. Ask them to communicate your overall career goals and how graduate school figures prominently in achieving those goals. Oftentimes applicants who are returning to school from the workplace are nervous that their letters of recommendation may not stand up to those from students fresh out of school. This could not be furthest from the truth as many applicants have made the transition from work to graduate school before you!
Remember graduate admissions committees are looking for candidates with clear idea of their professional goals that have promising academic ability. Do not discount research experience in the admissions process. If you are applying to doctoral programs in psychology, these types of experiences mentioned in a letter of recommendation will weigh heavily in the decision process. Although many people fret about GPA or GRE scores, a set of glowing letters of recommendation may be just as essential in getting into graduate school in psychology.