To my students that are thinking of asking for recommendation letters:

I would love to support you in your next phase.

Please know that I can only write an effective recommendation letter if I know you and you have made a meaningful connection with me. I don’t use AI to write my letters. My letters reflect our human connection.

I make an effort to remember all my students. I learn your names and can remember almost anything that you say in class or during office hours. In class I observe your collegiallity, moral compass and your qualities beyond the grade you get in class. I have an open door policy and if you make an effort to make a connection, I will certainly remember you and it will be my pleasure to write a letter for you.

If you ask me for a recommendation letter, please:

Make an appointment so we can chat about your plans and I can learn more about you.

• Please email me to set the time of our meeting, it can be an in-person or a zoom meeting.
• Prepare for the meeting as your would for professional interview, don’t be nervous though!
• If our meeting is in zoom, please turn your camera on.

Prior to the meeting, please:

• Send to my work email your most up to date CV and the following form completed (download-name the file with your last name, and first initial), in this way I can inform the program your ranking in the class.
• Please be prepared to answer question about plans, your dreams, your superpowers, your timeline and most importantly, why do you want to apply to the program/job you are pursuing.
• Anything you would like me to know about you?

Important courtesy

• I write several dozens of letters per year. Don’t leave things for last minute as I might not be able to provide a strong recommendation letter, or provide the letter at all.
• Please don’t call the Department front office to ask if I have submitted or plan to submit soon a recommendation letter. Know that I will meet your deadline, but might have other letters to write before yours.
• As much as I admire my students’ thoughtfulness, please know that gifts represent an ethical conflict. I will write a letter of recommendation to support you, because I know you, you created a positive relationship, and I believe in you. I treasure the professor-student relationship and that is the greatest gift you can offer me. Please don’t bring gifts, but it would be awesome if you let me know if you got into your program or job.