Lab Manual:Requesting Recommendation Letters
Requesting Recommendation Letters
I typically write recommendation letters for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows who have worked in my laboratory a minimum of four quarters. If I am less familiar with you I will probably not be able to write as strong a letter, and so will advise against it.
In order to allow me to write the strongest possible letter, you should provide me with information at least four weeks before the due date. I won't make any promises on the tone or content of the letter, but will try to let you know how strong a letter I believe I can write.
If you are using the Career Development Center, fill out everything on their cover form except my signature (including the part that says "to be filled in by recommender"). Parenthetically, the Career Development Center is a great option that saves everyone's time. Please note that I no longer do electronic submissions, as the formats vary too much, making the process prohibitively time-consuming.
Either way, you should also provide the following, bundled together:
- GRE / MCAT scores
- Current copy of your transcript
- Personal statement
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- List of schools to which you will apply and due dates
- Stamped, self-addressed envelopes and/or Career Development Center form
All of this information can be delivered (electronic format is ok) to:
Brian Knutson
Department of Psychology
Jordan Hall, Bldg. 420
Stanford, CA 94305-2130
P.S. The process of getting letters is a job in itself! If nothing else, it will teach you two great truths of life:
- If you don't promote yourself, who will?
- If you make things easy for people, they will be more likely to do them.
