Letters of Recommendation

Because of the size of many classes at UNC, students often find that a graduate student teaching assistant or instructor is the best person to write a letter of recommendation for a grant, scholarship, graduate program, study abroad program, etc. Here are a few guidelines for having me write you a letter.

1. Give me at least a month notice when you ask me for the letter. I may be able to do it with less notice, but it will depend on what else I have going on.
2. Set up a time to meet with me to explain why you are interested in this particular program.
3. Send me a copy of your resume and information about the thing for which you are applying.
4. Check in with me one month, one week and one day before the deadline, unless I’ve already finished it. I take this responsibility very seriously and will write my own reminders, but I appreciate the extra layer of security.
5. I wouldn’t think it would be necessary, but students keep proving me wrong. Let me know how things turn out. Someone writing you a letter of recommendation means she or he wants you to be successful in your application and is rooting for you.

Law School

I won’t write a letter for law school until you read this: Why You Shouldn’t Go to Law School

and watch this: