That sounds SCARY! (Hint: It isn’t!)
If your application requires you to submit faculty letter(s) of recommendation, your reference will either be asked to write a letter on your behalf, or complete an electronic questionnaire form sent to them through your program application. These questions are to get the perspective of this person on your abilities and your history in an academic setting.
We have a few suggestions for navigating this process!
- Give your reference as much heads up as possible for your recommendation request! The more time the better, but we recommend you give them at least 2 weeks in between when the request is made of them and when the recommendation is due to the Education Abroad Office for your application.
- Make sure to contact this person separately from the automatic request email that they will receive from the program. It not only adds a personal touch to your request, but makes sure that the request form isn’t ignored or accidentally labeled as spam.
- Request recommendation from someone who you have a relationship with outside of basic classroom interactions. If no one immediately comes to mind, now is a great time to start forging these relationships! If you are requesting a reference from a professor, having conversations about assignments, attending office hours, requesting feedback on your work, or discussing potential research topics are great ways for your professor to start to get to know you.
- If choosing a professor, we also recommend you choose a professor based on a class you did well in, or anticipate doing well in if it is a current professor. You should choose a professor who can talk about your ability to succeed academically or in difficult situations.
- Your reference does not necessarily have to be a professor. In some cases other references may be appropriate, however professionals in academic settings are typically appropriate. If you are thinking of requesting a recommendation from someone from another setting, please contact us at educationabroad@umbc.edu to discuss whether or not this person would be acceptable.