Tillyard Guides

Ask a professor for a recommendation

A professor knows your work from a class and you are applying to something that wants a letter.

Not for this: The deadline is under three weeks away. Ask anyway, say so, and make it easy to say no.

With scripts off, copy the text on the right and replace each {blank} yourself.

About you

Your full name

e.g. Amara Okafor

About them

The program you are applying to

e.g. Summer Research Fellowship

When the letter is due

e.g. November 15

Their last name

e.g. Zhou

The course

e.g. Introduction to Statistics

The term

e.g. Spring 2027

What you wrote or did for the class

e.g. a paper on school lunch participation

How they submit it

e.g. the online portal, which will email you a link

Your email

Subject: Recommendation request: {program_name}, due {due_date}

Dear Professor {their_surname},

I took {course_name} with you in {term} and wrote {piece_of_work}. I am applying to {program_name}, and I would be grateful if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. It is due on {due_date} and is submitted through {how_submitted}.

If you are able to, I will send my résumé, the program's description and a short note on what I hope the letter might cover. If your term is too full, I understand completely.

Thank you,

{my_name}

What you type here stays in your browser. Tillyard does not send the email for you. The mail link has no recipient: add that yourself.

Do

Ask at least three weeks ahead.
Send the date again a week before.

Do not

Ask by text message.