Letters of Recommendation

Asking someone to write a letter of recommendation can be nerve wracking. It sounds so formal, and you may be anxious hoping that somebody even thinks highly enough of you to be willing to write one. Don't be too nervous. Most people are more than happy to help support you in reaching your academic goals. Many of your potential references, especially former teachers, have probably done this before. They might be aware of the process, but don't necessarily depend on that. The point is, just ask. Start the process early, you'll find that you have a lot of support.

First and foremost, your references need to be people who know you well. A letter from your favorite high school teacher might be more meaningful than one from a high-ranking officer you met only once. You do need to be thoughtful about who and how you ask. Initially, you want to come up with an appropriate list of people you know who could possibly write a letter of recommendation. This should include military leaders, work supervisors, professors, and possibly even high school teachers if they may remember you. You don't want to ask family or friends, your congressman, or your dentist. Trust me, we've seen it.

Ideally, letters should address both academic and professional abilities. Think through the relationship you had or have with them, how well you knew one another, and the capacity in which they knew you. Think more about your relationship to the recommender than his or her impressive title. If you decide to pursue a professional letter of recommendation, then it should be from someone in your chain of command who can speak substantially about your work.

Letters from base commanders, while perhaps easily attained if you submit your performance reports and send a nice email, will be kind but vague and leave the admission team wondering why you couldn't ask your supervisor or first sergeant with whom you worked more closely day to day. If you're currently a student and choose to ask several faculty members, consider asking faculties from different departments to write a recommendation letter. For example, recommendations from an English professor and a math professor would highlight your academic strengths in vastly different subjects and would be especially helpful in applying to institutions that highlight a liberal arts education.

Just to reiterate, letters of recommendation should add information that isn't already in your application. You don't necessarily want to go for the most prestigious recommenders, like generals, college presidents, political figures, or ambassadors unless they know you well and can speak about your work with them. In terms of procedure, you should approach your potential recommender in person. If your current circumstances prevent you from meeting face to face, you should try by video conference, using phone or email as a last resort.

Hopefully they know you well enough they don't need a reminder of who you are, but in case they do, let them know why you're asking them for a recommendation and remind them of your relationship. Requesting a recommendation letter in person gives you an opportunity to reconnect with those with whom you may have been out of touch with and express your sincere appreciation for their support. Don't stress about this conversation. Just keep it simple to start, something like, I'm preparing to leave the army and I'm thinking about applying to college. Would you be willing to support my application with a letter? Once you get the request out of the way, you'll have a great conversation.

You should reach out to your recommenders as early as possible to give them enough lead time to write a good letter. Be prepared to give them a resume, information about where you're applying, what program and majors you're considering, the deadlines for submission, and either the link to the online application or a stamped, addressed envelope if they must submit a letter by regular mail. You may also want to share your college essay or personal statement to help them to understand why you are applying to a specific institution. Knowing your ultimate goals will also help them to craft a strong recommendation letter.

Take the time to speak to them about your future goals and why you're interested in particular colleges and universities to help them personalize their recommendations in ways that will greatly benefit your application package. Keep track of these letters. Many colleges' online application portals will allow you to see when a letter has been received. Keep an eye out on your references' submissions.

Now, everyone gets busy. If you're a couple of weeks before the deadline, follow up with a gentle reminder. Some applications actually have a link that will do just that. Keep the deadline in their minds, but don't become a nuisance. Balance is key.

Technically, you have the right to read everything in your college application, including your letters of reference. When you upload your reference's contact information into your application, you'll be asked to waive your right to view the letter. That is, you'll volunteer to have the contents of your letters of reference kept hidden from your view. Once you make this choice, you can't change your mind. It's customary for applicants to waive their right to view their letters of reference. Think of it as a confident display of support for your letter writers.

Whatever you choose, let your reference know in advance. You can include a short statement in an email to them, such as, thank you for agreeing to support my college application. You'll receive an email from the college with instructions about how to submit your letter. I've also waived my right to view any material you should submit on my behalf.