HGSE Admissions Blog

by Katie Filiakova, Ed.M.’24

Asking for recommendation letters can be intimidating. Some applicants will come straight out of their undergrad institutions and have professors who they recently worked with to write their academic references. Others will be returning to school after years of working in the field with faint connections to their teachers from the past but strong professional recommendations. In either case, recommendation letters are an essential part of one’s application and can significantly enhance one’s candidacy. Don’t get discouraged if you are struggling with finding the perfect recommenders or saying the right thing in that initial outreach email! Here are some tips to ensure that you are getting the most out of your recommendation letters while respecting your recommenders’ time and energy: 

Find three people who will tell your story the best 

HGSE asks you to support your application with three recommendation letters. It may be tempting to get as many recommendation letters as you can, but the Admissions Office will only accept three. Make sure that you give significant thought to who will write your letters of recommendation, how well they know you, and what great examples they can provide that would highlight your strengths. It is also helpful to diversify your recommendations, so that every letter sheds light on a different part of your experience and gives the Admissions team a holistic view on your candidacy. Ideally, you should have both academic and professional references, but it is totally acceptable to have all professional recommendations if you have been out of school for a while. Finally, keep in mind that once you input your recommenders’ info on HGSE’s application portal, you cannot change your choice. So, make sure you finalize your list of recommenders (and get their approval!) before you add them to the system. 

Ask early!

Like, really early. Your recommenders may need additional information from you, and writing a thoughtful recommendation letter can take a while. Plus, your recommenders are likely very busy! For instance, if your recommenders are university professors, it may be helpful to think of the academic calendar and ask before midterm season, since they will likely be preoccupied in the middle of the semester. 

What do I include in the request for a recommendation letter? 

Your recommenders will write the strongest letters if they know the program you are applying to and your story. As you are writing that initial email asking for a recommendation, here are some things that may be helpful to include: 

• Remind them of the projects, papers, experiences, or any other endeavors you pursued under their guidance. Especially if you have not had contact with that recommender for a while, it is possible they may not remember all the great things you’ve done. A reminder is totally appropriate! 
• Give them some information about the program you are applying to, either a short paragraph or a link to the program’s website. The strongest letters of recommendation will speak not only to the applicant’s strengths but also to how good of a fit they are to the program. 
• The submission deadline! You want to make sure you are not only asking in advance, but also letting your recommender know the deadline to upload the recommendation letters. This will allow them to allocate time accordingly. 
• You want your recommender to know your motivations. Let them know why you are pursuing a graduate study and how it is the right next step in your journey. Attaching your Statement of Purpose or Resume can also be helpful! 
• You cannot participate in the writing or submission process. The letter of recommendation must be written and uploaded solely by the recommender. You can, however, ask your recommender to highlight certain aspects of your experience to ensure that different recommenders speak to different strengths of yours. Again, painting a holistic, full picture should be the goal! 
• If you are applying to multiple schools (although we hope HGSE is your top choice!), plan to inform your recommenders about all programs you are applying to as soon as you can. It can get tedious and awkward to send follow-up emails asking for more letters of recommendation every time you find another program you want to apply to. 
• Finally, consider offering your recommenders an opportunity to call or meet to discuss the application and recommendation letters. While some recommenders will agree to write your letter right away, others may appreciate hearing more about your plans and interests or extra details about the program.

Follow up

Don’t disappear after your recommenders have agreed to write your recommendations! Stay in touch, inform them of any changes, and send gentle reminders, when appropriate. 

Include them in the application process beyond writing recommendation letters! 

Your recommenders have a great deal of knowledge and experience. It will be beneficial for you, and pleasant to them, if you involve them in your application process beyond just asking for the recommendation letters. Ask for their input, get their advice when looking for the right program, and let them offer suggestions about your Statement of Purpose. That way you will have a great sounding board as you brainstorm your application, and they will have better insight into how they can best support you with their recommendation letter. 

Good luck!

Katie Filiakova, Ed.M.’24