Letters of Recommendation

If you would like me to write you a letter of recommendation, please read the information below carefully!

1. Be sure I'm the right person to recommend you.
   

   I will only write letters for students I know well and with whom I have had significant positive experiences. You must have shown me that you have a mature, responsible, and enthusiastic attitude toward learning. This typically means that you have worked with me as a TA or RA, although being in a few of my classes MAY be sufficient if you've been the type of student who is always punctual, never makes excuses, speaks up in class, talks with me outside of class, etc.

2. Provide me with information about the program/job to which you are applying.
   

   I need to have a brief description of the types of graduate programs, jobs, or whatever it is you are applying for. At the very least, I need to know the exact name of the program (e.g. Experimental, Social Psychology, School Counseling, etc.) for each place you are applying.

3. Provide me with information about you.
   

   The more information I have, the better letter I can write. Such information may include:

   • A copy of your DegreeWorks report, with the courses you took with me hi-lighted
   • GPA, SAT and/or GRE scores
   • Activities you have participated in, honor societies, leadership roles, and any other accomplishments.
   • Resume or curriculum vitae
   • Why you chose this program/career/etc. A copy of the "personal statement" that you typically have to write for graduate school would be appropriate (even if it isn't the final polished version.)
   • Any particular "qualities" you have that you would like me to emphasize, or that the place you are applying to seems to particularly look for.
4. Provide me with all necessary forms, if there are any.
   

   Most applications and recommendations are done online - for these, you typically supply my email address to the school and they email me the form to fill out online. Some recommendations are still done on paper. In either case, you must fill out as much information as possible before giving them to me. This includes information about ME. Below is my information, for you to type in:

   My name is: Dr. Wendy Braje
   My position/title is: Associate Professor of Psychology
   My address is: Department of Psychology, Plattsburgh State University, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
   My phone number is: (518) 564-3383
   My email address is: brajewl@plattsburgh.edu

   I will NOT write you a recommendation if I have to fill this in for you. I only spend time on recommendations for students who follow instructions.

5. Waive your access to the recommendation.
   

   When you are preparing the recommendation, you should agree to "waive your right to access" the recommendation, which means that your recommendation will remain confidential and you will not be able to look at it. This is not because I am afraid of you seeing my letter, but because admissions boards often view non-confidential letters as weaker than confidential ones, and I want you to appear as strong as possible.

6. Tell me where to send each letter.
   

   For paper forms, provide me with all necessary envelopes, stamped and addressed to the appropriate places (if the letter is going to SUNY Plattsburgh, I can send it through campus mail and you do not need a stamp). If I am supposed to return the recommendation to you in an envelope, be sure to indicate on the envelope the name of the school/job/etc. that the recommendation is for, so that you know what to do with it when you get it back. Please make it clear to me which forms I should mail directly to the schools and which ones go back to you.

7. Indicate the due date for each letter.
   

   Please let me know when I need to have each letter done. Please give me at least 2 weeks notice.

8. Give me all of your requests together.
   

   If you are applying for more than one school/job, please try to give me all of your requests at the same time. I am happy to write several recommendations, and I prefer to work on them all at once.

9. Follow up with me.
   

   Finally, come back and let me know how it all turned out! Where did you get accepted? Where are you going?