How to Ask a Professor for a Grad School Letter of Recommendation

The Awkward Request

You are applying to a Master's program in Psychology. The application requires three Letters of Recommendation from academic professors.

You panic. You got 'A's in your classes, but you sat in the back row and never spoke. The professors have no idea who you are. How do you ask a stranger for a glowing recommendation?

If you just send a one-line email saying, "Can you write me a letter?", they will ignore you or say no. You must make it incredibly easy for them to write a good letter.

The Strategy

Professors are incredibly busy. Writing a letter from scratch takes an hour. If you provide them with a "cheat sheet," it takes them 10 minutes.

You must ask for the letter two months in advance, and you must include a comprehensive packet of your accomplishments.

The Email Template

Subject: Request for Letter of Recommendation - [Your Name] - [Master's Program]

"Dear Professor [Last Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I was a student in your [Course Name] class during the [Semester/Year], where I earned an [Grade]. I absolutely loved your module on [Specific Topic], which inspired me to pursue graduate studies.

I am currently applying to the Master's program in [Field] at [University], and I am reaching out to ask if you would be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation on my behalf. The deadline is [Date].

I know you are incredibly busy, so to make this as easy as possible, I have attached a "Recommendation Packet" containing: My current Resume/CV.* My draft Personal Statement for the program.* A copy of the final paper I wrote for your class (which received an A).* A bulleted list of 3 specific strengths I demonstrated in your class that you could highlight.*

If you do not have the time or do not feel you can write a strong letter, I completely understand. Thank you for your time and for being such a great instructor."

Why This Works

This email is professional, gives them an easy "out," and most importantly, provides the bullet points.

90% of the time, the professor will agree, open your bulleted list, copy-paste your exact strengths into their university letterhead, sign it, and submit it. You essentially just wrote your own glowing recommendation letter.