Applying to Doctoral Programs:Asking for Letters of Reference

by Laurie Prange-Martin

cc: xadrian - https://www.flickr.com/photos/93374685@N00

Agenda• Who Should Serve as Referees for your

Reference Letters?• What Should your References Letters

include?• Finding it a Challenge to Get those

Reference Letters back? Yes, You Can…• But, before you ask for a reference, what

should you do?• Finally, what added benefits are there to

asking for reference letters?

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Who Should Serve as Referees for your Reference Letters?

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People who have taught you in a credit course within the last 5 years.

cc: Jirka Matousek - https://www.flickr.com/photos/28415633@N00

If you need a current academic reference, you may need to take a course.

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Make sure your academic reference outlines the level of study and how long you were in a

course with the instructor or professor.cc: Tim Swinson | http://timswinson.com - https://www.flickr.com/photos/43409681@N07

People who have directly supervised you at work within the last 2 years.

cc: JD Hancock - https://www.flickr.com/photos/83346641@N00

People you have worked with on a work project.

This is particularly useful if you are applying to a STEM program where lab work will be a

component of your research.

cc: peterned - https://www.flickr.com/photos/76007934@N00

People who are familiar with your writing and research capacity.

cc: Nukamari - https://www.flickr.com/photos/44926815@N00

If you don’t have paid work experience, people who can write about your experience with a volunteer organization

performing work relevant to your field of study.

cc: wwwuppertal - https://www.flickr.com/photos/54788366@N00

People who can write about your leadership experience in a research or project

management context.cc: Robert Higgins - https://www.flickr.com/photos/37893534@N07

People who can write about your professional expertise in teaching, research, or service (the

3 pillars of being faculty).

cc: followthethings.com - https://www.flickr.com/photos/64914918@N03

What Should your References Letters include?cc: LarimdaME - https://www.flickr.com/photos/51035734296@N01

A frank appraisal of your abilities to undertake a rigorous program of graduate study.

cc: Focus On Your Ability - https://www.flickr.com/photos/71193783@N05

Comments on your scholarly competence and academic ability to undertake advanced

studies in your field.

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Personal qualities that the referee deems relevant to the applicant’s ability to engage in

graduate workcc: Profound Whatever - https://www.flickr.com/photos/8344872@N05

How you compare to colleagues with similar duties and responsibilities, especially when you

went above the call of duty.cc: frankieleon - https://www.flickr.com/photos/23307937@N04

Length of time and the context in which the referee knows you.

cc: Quasimondo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/35468141611@N01

Finding it a Challenge to Get those Reference Letters back?

cc: Mário Tomé - https://www.flickr.com/photos/7498280@N08

Yes, You Can…Put Together a Portfolio of Recent Writings (work or academic) for your references to see what you are capable of, in addition to what they have seen you deliver at

work or in class.cc: jkfid - https://www.flickr.com/photos/47243004@N02

Yes, You Can…Draft the Reference Letter for your Referee, when you are asked to do so by

the person.cc: Jeffrey Beall - https://www.flickr.com/photos/31437555@N00

Yes, You Can…Provide a list of Achievements, Key Phrases, and Other points to jog your

referees’ memory.

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But, before you ask for a reference, what should you do?

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1. Prepare a Information Package with a current academic CV and a small portfolio of

your writing and research work.cc: VFS Digital Design - https://www.flickr.com/photos/58816914@N05

2. A short story about yourself, explaining any changes in grades over the years, telling the story of challenges you have

overcame, and why these experiences show that you have the resiliency required for doctoral studies.

cc: Presidio of Monterey: DLIFLC & USAG - https://www.flickr.com/photos/38345529@N05

3. And that short story about yourself should include your self-identified areas of improvement that you are working on,

which help explains how your plan for doctoral studies fits within your self-development plan.

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3. And how you can handle constructive criticism to revise and improve your work.

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Finally, what added benefits are there to asking for reference

letters?

(Helpful to think about when you’re procrastinating what can be a challenging task.)

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You are re-connecting with people who will be your colleagues in your future field of

work.

cc: Barry.Lenard - https://www.flickr.com/photos/48540847@N03

Follow-up questions your references will ask will help you clarify other parts of your

application package.cc: a.pasquier - https://www.flickr.com/photos/68362456@N00

So, don’t linger! Email your potential references

right now to let them know you’ll be asking for a letter

soon!

cc: shawncampbell - https://www.flickr.com/photos/59077136@N00

Questions? Comments?Feedback?

Contact me at the Learning & Teaching Centre at Capilano

University laurieprangemartin@capilanou.ca