Dr. Johanna Rubba
English Department (Linguistics)
Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo
jrubba@calpoly.edu
Last updated 3/9/05
 
Policy for Writing Letters of Recommendation

If you need a letter of recommendation for a job, scholarship, academic program, or other reason, please note the following:

• Your grade in the class(es) you took with me has to have been A- or higher.
• If you have had only one class with me, I can write only a brief letter that is not very detailed. Always solicit letters from the professors who know you best.
• I need at least two weeks' notice -- two weeks before the deadline by which the letter has to be received.
  
• I need the following information in order to write a letter:
• The name of the course(s) and the quarter(s)/year(s) you took the course(s) from me.
• It is very helpful if you can lend me essay exams, term papers, etc., that show your work. Reference letters are most effective when the writer can speak to specific episodes of high-quality performance.
• Full information about why you need the letter and full address information about whom to send the letter to.
• A clear deadline when the letter must be received by the addressee.
• Send me a reminder e-mail one week before the letter is due to the addressee.