Letter of Recommendation - Honors Program
How do I ask someone to write me a letter of recommendation (LOR) for the Honors Program?
Current Springfield College students applying to the Honors Program must:
- identify a Springfield College faculty or staff member who is familiar with your academic work;
- ask that person if they are willing to write a letter for you, and if they say yes
- include their name on your online application to the Honors Program. The Honors Program Director will email them instructions about what their letter should cover.
Don’t include someone’s name on your application form as your recommender without first asking them if they are willing to write you a letter.
To decide who to ask to write a letter for you, think about who knows your academic work and potential. For which professors have you performed well academically? With whom have you had engaging interactions? Whose office hours have you visited, and who have you talked to outside of class? Who can talk about your contributions to making your classes rich learning environments?
Keep in mind that someone might say no to writing you a letter for any variety of reasons. They may not feel they know you well enough yet to write you a strong letter, or they might not have time to do a good job by the deadline. If they say no, ask someone else who fits the criteria above to write for you.
In the future when you must request letters of recommendation for other opportunities (for example, internships, scholarships, campus leadership positions, study abroad applications, etc.), give your recommender at least two weeks before the deadline to write your letter. For high stakes applications (for example, graduate school admissions, scholarship or fellowship applications, etc.), give your recommender at least a month. Contact the Springfield College Career Center for additional advice regardling letters of recommendation.
