Most college applications, scholarships, and graduate programs request two or three recommendation letters from people who know you inside and outside the classroom. Even if you have laid the necessary groundwork for recommendations through academics and involvement, requesting the letters can still sometimes be tricky. Here are 5 steps to requesting letters that will help you get the BEST recommendations for your applications. Faculty friends – feel free to share with your students!

This post was originally shared in 2015 and has been updated in 2023 to reflect changes in current processes.