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IntroductionBelow is a standard information request that I make of all students who ask me to serve as a reference, to write a letter, or to contribute to a committee letter. Perhaps not all items apply to you or your situation. On the basis of your response to this information request, I will let you know within a few days if I believe I can be a strong reference on your behalf. If I cannot support you strongly, I will not serve as a reference. A neutral or weak reference, or one based on little direct knowledge of you, does more harm than good. In general, I cannot serve as a reference for graduate, medical, or professional study unless you have completed an advanced course, like biochemistry, with me. If I agree to serve as a reference, please supply me with any necessary application or reference forms, along with a neatly addressed, stamped business envelope for each letter requested. If you plan to list me as a reference, but do not want a letter, please provide me a list of organizations to which you are applying. You may deliver all materials to me by way of Rhonda Shaeffer, Administrative Associate, Science 161, Portland. Special Notice to Premedical StudentsI will contribute to your letter from USM's Premedical Advisory Committee ONLY if you have asked me and supplied the information requested below. I will not automatically contribute to your letter. IMPORTANT: Please give me adequate time to write your letter.For a new or first letter of recommendation, please provide all materials and instructions to me AT LEAST TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST DUE DATE. For additional letters after the first one, please provide all materials and instructions AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE OF THE DUE DATE. It is most convenient to me if you provide forms and instructions for all your applications in a single package. ***** Information RequestInstructionsPlease help me to decide whether I can serve as an effective reference by answering the following questions. Answer as if to a stranger in order to 1) inform me of things I do not know, and 2) remind me of things I know but might forget to mention in the letter. You may be writing about some of these same items in an application essay. Please feel free to send me a copy of your essay in response to some of the questions. For each question, refer me to specific sections of your essay. If you like, I will read your essay and make suggestions about its content, style, and grammar. Please reply informally by email. Copy the Personal Information lines below, and paste the into email. Then add your responses
after each question. Send completed reply to my current
email address, listed HERE. Personal InformationAnswer as if to a stranger. Your Name (as you want it on letters):_______________________________________ Your social security number (only if required on your letter): _ _ _ - _ _ - _ _ _ _ . 1) List the names, numbers, and dates of all courses you took with me (example: Biochemistry, CHY 361, Fall 1997). For postgraduate applications, I can write an effective letter only if you have completed an advanced course like CHY 361 with me. 2) Give the name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) to whom I should write (block form, left justified). 3) For what type of position (or program, fellowship, ...) are you applying? 4) What are you qualifications? Tell how your experience -- both academic and nonacademic -- qualifies you for the position. 5) Briefly describe your career plans and interests, and tell me what role this position will play in those plans. 6) What can I say about you that attests to your sincere interest in your field of study? Will I readily recognize you as someone who often showed a sincere interest in the subject you studied with me? In addition, can you give me any non-classroom evidence of your intellectual interests? For instance, have you read extensively in specific areas of your scientific field of study, attended seminars, traveled to professional meetings, or held research positions? 7) Briefly describe your special skills or talents. 8) Briefly describe your significant accomplishments in academics, public service, the arts, sports, or other areas. 9) What recent event (past 5 years) do you believe will still be considered important decades from now? Why? 10) Among today's public figures, whom do you admire? Why? If I believe that I can serve as an effective reference for you, I will reply by email within a few days.
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