As students have been submitting applications for graduate school, one question that I've been asked many times over is: "Should I waive my right to read the letters of recommendation submitted on my behalf?" The short answer is yes.
Soliciting letters of recommendation is an important part of the graduate school application process. Sure, programs are interested in your grades, your GRE scores, and your personal statement, but it can be argued that the letters are the most influential component of your application since it speaks directly to your abilities as observed by faculty. So it is important to solicit good letters, and to submit them appropriately. Let's start with how to get a good letter.
During your undergraduate career it is important to seek opportunities to foster relationships with your professors; you want professors to know who you are, and have a lot to draw from when writing a letter for you. The more that you have done for your professors the more they will be able to write in a letter of recommendation. Here are some situations that provide for greater student-professor interaction (many of these are also good for your CV):
- Taking courses: Taking your courses with the same group of professors will help them recognize you and evaluate your in-class academic performance. Be sure to be an active member of classroom discussions, because bad students get bad letters.
- Getting involved: Student organizations (e.g., Psi Chi) often require faculty sponsorship and involvement. Becoming an officer would show them your leadership skills
- Research Labs: If your professor has a research lab, find a way to join it!
- Student Instructors: If your university offers a student instructor program, SI-ing for your professors will allow them to evaluate your teaching ability.
- Join Committees: Some departments have advisory committees that are composed of students and faculty. Joining such a committee would afford your the opportunity to display your professionalism.
- Office Hours: This can be a dangerous if you go too often, but having a conversation or two with your professor during office hours is another good way to develop a personal relationship.
There is even more strategy that can be employed in regards to letters. Picking professors with connections to programs in which you are interested will make their letters more influential. If your professor graduated from a school to which you are applying (Or perhaps a colleague of your professor, or a former student is in charge of the program), it is likely they know who will be reading the letter they write. So, how do you find out about these connections? A great way is to ask. Ask your professors, "I am interested in and going on to graduate school, do you know anyone offering programs in that area?"
When you ask professors for letters, you need to ask in person, and provide them with everything they need to write the letter. And I mean everything. Give them a folder with a summary of your academic life. Include: A list of extra-curricular activities (honor-societies, etc.), awards that you won, papers that you wrote, labs in which you worked, other work experience, your grades, a list of classes you took, your CV, the personal statement that you will submit, your favorite vegetable, all the materials they will need to send the letter (an addressed envelope with stamp). Everything.
Lastly, it is important to waive your right to read the letters. I know you might be curious as to what your professors think about you, but if there was any doubt in your mind about what they would be writing, you shouldn't have asked them. Refusing to waive, implies a lack of trust in the letter-writer and that is not something you want them to be thinking while they write a letter about you. Not only this, I suspect it implies a level of self-doubt to the reviewers that will be reading your application. Always waive.
