How can I get a letter of recommendation from my current university?

The strength of your recommendation letter depends far more on how well your chosen professor actually knows your work than on their title or seniority. Give them plenty of notice, make their job easy with the right materials, and you will get a far more detailed, convincing letter. Here is exactly how to run that process from the first ask to the final thank you.

Timeline and Materials Checklist

How to Choose the Right Recommender

• Prioritize a professor or lecturer who taught you in a small seminar or supervised your research over a famous department head
• Consider academic advisors or on-campus job supervisors if your program allows alternatives to a course professor
• Use a soft escape hatch when asking, such as checking if they feel they know your work well enough to write a strong letter
• Always follow up with a thank you note, and share the outcome once you hear back, since professors value knowing the letter helped

My Advice

Book a short meeting during office hours rather than sending a cold email first, since a face to face ask almost always gets a warmer, more detailed letter in return. Bring your brag sheet to that same meeting so your professor can start thinking about specific examples the moment they agree.