Letters of Recommendation
If you want a strong letter of recommendation to graduate school from a professor, make sure that you have done each of the following things. Have you:
1. ____ Discussed your choice of graduate schools with more than one professor in your major and with at least one of your Honors Directors?
2. ____ Let Dr. Barnes go over your statement of purpose and curriculum vitae or resume before you ask professors to write letters of recommendation?
3. ____ Given each recommending professor a brightly colored folder with pockets (don’t use one with brads!) and with your name and phone number printed on the front?
The left pocket should include:
a. ____ A copy of your transcript with courses you have taken under the recommending professor highlighted in yellow.
b. ____ A separate list of the courses, grades, and titles of any important papers you have had under the professor. On the top of this list, include the month and year you first met the professor (this is important!).
c. ____ A list of points you would like the professor to emphasize about you. Let them choose their own superlatives; just give concrete suggestions about your activities and achievements.
d. ____ A copy of your statement of purpose*.
e. ____ A copy of your curriculum vitae or resume*. Make sure that you explain all items listed!
f. ____ A separate list of things you did in the Honors Program and the ASG (or highlight them on your curriculum vitae or resume).
g. ____ A separate list of books and journals (titles and authors) that you have read outside of class in the last two or three years.
* Make certain that either Dr. Barnes or Dr. Hood goes over these two things well in advance. Give yourself time to revise them.
The right pocket should include:
a. ____ All your graduate school applications in chronological order by due date (highlight deadlines in yellow on each one).
b. ____ Pre-addressed, stamped envelopes in which the professor can mail your letters of recommendation. Paperclip stamps to envelopes; don’t paste them on.
Resume/Curriculum Vita Checklist
Have you…
1. ____ Mentioned at the top your QPA, if you expect to graduate in cursu honorum, summa cum laude, or magna cum laude, and your expected graduation date? If your GRE, GMAT, etc., scores are impressive, list them under your graduation date and status.
2. ____ Listed separately your Honors Program activities and your ASG activities?
3. ____ Listed all your presentations at conferences (including Honors Day) separately? If you have a lot of papers, make separate lists for papers in your professional field and papers for honors conferences.
4. ____ Have you taught any classes? Led any workshops? Team taught? Given any kinds of presentations? These are very impressive resume items, so make sure to put them all on there.
5. ____ Listed all of the clubs and other student group activities? If you worked with a faculty mentor, tell who you worked with, how long you worked, and what you did.
6. ____ Removed all activities from high school, except Eagle Scout, National Merit status, or other national-level awards?
7. ____ Made sure to omit objectives, birth date and age, gender, race, marital status, and health? Such information is not appropriate.
8. ____ Explained what the activities on your resume are? Following is a list of Honors activities with descriptions for your reference. Don’t expect someone from a different school or company to understand the functions of our clubs and committees – you explain them!
Big Sibs, a group of upper-class Honors students who “adopt” incoming Honors freshmen and guide them through their transitions into college life.
Computer Committee, a committee responsible for teaching computer skills to Honors freshmen and assisting Honors students and faculty with computer-related questions.
Conference Committee, a committee responsible for organizing the Honors Program’s trips to state, regional, and national honors conferences.
Mindful Movie Committee, a film screening and discussion series that focuses on challenging films.
Mindless Movie Committee, a weekly film series focusing on entertaining movies.
Thursday Evenings with the Faculty, a program in which professors invite a group of TTU Honors students to their homes for an evening of informal discussion and refreshment.
Fresh!, a newsletter written by and for TTU Honors Program freshmen.
Honorable Mention, a newsletter for TTU Honors Program students and faculty, also distributed to Honors alumni and the rest of the TTU faculty.
Travels with the Faculty, a series of informal presentations in which faculty share their travel experiences with TTU Honors students.
The Honors Handbook, a text developed by and for the TTU Honors Program as a Program resource for incoming freshmen, Honors teachers, and others.
Underrepresented Groups Committee, a standing committee charged with identifying and addressing needs and issues of TTU students whose experiences may not be addressed by other available programs.
The Associated Scholars Guild, the student-run organization responsible for extracurricular activities and services in the TTU Honors Program.
The Honors Council, an elected board comprised of both students and professors charged with overseeing academic policy for the TTU Honors Program.
The ASG Steering Committee, the governing body for the student-run activities and extracurricular programs of the TTU Honors Program.
Honors Forum Committee, which coordinates a series of lunchtime speakers for the campus community on a variety of academic and social issues.
