| 2014-10-24 | I would be happy to write recommendations letter for your PhD or Master application if .... I often received request from students to write letter of recommendations for their postgraduate studies (Master or PhD). Usually it happens in October every year. Seriously, I feel honored that they still remember me.
I would be happy to write for everyone if they can meet my requirements. (My requirement for writing letters for Exchange would be less stringent.) Below is the requirement I often tell my students. I post it here so that students will know my policy clearly.
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I feel honored that you still remember me.
As you should understand it so well, I do not remember much about you. Thus, it would be very difficult for me to write a letter for you, aside from stating what is obvious in your transcript and CV. These days, I try to write letters only for my research assistants or students who have substantial communication with me throughout their studies.
I understand that you may have difficulty in finding a professor to write the letter for you. I am willing to be your referee ONLY IF you can help me know you substantially better in the next one or two months.
(A) If you agree, I will give you one or two mini-research projects to work on, just to obtain additional observation about you. The projects are not supposed to be very demanding -- if you are good. But, sorry, your work will not be paid.
(B) I will need the following items from you.
1. a personal photo, showing clearly your face.
2. several pages of self introduction (say, family, friends, study, your learning style, career plan, etc., things that you feel comfortable sharing with me),
It would be better if you can tell me about two of your close friends. (I know it might sound strange, but I do have my reasons.)
3. Your CV
4. Your academic performance
5. A letter of recommendation for xxx, pretending that you were Ka-fu Wong writing the letter.
You may need some guideline about item 5. Generally for such letter of recommendation, I would write in the paragraphs
1. how long and how I get to know the person.
2. Quality #1 of the applicant, with evidence.
3. Quality #2 of the applicant, with evidence.
...
n. Based on the above evidence, I would recommend xxx without reservation.
Remember that I can only write about things that I know of you.
After you send me the above in a zip file via email, I will need three days to write a final draft (deleting things I do not agree and adding things I strongly feel, and reorganizing the content). Beware of the risk -- I write honestly.
It is natural that you conclude that it is too costly to have me as your referee. In that case, please go ahead to find other professors to write the letter. I would not feel bad about it.
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