https://countablethoughts.com/recommendation

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23        <h1><a style="text-decoration: none" href="/">Adam Blank</a></h1><br>
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27        <div class="header-label">Office:</div>  <div class="header-info">Annenberg 115</div>
28        <br>
29        <div class="header-label">E-mail:</div>  <div class="header-info">[email protected]</div>
30        <br>
31        <div class="header-label">Phone:</div>   <div class="header-info">(626) 395-1765</div>
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37            <h2>Requesting A Recommendation</h2>
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39            <div class="level_one">
40                <p><b><i>Unfortunately, due to volume of requests, I am now unable to write recommendations for students who have not been a teaching assistant for me in at least two distinct quarters.  I apologize for any inconvenience this causes.</b></i>
41                <p>Perhaps the most important thing to be aware of is <i>if I don't know who you are, then I can't write you an effective recommendation</i>.
42                <span class="marginnote">If there is someone who knows you better, you should ask them instead.</span>
43
44                <p>Letters that consist primarily of  "X took my course and did well" are not <i>strong</i> letters, and if you believe this is all I can say about
45                you, then I'd suggest asking someone else.
46
47                <p>If you are planning on asking me for a recommendation, you should come to office hours throughout the term so I can place your face to your name, 
48                answer (or ask) questions in lecture, and stand out by doing extra credit, asking for clarifications, etc.
49
50                <p>If you've decided to ask me for a recommendation, please do the following things:
51                <span class="marginnote">Read this section carefully.  The only reason I tend to turn down recommendations is that someone hasn't read these instructions.</span>
52                <ul>
53                    <li>Make sure to ask me at least <i>two weeks</i> in advance.  If you ask me only a few days before the deadline, I will likely be unable to write the recommendation for you.</li>
54                    <li>Set up an appointment with me using <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vyte.in/blank/recommendation-request/10">this website</a>.  Make sure to mention (1) exactly which classes
55                    you've taken/TAed with me, (2) the timeline on the recommendation, (3) why you're asking me specifically, and (4) five distinct interactions we've had .</li>
56                    <li>After we've met, if we've decided that I'm the right person to write a recommendation for you, I will need the following materials (via e-mail):
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58                        <ul>
59                            <li>Your resume/CV</li>
60                            <li>Your transcript</li>
61                            <li>A short description of who you are as a person outside of classes</li>
62                            <li>A short discussion of <i>why</i> you're applying to the job/program/school that I'm writing a recommendation for</li>
63                            <li>How the program(s) you're applying to advances your future goals</li>
64                            <li>What I, personally, can contribute to your application (to put it another way, why did you ask me and not someone else?)</li>
65                            <li><b>Five distinct interactions or moments I can write about that we've had (approximately one paragraph each) that would make good things to talk about in the letter.</b></li>
66                            <li>Deadlines and names of the schools/people I am writing a recommendation for</li>
67                        </ul>
68                    </li>
69                </ul>
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71            <span class="marginnote">Please follow up on our conversation with an e-mail including anything you want to ensure is in the letter.</span>
72            Writing recommendations is a part of my job, and I'm happy to do it if I can help you, but it's important that you ask the <i>right</i> people.  If you think I
73            have less than a paragraph of things to say about you personally, you are better off asking someone who knows you better.
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