Letters of Recommendation and Graduate School Advice

If you need a letter of recommendation from me, please note that I will only write for graduate students with whom I have worked personally, undergraduate students who are majors or minors in the Russian and East European Studies (REES) department or who have taken two (2) or more courses with me. A letter from a professor outside of your major, who has only known you for one semester, will simply not be as strong.

If you meet these requirements, please follow the following steps:

First, contact me by email, phone, or in person as soon as possible. Tell me exactly about the purpose of your letter. My office number is 215-746-0174 and I will receive all voice messages left on this line.

Second, give me least two (2) weeks (preferably a month) in advance of any deadline so I can write a strong letter. Please note that I write letters ONLY for graduate or professional school applications, academic awards and fellowships, study away programs, pre-professional or academic internships, and post-graduate jobs. In general, I do NOT write letters for general summer jobs, camp counselor positions, etc. although I am happy to serve as a reference provided that you check with me first.

Third, tell me the purpose of your letter (internship, scholarship, graduate school, job application, study away, etc.), your goals or motivations, and what you want from me as a recommender.

Fourth, include a short résumé or curriculum vitæ detailing your academic and extra-curricular activities, work experience, study abroad courses, etc. so I can add these details, if relevant, to my letter.

Fifth, send any forms (filled out in advance, please) and other material that you think might be helpful (personal statement, unofficial transcript, statement of purpose) to me before I write your letter. One important suggestion: if you have the option to waive access to your letter, you should do so. Confidential letters carry more weight, and I will not agree to write a letter for any student that I cannot support.

Sixth, please provide me with two or three paragraphs, written in the third person using your preferred pronouns, describing your relevant extracurricular activities. I will discuss your academic performance, but sometimes it is nice to include some information about your non-academic interests and experiences.

Finally, if you need future letters, give me enough advance warning (at least 14 days) so I can tailor the copy I already have on hand for your needs.

Best of luck and keep in touch!

Advice for prospective graduate school applicants

Attending graduate school in any field is an exciting yet daunting decision, regardless of what degree you pursue. It is not a choice to be made lightly. Unlike college, graduate school is a full-time job; you are training to enter a competitive, specialized profession. It is no different in this sense than attending law, business, or medical school.

If you are considering graduate school, especially in an academic field for a terminal degree, such as a Ph.D., I urge you to read any one of the guidebooks listed below, even if some are dated. For life after your terminal academic degree, the Kelsky book is invaluable as is her website, The Professor is In. You should also visit various websites for professional societies and academic organizations related to your intended field of study. If you are interested in learning about how to combine an academic career with a family, then I encourage you to look at my co-authored book, Professor Mommy: Finding Work/Family Balance in Academia. There is a chapter for potential graduate students.

Marybeth Gasman, Candid Advice for New Faculty Members: A Guide to Getting Tenure and Advancing Your Academic Career, (Meyers Education Press, 2021).

Robert L. Peters, Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning a Master's or a Ph.D (New York: Noonday Press, 1997).

Karen Kelsky, The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide To Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job(New York: Three Rivers Press, 2015).

Richard and Margot Jerrard, The Grad School Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Getting in and Succeeding (New York: Penguin, 1998).

Rachel Connelly and Kristen Ghodsee, Professor Mommy: Finding Work/Family Balance in Academia, (Baltimore: Roman and Littlefield, 2011).