This information is for students requesting a letter of recommendation from Dr. de la Torre in the Department of Biology at San Francisco State University.
In order to write the strongest possible letter of recommendation, it is essential that you allow sufficient time for preparing the letter. For this reason, students should contact me a minimum of ONE MONTH BEFORE the letter deadline.
Before I agree to write the letter, you must meet with me to discuss your application and career goals. By better understanding your goals, I can write a stronger, and more personalized, letter of recommendation. Be aware that a letter for entry into a professional program (e.g., medical school or CLS) will emphasize different aspects of your academic performance compared to a letter for a scholarship program.
For letters of recommendation, please provide the following information:
Please note that I will only consent to write a recommendation if you have waived your rights to see the letter of recommendation. If you do not waive your right to access, many institutions will consider that the letter of recommendation is not confidential, and it may be discounted by evaluators at the recipient institution.
If you are requesting more than five letters at one time, please provide a detailed list of the schools, programs and due dates.
Even if I have written a letter for you before, it is a good idea to provide all of this information again (so that we do not lose time looking for the previous information)
Please remember that you should REMIND me (e-mail is fine) about the letter approximately one week before the deadline.
Before I agree to write the letter, you must meet with me to discuss your application and career goals. By better understanding your goals, I can write a stronger, and more personalized, letter of recommendation. Be aware that a letter for entry into a professional program (e.g., medical school or CLS) will emphasize different aspects of your academic performance compared to a letter for a scholarship program.
For letters of recommendation, please provide the following information:
- Complete name of schools and programs (or scholarship programs) to which you are applying
- Form(s) to be sent with letter. In some cases, the school/scholarship program has a form or template for submitting the letter of recommendation.
- A copy of your unofficial transcript
- A copy of your personal statement to be submitted to the school (or scholarship program). I am looking for an explanation of your career goals or type of job or graduate school you hope to enter if this is not included in your personal statement.
- If you were a student in my class, please indicate the specific details (class, semester, and grade received)
- Specific deadlines for receipt of the letters.
Please note that I will only consent to write a recommendation if you have waived your rights to see the letter of recommendation. If you do not waive your right to access, many institutions will consider that the letter of recommendation is not confidential, and it may be discounted by evaluators at the recipient institution.
If you are requesting more than five letters at one time, please provide a detailed list of the schools, programs and due dates.
Even if I have written a letter for you before, it is a good idea to provide all of this information again (so that we do not lose time looking for the previous information)
Please remember that you should REMIND me (e-mail is fine) about the letter approximately one week before the deadline.