๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป (๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐ธ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด)
For graduate school, scholarships, or jobs; your letters of recommendation can make or break your application.
But hereโs the secret: strong letters arenโt written overnight. Theyโre built over time.
Hereโs exactly how to secure one without the awkwardness ๐
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ ๐๐๐ธ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป
โ A lukewarm letter from a famous professor is weaker than a detailed letter from someone who knows you well.
โณ Choose people who can speak about your work ethic, impact, and growth.
โก ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐
โ Donโt wait until deadline week.
โณ Attend office hours, assist with projects, ask questions, let them see your curiosity and commitment.
โข ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐บ
โ Provide your rรฉsumรฉ, transcript, draft SOP, and a summary of the opportunity.
โณ The clearer the context, the stronger and more specific the letter.
โฃ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ
โ Instead of: โCan you write me a recommendation?โ
Say: โWould you feel comfortable writing me a strong recommendation highlighting my research and leadership?โ
โณ This gives them space to decline if they canโt write positively.
โค ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ + ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐น๐น๐
โ Ask at least 4โ6 weeks before the deadline.
โณ Send polite reminders as the deadline approaches.
โฅ ๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐
โ A handwritten note or a thoughtful email goes a long way.
โณ And let them know the outcome; mentors love to celebrate your wins too.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ The best recommendation letters are stories of your character, capability, and potential.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ฌ Whatโs the hardest part for you when asking for recommendation letters?
โป๏ธ Repost to help someone secure stronger recommendations without the awkwardness.
#GraduateSchool #Mentorship
14 - 4
Three (๐) ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฌ๐ค yourself before applying for a PhDโฆ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
Pursuing a PhD is a monumental commitment of your time, energy, and finances.
Yet, too often, people embark on this journey because it feels like the โnext logical stepโ or because itโs what their peers are doing.
Before you make this life-changing decision, ask yourself these three critical questions:
1๏ธโฃ What is My Whyโ
โ Do you have a clear reason for pursuing a PhD?
โ Is it driven by passion, a desire to solve a specific problem, or a requirement for your career goals?
2๏ธโฃ Can I Handle the Isolation and Persistence It Demandsโ
โ Are you ready for years of working independently on a narrow research topic?
โ Do you have the resilience to handle setbacks, rejections, and long stretches of uncertainty?
3๏ธโฃ Do I Know the Alternative Pathwaysโ
โ Have you fully explored non-PhD options like professional degrees, certifications, or industry-focused roles?
โ Are there other ways to achieve your goals without committing to a 4โ7-year program?
๐ Reality check: Many career paths, including consulting, policy-making, or even academia, donโt always require a PhD.
Knowing your destination will help you decide if a PhD is the best route or if another path can take you there faster and more effectively.
โโโโโโโ-
The PhD journey is not a race or a box to check.
Itโs a deliberate choice that should align with your long-term vision.
The worst reason to pursue a PhD is because it seems like โeveryone else is doing it.โ
The best reason?
Because youโve considered all your options and itโs the one path that genuinely excites and fulfills you.
๐ฏ So, ask yourself:
โ Am I ready to invest years into this journey?
โ Do I fully understand whatโs ahead?
โ Is this truly the path for me or the one others expect me to take?
What made you decide to pursue (or not pursue) a PhD?
#PhDJourney #CareerDecisions #Groupthink #GradSchool
37 - 3
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๐ง #BandaGlobalForum #LeadershipUnlocked
10 June 2015