Graduate Programs & Application Guidance

Application Guidance

Letters of recommendation for your application

Letters of recommendation (also called letters of reference) are extremely important to your application. Choose the people you ask to write these letters thoughtfully. Letter writers should be able to comment on your potential for successful graduate work from a position of experience. Typically, they will be academic faculty who have first-hand knowledge of your academic or scholarly performance and other attributes relevant to success in graduate school.

What letters should include

A good letter of reference will be printed on letterhead stationery and include the following:

• A statement of how the letter writer knows you and for how long.
• An indication of the letter writer’s professional expertise.
• Comments by the letter writer on your intellectual strengths, motivation, creativity, time-management skills, work ethic, collegiality, and ability to handle stress and work independently.
• Comments by the letter writer on your writing and verbal communication skills.
• An assessment by the letter writer of your potential for success in graduate school and abilities relative to others at your level of education and experience.

Tips for requesting letters of recommendation

Some tips to make it easier for your recommender to write the strongest possible letter:

• Ask each potential recommender if they are willing to act as a professional reference on your behalf. If they decline your request, move on.
• Let each recommender know the submission deadline and provide sufficient time for them to write and submit a strong letter.
• Provide your recommender with the expectations above for what should be included in the letter.
• Supply a copy of your curriculum vitae or resume to refresh their memory about your education and achievements. This is particularly important if you haven’t been in touch with them for a while.
• Supply a copy of your letter of intent. This will help them understand why you are applying to graduate school and what you hope to accomplish with your advanced education.

Your curriculum vitae or resume

You may choose to provide either a curriculum vitae or a resume. This document should summarize your preparation and experience relevant to graduate study in biological sciences. A curriculum vitae is most appropriate for applicants with career goals in academia, while a resume might be more appropriate for currently working professionals.

CVs and resumes will be reviewed equivalently and with reference to the career goals that you outline in your letter of intent. Find specific advice about what to include on a CV or resume through UNC’s Center for Career Readiness.

Your letter of intent

What your letter should include

At a minimum, your letter of intent should include the following:

• Your academic experience, interests and preparation
• Background qualifications for the program
• Your career goals and how this degree will help you achieve those goals
• The names of faculty members with whom you are interested in working
• A statement indicating whether or not you are seeking a graduate teaching assistantship (see below)

In addition to the required components listed above, you may include other information you believe would be helpful for the Graduate Committee to consider when reviewing your application. For example, some applicants may choose to explain anomalies in their transcript that coincided with significant life events.

In addition to communicating your goals and qualifications, your letter of intent serves as an example of your communication skills. Prepare your letter carefully, editing for logical flow, grammar, spelling and succinct prose.