Guidelines for Requesting or Writing References for the CWS Summer Stipend and Directed Internship Programs
Faculty and staff members are faced with numerous requests to write letters of reference on behalf of students. For this reason, it is important to speak with your potential recommender about writing a letter as soon as possible. When requesting a letter of reference, ask the person if s/he would like to discuss your request in person. In order to facilitate what is a time-consuming process, always provide a potential recommender with appropriate information to help in writing a letter. Suggestions are listed below. It is important to remember that the person is not required to write these letters, so provide the individual with the option to decline.
A student needs to have her recommender submit only one letter of recommendation, even if she is applying for multiple internship programs through the CWS.
Faculty/staff will find it useful to have the following information:
- A resume or fact sheet about you.
- An up-to-date transcript.
- Copies of academic assignments, papers or exams which include faculty grades and comments.
- Information on the internship(s) or community service project(s) and the organization(s) to which you are applying.
- A copy of the essays you are submitting with your application.
If the person agrees to write a letter for you, please fill in the blanks and send the text below in the body of an email, not as an attachment. You should also indicate if you waive your right to read your letter of reference. While it is within your legal right not to sign a waiver, your recommender has the right to refuse to write a letter that is not confidential.
Dear____________________,
Thank you for writing a letter of recommendation for the CWS Summer Stipend Program/Directed Internship Program.
____I waive my right of access to this letter
____I do not waive my right of access to this letter
To the recommender, please include the following information in your recommendation:
- In what capacity and for what length of time have you known this student?
- One a scale of 1 to 4, would you recommend this student: 1) strongly recommend 2) recommend 3) recommend with reservation (please explain) and 4) do not recommend (please explain)
- Based on your knowledge of and relationship with this student, what would you identify as this applicant's greatest strength and biggest challenge?
- How would you rate the applicant's maturity and ability to adapt and adjust to environments that may be very different to those with which she is familiar?
- How would you rate the applicant's suitability and preparedness for the internship to which she is applying?
You will only need to write one reference for this student, even if the student is applying to multiple internship programs through the Center for Work and Service.
Recommendations should be emailed to by FirstClass to: cws-stipend-reference or cws-stipend-reference@wellesley.edu. This is a closed conference and can only be viewed by CWS staff.
Questions on these programs should be directed as follows:
- CWS Directed Internship Program to Teresita Ramos by email or at ext. 2246
- CWS Summer Stipend Program to Melissa Hawkins by email or at ext. 2357
Please click here for a Microsoft Word (.doc) version of these instructions.