Writing a letter of recommendation or serving as a reference to help you apply for study abroad programs, scholarships, fellowships, graduate programs, jobs, and other opportunities is an important part of my job, and I take it very seriously.
Throughout this page, reference includes any form of recommendation I provide on your behalf, including recommendation letters, reference checks, phone calls, emails, or evaluation forms.
Each semester, I serve as a reference for multiple current and former students. I want to provide the strongest possible support for your success, but I need your cooperation to do so. Please read the information below carefully.
1. Request Early (At Least 2 Weeks Ahead)
I have multiple responsibilities both within and outside the university, and my schedule fills up weeks in advance.
Recommendation letters: Please submit your request at least two weeks before the earliest deadline, although the earlier, the better. Writing a strong letter takes time (I spend about 1-3 hours per letter), and I want to be sure I can give your letter the time and attention it deserves.
References (No letters requested): If you would like me to serve as a reference, please let me know before listing my name and as early as possible. These requests are often more flexible than recommendation letters because reference checks typically occur later in the hiring process. However, advance notice helps me gauge my availability and gives us time to meet if needed.
- Last-minute requests may be possible only in limited circumstances, such as when I have previously served as a reference for you, only minimal updates are needed, and I can fit the request into my schedule.
- If you have multiple deadlines (e.g., graduate admission applications, job applications), the 2-week window applies to the earliest deadline. I am happy to submit multiple letters, but please understand that I may not be able to personalize/customize every recommendation individually.
Remember, snail mail takes more time.
2. Eligibility for a Letter
I will only agree to serve as a reference if I am confident I can speak positively about you. Typically, this means that you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- You have taken my course and earned an A or higher
- You work or have worked directly with me (as an advisee, lab member, research assistant, teaching assistant, etc.)
If you are currently enrolled in my class and have maintained strong performance up to the time of request, I may consider serving as a reference. Please note that my willingness to provide future references will depend on your performance throughout the remainder of the course.
If you don’t think I know you well enough to provide a strong reference, please do not choose me as a reference.
If you are not sure if you meet the criteria, please contact Nozomi first. We can have a conversation about what I can say about you and whether it will help your application.
3. Help Me Help You
Strong references include specific examples. I will do my best to provide them, but I also need your help! I need to know why you are asking me, among other instructors you know, to support your application.
- Did my class/teaching help prepare you for the opportunity? If so, tell me, instead of expecting me to guess.
- Did you do particularly well in my course, or receive positive feedback from me? If so, remind me! I have worked with many students, and I may not recall every detail. (Nothing personal!)
4. Submit the Request Form
If you have read and understood the information above, and still believe I am the right person to serve as a reference for you, please complete this survey. Some questions are required, while others are optional.
- If this is your first time asking me to serve as a reference — especially if time has passed since we last interacted each other — I strongly recommend completing the optional section.
- If I have previously served as a reference for you but you have some updates to share with me, please also complete the optional section to let me know what has changed.
Even when letters are not requested at the initial stage of an application, it is helpful to have your information in advance because hiring and selection processes often move quickly once candidates are shortlisted.
In some cases, we may schedule an additional face-to-face meeting to discuss your goals, but please complete this form first.
5. Close the Loop
I would love an update about the outcome of your application. There is nothing more rewarding for me than seeing you achieve your goals and succeed.
If the outcome is not what you had hoped for, I would still love to hear about it so I can offer you encouragement and continue to help you with other opportunities.
And please stay in touch! I enjoy hearing from former students.
Nozomi Tanaka 