Anne Germain, Ph.D.

For Students Requesting Letters of Recommendation

        If you want a letter of recommendation from me, please send me the following at least six weeks in advance. More time will allow for a stronger letter:

 
1. Send me an email stating your interest in receiving a letter and the following materials for me to review:
    
    
   • A brief summary of the program you are applying to
   • Resume/CV
   • Personal Statement that you are using for the program you are applying to
 
 
2. Once you have sent the above materials, I will let you know if I can write a strong letter of recommendation for you. After you receive confirmation, send me the following information (where applicable) in addition to a draft of the letter of recommendation:
    
    
   • Due date for the letter
   • Name of school/program
   • Name of person you are applying to work with
   • How to submit the letter (i.e. mail, email, or uploaded to a website). If the letter has to be given to you, indicate the date you intend to mail your application so that I can be sure to get it to you in time.
   • NOTE THAT IF YOU MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR LIST, YOU MUST SEND ME AN UPDATE.
 
 
If you need examples to assist in the drafting process, please consult the reference letter examples on this page. Here are a few tips:
 
 
• Start by making an outline of what you would like to be conveyed by the letter of recommendation
• Do not be shy. Letters of recommendation are not a time to be modest
• State the purpose of the letter and the capacity in which I know you
• Remember to use the correct voice (i.e. write from the perspective of the letter writer)
• Include any significant work you have contributed to our research team
 
 
3. The draft you send me is just that, a draft. I will make extensive edits to it, so it becomes a reference letter you can truly be proud of. Once the letter is complete, I will send you confirmation that the letter has been uploaded or sent to the proper location
 
 
4. If you do not hear from me within one week of sending me your draft, send me a reminder
 
 
5. Please send me an email reminder five days before each deadline. I try to make sure to do these without reminders, but this is the best way for us both to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks during the busy letter-writing season.
 
 
6. If you would like my feedback on your statement, I'd be happy to provide that if you add a couple of extra weeks to the typical timeline. Please email me a copy.
 
 
7. If you are using a system that would allow me to upload the letter online, please enter as much of my information ahead of time as possible. For your reference:
    
    

   Anne Germain, Ph.D.

   Associate Professor of Psychiatry

   University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

   3811 O'Hara St

   Pittsburgh, PA 15213

   Phone: (412) 383-2168

   Fax: (412) 383-5412

   germax@upmc.edu

 
 
8. Last, but not least, if you ask me for a recommendation and I complete one for you, please do me the courtesy of letting me know what the outcome of your search is.