Guidelines for Letters of Recommendation

Students who seek letters of recommendation to law school, graduate school and for employment purposes should follow the guidelines below.

1. It is my policy to write letters of recommendations for students who have taken at least two courses with me (one of which must not have been a summer mini-semester class), AND for those students who performed above average in those classes (minimum grade of B). While I do make exceptions to this policy, I must feel that I know your work well enough to put my own reputation on the line in assessing your potential for future study or employment.

2. Students who seek letters of recommendation should make an appointment with me to solicit a letter of recommendation and to confirm that I will, in fact, write on their behalf. Please do not assume, even based on the above criteria, that I will write for you.

3. Once I have agreed to write on your behalf, you have several obligations to fulfill:
 

a. Provide me with all of the materials at least 3 weeks prior to the date you need the letters of recommendation.

b. Submit one package with all necessary forms, envelopes and the below requested information.

c.  Please---fill out all of the information requested on the forms (hint: read them!). You need to type your name, social security number, mark whether you waive your right of access to the letter (your decision is irrelevant to me), and sign the form. I will not complete the forms on your behalf nor will I track you down to correct your oversight. In addition, you should type in my name, address, position, and other information requested. DO NOT HAND WRITE ANYTHING EXCEPT YOUR SIGNATURE. Relevant information regarding me as the reviewer is as follows:
 

Name: Dr. Rebecca Mae Salokar
Position: Associate Professor, Political Science
Institution or Affiliation: Florida International University
Address: Dept. of Political Science, University Park Campus, Miami, FL 33199
I will date and sign the forms once I have completed them.

d. Submit envelopes, addressed and stamped, for each letter of application. You must read the directions on all applications to graduate and law schools. Some schools require you to send the letters of recommendation with your application. Some want the letter to be sent from me directly to the university. Yet others require you to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service and have my letter sent directly to them.

e. Enclose with your forms and envelopes, the following for my information and to guarantee that my letter helps you as much as possible:

• A current SASS report with the courses that you took with me highlighted.
• Your current address and a phone number where you can be reached (no beepers) in case I have questions.
• A resume listing all of your education from high school to present, any honors or awards of distinction,
• If you have been employed during your college education, provide me with an estimate as to how many hours you have worked per week, how long you have been working and the type of work you have been engaged in.
• Note any extra-curricular school activities (clubs, fraternities, sororities, service organizations or honor societies) and whether you have played a leadership role in those organizations.
• Note any and all volunteer work since high school. For law students, this is especially important.
• Finally, include any information that you think is particularly relevant for your letter--personal achievements, family history, or matters that an admission's committee or employer would find interesting.


4. If you would like a copy of my letter for your files, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. This copy will be marked "copy;" you should not use it in the future for other references without my explicit permission.

5. Finally, I would very much like to know where you have been admitted or employed. Please keep me apprised of your application process.