Instructions for students seeking letters of recommendation
Instructions for Students Seeking Letters of Recommendation
I am honoured when students ask me to write letters of recommendation, and I am committed to writing thoughtful, detailed letters for students whose work I know well. Because strong letters are grounded in sustained academic or research experience, I am only able to provide references for students whom I know well enough to write a strong, detailed, and personalized letter.
I am generally able to provide letters for:
- Graduate students I supervise or mentor.
- Honours thesis students.
- Students who have worked in my research lab for an extended period and made substantial contributions.
- Other students with whom I have had substantial academic or research interactions over time.
I am generally not able to provide letters based solely on:
- Taking one of my courses.
- Brief volunteer or research assistant experiences.
- Limited interactions that occurred several years ago.
Although I greatly enjoy teaching my mindfulness course (PSYCH 417), its experiential nature does not typically allow me to evaluate many of the qualities that graduate programs and scholarship committees seek in reference letters (e.g., research ability, academic writing, critical thinking, independence). Students applying to graduate or professional programs are therefore usually better served by referees who have supervised their research or evaluated more substantial academic work.
If I do not feel I know you well enough to write a strong and specific letter, I will likely encourage you to seek a referee who can provide a more meaningful recommendation.
Requesting a Reference
If you believe your experience with me fits the criteria above, please email me well in advance of your earliest application deadline (ideally at least four weeks). I will let you know whether I am able to provide a reference.
Please note that, due to research, teaching, and service commitments, I may occasionally need to decline otherwise appropriate requests if I am unable to devote the time needed to write a strong, personalized letter.
If I Have Agreed to Provide a Reference
Please do not complete the forms below unless I have already confirmed by email that I am able to provide you with a reference.
Once I have agreed to provide a reference, please complete the following:
1. Reference Letter Background Information Form
[Complete the Reference Letter Background Information Form]
Please complete this form once per application cycle. It provides the background information and supporting materials I need to prepare a detailed reference.
Please complete the form and provide all requested supporting materials (e.g., CV and transcript) at least four weeks before your first reference deadline.
2. Reference Application/Deadline Form
[Complete the Reference Application/Deadline Form]
Please complete this form separately for every application for which I will be providing a reference.
Application details and program-specific reference requirements must be provided at least two weeks before each reference deadline. Applications added with less than two weeks' notice may not be possible to accommodate.
The actual reference request/submission link should reach me at least 7 days before the reference deadline, or as soon as the application system permits.
Important
You are responsible for ensuring that all application information, deadlines, and submission requirements entered through these forms are complete and accurate.
Please do not rely on separate email reminders to communicate deadlines that have already been entered through the Reference Application/Deadline Form. If you add another application later, please submit a new form response for that application.
My goal is to ensure that every reference I provide is thoughtful, detailed, and genuinely helpful in supporting students' applications. Thank you for your understanding.