Letters of recommendation
I am happy to support my students' pursuits of their academic and professional goals by writing letters of recommendation (LOR). It is one of the best parts of my career to see students achieve their goals outside of my classroom/lab! A strong LOR is one that is personalized and specific. How is this achieved? The following are some of my thoughts:
You may have heard of the assertion-evidence model for effective communication (https://www.assertion-evidence.com/), which is how I write my LORs. A student may have received an A in my class, but without specific examples or student-instructor interactions, the content of my letter is weak.
In contrast, I might be able to write the following portion of a strong and compelling letter, which is independent of the student’s grade.
How to receive a strong letter of recommendation from Dr. Kim:
Other tips:
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I am happy to support my students' pursuits of their academic and professional goals by writing letters of recommendation (LOR). It is one of the best parts of my career to see students achieve their goals outside of my classroom/lab! A strong LOR is one that is personalized and specific. How is this achieved? The following are some of my thoughts:
You may have heard of the assertion-evidence model for effective communication (https://www.assertion-evidence.com/), which is how I write my LORs. A student may have received an A in my class, but without specific examples or student-instructor interactions, the content of my letter is weak.
- Assertion: Student A received an A in my class.
- Evidence: The accumulated points of the exams, assignments, and other assessments of the course exceeded 90%.
In contrast, I might be able to write the following portion of a strong and compelling letter, which is independent of the student’s grade.
- Assertion: Student B showed exceptional determination and resilience in my class, and I am confident they would succeed in your rigorous Master's degree program.
- Evidence: I knew from their frequent in-class participation and thoughtful follow-up questions that student B was highly engaged with the material. Despite a full schedule that included demanding work and family commitments, Student B came to see me consistently in office hours to discuss study strategies and course content. This included writing notes in the Cornell style and attending the on-campus Student Success Center to receive individual tutoring. By the end of the semester student B had displayed the greatest grade improvement in my class, which is a testament to their determination and resilience. Student B is now a tutor at the Student Success Center helping other students improve their study strategies in the same course!
How to receive a strong letter of recommendation from Dr. Kim:
- Ask me in person (office hours is a great venue) or email whether I would be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation for you. Briefly describe the program or opportunity that requires the LOR. There will be opportunity in the form (see below) for more details. In your request, be sure to include the due date of the letter(s).
- Ideally, you will provide at least two weeks advanced noticed, though more time is better.
- If I am able to write you a strong LOR, I will ask for the following items:
- Completing this Google Form
- Your CV / resume
- Personal statement(s) that you are submitting as part of your application. Draft versions are fine, but more complete versions will allow me to write a stronger LOR, and I may be able to offer feedback on your statement.
- Optional: An in person/office hours/Zoom meeting to discuss the program to which you are applying and why this opportunity is important to you.
Other tips:
- Send a reminder email a few days before the deadline.
- If you are applying to multiple programs/opportunities, send a table/spreadsheet that includes the program name, deadline, instructions for submission, and any other relevant information.
- Having a strong letter of recommendation requires that you cultivate a relationship with your professor. Thus, even if you seek LORs from other professors, participate and ask questions in class, attend office hours, and be as engaged as possible.
- Keep in touch after the course you took with me is completed (i.e. an email every semester/year sharing what you have been up to).
- Let me know about the outcome of your application. I want to celebrate in your successes and offer support and feedback if you were not successful this time around. I applied to over a dozen jobs over the course of two years to land my current position at CSUSM! Despite the time it took, I am so happy with the way things turned out as I love my role teaching students and conducting research here! Professors and mentors who wrote strong LORs for me were key to my success, so I want to help others achieve their goals as well!
Summer research and internship opportunities
RIT Internship Database
NSF REU Programs: Biological Sciences
Pathways to Science