Resources for Faculty Recommenders
Many graduate school and fellowship applications now have a standardized application portal that requires the applicant to register their letter writers within the system; once registered, writers will receive a link to submit via email. Some national fellowships have their own application system which includes the submission of letters of recommendation (eg, Fulbright, Goldwater, and Marshall), while others ask for letters to be submitted to the national foundation only after the applicant has received endorsement from the college (eg, Churchill, Rhodes).
Applicants are instructed to register their recommenders for any letters that should come directly to the Vassar Committee on Fellowships, and this will automate an email from our application management platform SurveyMonkey Apply that includes a link to submit their reference. If you have any trouble locating this email, log in to SurveyMonkey Apply or email fellowships@vassar.edu for assistance.
Encourage the applicant to share directly with you details about the fellowship or program to which they are applying, a copy of their resume/CV, a draft personal statement, additional information about the selection criteria for the fellowship, and any other information that would be helpful to ease your writing process!
General Resources for Writing Recommendation Letters
Writing Recommendation Letters: A Faculty Handbook
Tips for Writing Recommendation Letters
Avoiding Gender Bias in Reference Writing
Resources for Writing Recommendations for Specific Fellowships
If you have been asked to write a letter for one of the following fellowships, see specific guidance from the foundation or organization:
Churchill - Recommendation Letter Instructions
Fulbright - Instructions for English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Recommendation Writers
Fulbright - Instructions for Study/Research Recommendation Writers
Marshall Scholarship - Information for Recommenders
Rhodes Scholarship - Guidance for Referees