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Frequently Asked Questions Q:how many faculty recommendations are required/recommended and can they be emailed? A:Two letters of recommendation are required, the first must be from a faculty member who has had you in class or that you have worked for. The second can either be from a faculty member OR from a previous non-faculty employer/supervisor. It is fine to have them emailed to reu@cs.umass.edu |
Q: I was filling out the application and noticed that there was not a recommendation form. Is there any specific information that I should tell my references to include in my recommendation? A:No, we have no specific form and simply require 2 letters of recommendation to be sent (email is fine to reu@cs.umass.edu) Here is some information the letters might include but there are no exact guidelines. Perhaps they would describe how the recommender has come to know you. They might explain why he/she believes you are a good candidate for the REU program. The work you have completed, and the strengths and qualities you possess that would help you to be successful in our program might also be discussed.
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Q: I have one letter of recommendation so far from a professor. I was curious as to what your preferences were for these letters. Should I find someone in the computer science program, any professor, or even say the superintendent of my high schools public school district.
A: My advice regarding a letter of recommendation would be to find a professor or teacher who you know has a good sense of your qualities and abilities... this would probably be someone you have had as an instructor or for whom you have worked. Of course, a recommendation from a CS professor is always welcomed since this is a CS-focused program but I would say the most important factor is for the letter to be strongly supportive of your application to the REU program by describing why you are a good candidate. It is easiest for someone to write such a letter if they have interacted with you a fair bit be it from having you participate in class, academic projects, work outside of class, etc.
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