Letter of Recommendation

If you’re planning to apply for a graduate program, internship, job, fellowship, or other opportunity and would like a letter of recommendation from me, please read the following guidelines carefully before making your request.

✅ Who I Can Write For

I am happy to write recommendations for students who:

  • Have taken at least one full course with me OR have worked on a research project with me
  • If we have interacted in the context of a reading group or organizing.
  • Can be identified by name, work, and engagement.
  • Are applying for opportunities aligned with their academic or professional goal

🗓️ When to Ask

  • Minimum notice: Please request your letter at least 2 weeks in advance of the deadline
  • If deadlines are spread out, send me a full list of deadlines upfront

🧾 What to Include in Your Request Email

Subject line: Recommendation Request – [Full Name]

In the body of the email, please include:

  • Full Name
  • Batch
    • (e.g., BA Sociology, Batch of 2022–2025)
  • Course(s) you took with me
    • Include course title, semester, and year
    • e.g., “Gender and Society – Spring 2024”
  • Purpose of the Letter
    • e.g., MA application, internship, job, scholarship
  • Deadline for Submission
    • Be precise: e.g., “July 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM IST”
  • Details of Submission
    • Include upload link, email address, or instructions (e.g., should I receive a link after you submit the application?)
  • A brief paragraph reminding me of your engagement in the course
    • What assignments you submitted
    • Topics or discussions that interested you
    • Any class participation, presentations, or office-hour conversations you’d like me to recall
  • Specific qualities you’d like me to highlight, if any
    • e.g., writing skills, research ability, collaborative work, leadership, etc

📎 Documents to Attach

Please attach the following:

  • Your CV or resume
  • Your Statement of Purpose / Cover Letter / Application Essay (drafts are okay)
  • A list of programs/institutions you’re applying to, along with

🔄 Follow-Up

  • Don’t hesitate to send me reminders if I have agreed to send it.  Please send me a reminder a week before deadline.
  • Do notify me of your final results—I’d love to know where you land!

❗ When I Might Decline

I may politely decline if:

  • I don’t know your work well enough to write a strong letter
  • You ask with less than 2 weeks’ notice
  • Your request is vague, incomplete, or generic
  • The opportunity seems unrelated to your academic work or goals

I wish you the very best!