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Letters of Recommendation
from Muriel Medard
Writing letters of recommendation is an important task
that I take seriously. I come into contact with so many students each
year that I am asked to write disproportionately large number of letters
as compared to other MIT faculty members. Many of these letters are replicates
but, in total, we send several letters every week. My Administrative Assistant,
Michael Lewy, and I have a set of firm guidelines that let us get the
letters out and still preserve the time I need for research, teaching,
Next House, and my family and friends.
Here are the rules:
1. Give us at least four weeks, and preferably six, to prepare
the letter. At the exceptionally hectic time around the holidays and final
exams, I need two months. That is, if you give me your information on
December 1, I probably cannot guarantee that I can get the letter out
before the first of February. I travel for professional reasons and have
a very busy schedule at MIT, especially at that time of year.
We need lots of advance notice. Please do not beg me to write on short
notice.
2. Make sure I know you well enough to write a detailed letter.
I may teach hundreds of students per year in the courses that I teach
and I have 350 co-housemates in Nexthouse. It is hard to get to know
all of you as well as I would like. If you need a detailed letter (e.g.,
for graduate school), make sure that I really know you well enough.
3. Once I have agreed to write a letter, deliver the following
materials to Michael Lewy (3-6171 or mlewy@mit.edu):
a.
Your c.v.
b. a transcript with your GPA
c. All of the forms that need to be filled out - with the following
information typed in (unless you download the forms, you will have to
use a typewriter for this):
Name: Muriel Medard
Occupation: Assistant Professor
Department: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Institution: MIT
Mailing Address: 32-D626, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: (617) 253-3167
E-mail: medard@mit.edu
d. A page printed out and a file in word format, emailed to mlewy@Mit.edu with a document that lists the addresses of all of the organizations to which letters are to be sent, and their due dates for receipt of the letter. Note on this list if we are to send the letter directly to the organization, or you will return to pick it up for inclusion in your application packet.
e. Pre-address
and stamp the envelopes for mailing. Place a return address in the upper
left hand corner which reads:
Prof. Muriel Medard
MIT Building 35-212
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
4. If you are applying to multiple places, please give me all requests
at once. It is inefficient for Michael and me if a student asks for three
letters for December 1, two letters for December 15, nine letters for
January 15, and then asks for letters for fellowships at various times
thereafter. We like to process each student to completion and then move
on to the next.
5. Sometimes a student wants to pick up the letters from my office
and send them in themselves. This process slows us down -- it is much
more efficient for us to send the letters out ourselves on our own time
scale. Unless the granting agency, employer or academic program specifically
demands that the student send in the letter, we do it ourselves.
Your cooperation in following the rules above will be greatly appreciated!
Muriel Medard