1) Information

Provide the following information to your recommender:
a. Date recommendation is due.
b. Person to whom the letter should be sent and/or address to which the letter should be sent.
c. Specific title or designation of program to which you are applying.
d. Statement of purpose (or equivalent).
e. C.V.
f. Reminder of the contact you have had with the recommender. If applicable, you could provide a copy of a paper, or papers, that you have written for the person's course.

2) Timing

To assure that your letter of recommendation arrives within the specific deadline, you will need to allow the recommender at least three weeks to prepare your recommendation.
a. A gentle reminder as the deadline nears is often helpful. At the same time, try not to be an annoyance.

3) Preparation

a. Ask the recommender if they know you well enough and are willing to write a good letter of recommendation letter for you.
b. Many programs require that a form accompany the letter of recommendations; if such a form is required, please use a typewriter to complete those fields that concern the referee's name, position, and so on. The recommender can sign and date the form.
c. It is helpful to provide correctly addressed and stamped envelopes.