Student Requests for Letters of Recommendation

Student Requests for Letters of Recommendation

Please follow these guidelines if a MELP student requests a letter of recommendation.

English proficiency recommendations

Official English proficiency recommendations are made by MELP and not individual instructors. Students applying for University of Minnesota admission can request that MELP make an official recommendation based on their ETA score, grades, and teacher feedback. Students should ask for an “Admissions Recommendation Request Form” at the MELP front desk.

However, in certain cases admissions may request a letter of recommendation from a current instructor. After considering the additional questions below and deciding that it’s appropriate to write a letter for a student, instructors should include the following language in the letter of recommendation:

"As the instructor of this course, I can speak to the student's performance in my class, but I should note that official English proficiency recommendations come from the Minnesota English Language Program."

Admissions requirements at the University of Minnesota

Letters of recommendation are typically not required for first-year undergraduate admissions at the U of M, unless a student has been denied admission and is appealing the decision.

Transfer and graduate admissions decisions are made within the colleges, so some colleges may ask students to submit a letter of recommendation from a current instructor who can comment on the student’s performance in the class, attendance, and participation. In this case, MELP instructors can provide a general letter but should not make an English proficiency assessment.  

Other considerations

Questions to consider when deciding whether to write a letter of recommendation:

  1. Is a letter or recommendation required by admissions? (See admissions requirements above).

  2. Are you the best person to write the letter?  

  3. Can you give the student a positive recommendation?

  4. Can you provide specific information about the student’s performance in your class?

  5. Has the student given you adequate time to write the letter?

If you do not feel a letter of recommendation from you will support the student’s application for admission, you should communicate this directly to the student.

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