Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation. Due to the high volume of applications, only three letters will be reviewed.

Requirements

• Letters must be written in English and come from faculty members or individuals familiar with your academic work.
• Professional letters may be required for specific programs.

Example:

• Master of Public Policy applicants: At least one professional letter and one academic letter are required.

Submission Process

Before Applying

• Prepare: Gather the full names and email addresses of your recommenders.
• Prior Applicants: Previous recommendations do not carry forward. All new letters must be submitted through the current application system.

During the Application Process

Submit your application without waiting for letters of recommendation to be completed.

• Register early: Add your recommenders’ email addresses as soon as possible to give them ample time to submit their letters. Recommenders can be added before submitting the application.
• Instructions for recommenders: Recommenders will receive an email with submission instructions. Once invited, they cannot be changed or removed.
• Using letter services: For services like Interfolio, use the recommender’s unique document email address in the application.
• Troubleshooting: Ensure recommenders select “Submit” after uploading their letters. If issues persist, they may contact gradapphelp@uos.org.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grants enrolled students the right to review their educational records, including letters of recommendation if the right is not waived.

• Waived FERPA Rights: The letter remains confidential and cannot be viewed by the student.
• Non-Waived FERPA Rights: Enrolled students may request access to the letter.
• Irrevocable Choice: Once a recommendation request is submitted, the FERPA status cannot be changed.

The decision to waive or not waive this right does not affect the application outcome.

Manage & Track Recommendations

Before Submitting the Application

• Log in to the application portal to monitor letter progress.
• Send reminders by selecting “Edit” next to the recommender’s name and clicking “Send Reminder.”

After Submitting the Application

• Track Status: See if the letter is in progress, submitted, or not started.
• View Waivers: Check if FERPA rights were waived.
• Send Reminders: Use the “Edit” option next to the recommender’s name to send reminders.

Letters Submitted via Letter Services

If letters were submitted through a letter service, confirm submission with the service provider to ensure successful delivery.