Letters of Recommendation

The MPP application requires three letters of recommendation. Choosing the right recommenders and giving them enough lead time are the two most important things you can do to make this part of your application strong.

Who to ask

Your recommenders should speak to your academic abilities, your capacity for analytical thinking, and your potential to succeed in graduate-level policy studies.

Letters from professors or instructors are preferred over letters from employers. If you are a current college senior or recent graduate, at least two of your three letters should come from professors. If you have been out of school for several years, at least one letter should come from a professor — the remaining letters can come from professional supervisors or employers who can speak to your analytical and policy-relevant work.

How to request letters

Letters of recommendation are submitted through your online application account. Once your account is set up, you can enter your recommenders' contact information and the system will send them instructions for submitting their letters directly.

A few important reminders

1. Start the process early. Give your recommenders as much notice as possible — ideally several weeks before the deadline.
2. Let your recommenders know the application deadline. The system does not notify them of the deadline automatically.
3. Do not wait for letters before submitting your application. Submit as soon as all other sections are complete and your recommenders' contact information has been entered. Letters can come in after your application is submitted.