Academisch Coordinator Aanbevelingsbrief

Academic Programs requires applicants to provide two letters of recommendation to accompany your internship application. Institutions, like university, prefers that students provide 1) one recommendation from an academic reference such as a professor or school administrator, and 2) one recommendation from a current or previous employer. If you have not been previously employed, you can obtain a letter of recommendation from a volunteer supervisor or provide a second academic recommendation.

Your academic recommendation letter should include comments on your class performance, your intellectual abilities, and your potential to be a successful intern. Ideally, you will want to ask a professor with whom you have successfully worked recently and who knows your Academic Programmability’s, either through

classroom interactions, conversations outside of class, or a research project that you have completed.

Some professors are willing to write recommendations for students who have done an excellent job in a large lecture class, even if there was little personal interaction. If you are applying for an internship where a foreign language will be required, have a professor write a letter attesting to your language level and comment on your potential to use the language in a professional setting.

Your professional recommendation should come from a former employer or someone who has been a supervisor for a volunteer project in which you have participated. If possible, you will want to choose someone who has known you for a while and is familiar with your abilities, skills, and aspects of your personality, that will contribute to your prospective international internship placement.

Making your request Writing an effective recommendation takes time and effort, however, most professors and mentors are happy to do this for well-deserved students/employees. It is important to make your request well in advance—at least three or four weeks before the deadline. Meet in person, if possible. Visit your professor or former employer during office hours or by appointment. This creates an opportunity for this person to get to know you better and allows time for questions that will help when writing the recommendation. Moreover, seeing you in person will make it easier for your professor to recall previous interactions with you.

Tell this person about the internship program, why you are applying, and what you hope to learn. Then explain that two letters of recommendation are required and that you were wondering if this person would recommend you for the program. 

Some ways to word your request might be:

When someone has agreed to help you, make the job easier by offering to e-mail him or her information about the international internship program and why you are applying. You might provide a brief description of the program and a paper or exam you wrote for the instructor's course (preferably the copy that was returned to you with comments), or a brief one-page resume.

As the deadline approaches, send the person writing your recommendation a courteous reminder. Afterward, send a brief thank-you note. Keep this person informed as to the competition proceeds. Once someone has written a recommendation letter for you, s/he will generally be willing to adapt and update the letter for other purposes in the future. It is always a good idea to keep a copy of this letter in a safe place for future use.

If your request is declined; perhaps s/he doesn't know you well enough; your academic performance in his/her class was not strong enough, or you haven't allowed adequate time. Don’t worry this is not the end of the world; it just means you need to ask someone else. In some cases, someone who declines to write a recommendation may be willing to offer suggestions for identifying others who would be more appropriate for you.

It is always wise to collect letters of recommendation from supervisors of any professional or volunteer positions you hold. After you complete your international internship, this will be a new opportunity for you to ask your supervisor for a letter of recommendation that can be used to enhance your candidacy for future applications. 

Using this document template guarantees you will save time, cost, and effort! It comes in Microsoft Office format, is ready to be tailored to your personal needs. An easy way to start completing your document is to download this Academic Recommendation Letter template now for your own benefit!