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References support your application to jobs, internships, fellowships, graduate and professional schools. The CDO maintains a reference file for your convenience, to store references until they are needed.
Select your recommenders carefully. They should be able to write convincingly and supportively of you. Professors are busy people; it would be wise to request a letter of reference far in advance of any applications deadlines you may have. It is your responsibility to follow up with your recommenders.
Meet with your Recommenders
Contact recommenders early in the semester when they are not as busy. Make an appointment to discuss your coursework, interests and experiences, and to ensure that the letter they write has the correct “focus.” Give your recommender a copy of your resume, and tell them how you plan on using their reference. Also, provide them with a signed if you want the reference to be confidential. Determine a reasonable deadline for completing the reference, taking into account your recommender’s schedule and your application deadlines.
Off-Campus Recommenders
You may want to request letters of reference from off-campus faculty, work supervisors, colleagues, or other sources. Provide the recommender with the same information as explained above. You may have to e-mail or phone them if they are not local. Fax or mail a copy of your signed waiver form (if desired), and provide them with a stamped envelope addressed to the CDO for their convenience.
Format of Letters
Remind your recommender to print their reference on letterhead, and to include their signature, title, contact information, credentials, etc. If the letter is to be marked “confidential,” the letter must be attached to a signed waiver form.
Have all of your references sent to the CDO.
Recommenders should send their references directly to the CDO to be filed. It is your responsibility to check that the references you requested have arrived at the CDO.
Smith College Career Development Office
84 Elm Street - Drew Hall
Northampton, MA 01063
FAX: 413-585-2596
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Letters may be “confidential” or “non-confidential,” depending on your preference. Some recommenders will only write confidential letters. Many graduate and professional schools require confidential references, so be sure to review their reference policies.
Complete only the top portion of the waiver form, including your name AND class year.
A signed waiver form indicates that you waive your right to view the reference, therefore making it “confidential.” Always provide your recommender with a signed (or unsigned) waiver form when you ask them to write a recommendation.
TIP: If you plan on requesting several references at once, it may be wise to print (and sign) several copies of the waiver form and distribute them to your recommenders.
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PLEASE ALLOW A WEEK TO PROCESS
YOUR REFERENCE REQUEST.
Reference Sending Service
When you are ready for your references to be sent in support of an application, e-mail your request to Nancy Hill at (you may also fax to 413-585-2596). Your request MUST include the following:
- Your full name & class year
- Which references you need sent (names of recommenders)
- Full address of where references are to be sent
Photocopies of the original references will be mailed in a packet with a return receipt card enclosed. Note: If the packet contains one or more “confidential” references, the entire packet is then considered “confidential.”
Reference Pick-Up Service
If your application requires that references must accompany other materials, you may request a sealed confidential envelope for pick up at our office. The packet is prepared the same as mailed references. Please provide the names of the organizations where the references will be submitted.
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Reference services are FREE for one year following your graduation.
After that, there is a fee of $3.00 per packet. Please note in your reference request how you’d like to pay. We prefer credit card payments, which should be phoned in (as e-mail is not guaranteed secure). We also accept checks (payable to Smith College).
For questions about general references, contact Nancy Hill at or 413-585-2582
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The CDO stores and manages references for students and alums applying to medical school. Please be sure to provide your recommenders with signed if you'd like your references to be marked "confidential."
The CDO uses an electronic service called , which allows us to upload a PDF of your reference letters to the schools to which you are applying. This service is only available to Smith students and alumnae.
We charge a flat fee of $40 (no charge for current students). This fee covers one record in VirtualEval. For each additional record, there is a fee of $10. Example: if you are applying to both Allopathic and Osteopathic schools, you would require two records.
For more information about the medical school references process or VirtualEvals, please contact Emily Wheeler at .
Other important contacts if you're considering applying to medical school:
, Ph.D, Professor of Biological Sciences and Head of the Board of Pre-Health Advisors (413) 585-3821
, CDO Pre-Med Advisor (413) 585-2582
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Law references should be sent directly to by your recommenders. You may also choose to have a copy sent to the CDO to have on file for future use.
If you already have a reference on file at the CDO and need it sent to LSAC, please e-mail Emily Wheeler at . The appropriate LSAC reference forms must be provided for each request.
The fees for general references apply to Law references.
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Transcripts are available through the Smith College .
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