I am happy to provide letters of evaluation to students who request them. Please make an appointment so that we can discuss your plans, and how I can best assist you. Please understand that I write these letters for many people, so I need your help in locating information about you. It is acceptable to ask for many letters of recommendation, provided you take care of all the routine information that is requested. I will inform you when I have sent letters; but please check with me close to the deadlines if you haven't heard from me. For maximum efficiency, I need the following things from you (hard copy, and all in
one clearly labeled folder):
An unofficial copy of your transcript.
Mark the courses you took from me. Mostly you will have taken a course from me
this term or last term that I remember well, but you may also have taken one from me last year ... or was it the year before?
Your statement of purpose, and any other information you think might be
helpful.
One single sheet of paper that lists the names of the departments and schools to which you are applying, and the
deadline dates. This is my record of the letters I have sent, and when
they were sent.
Recommendation forms from each school. If there is no form, and only a letter is
requested, please note that. If the recommendation is to be submitted electronically, please note that and
give any information I need for the procedure.
Sign the waiver of access on each recommendation form (paper or electronic). If there is no place for
such a thing, obtain a waiver of access form for each application from the OSU Physics Office. Fill it out and include it in your package. I do not write letters unless they are confidential.
Fill in the portion of the form that requests this routine information. Also supply it for the electronic forms, if possible.
Name: Janet Tate
Title: Professor of Physics
Department: Physics
Address: Oregon State University, 301 Weniger Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6507
email: tate@physics.oregonstate.edu
phone: (541) 737-1700
fax: (541) 737-1683
Adhesive labels with the addresses typed or neatly printed on them. Stamps and envelopes are not
necessary. If you wish to
supply envelopes, obtain OSU envelopes from the Physics Office, or use pre-printed
envelopes provided by the school to which you are applying (write the OSU
return address on these). Some schools give applicants the option of submitting all the recommendations
along with their applications. I prefer to send the recommendation directly to the school.
