Complexity Explorer Santa Few Institute

Once you have identified a person who has agreed to write you a letter of recommendation, it is time to provide them more information about what they should write. In advance, you should prepare two documents:

 

(1) A list of specific experiences or qualifications that you would like them to mention in their letter and that align with the goals of the letter. Ideally these should include experiences or qualifications that the recommender has personal knowledge of – for instance, if they were a professor for a class, then the accomplishments they mention about you should include those you achieved in their class. Some things you include in your list may only be known to the recommender because you have told them, but these should be secondary to the ones that are known first-hand to the recommender.

 

Some examples of possible experiences or qualifications could be:

• received an "A–" grade in Multivariate Calculus, among highest in the class even though I had to miss two weeks because of a family emergency
• received 98% on final exam in Organic Chemistry II
• attended office hours every week to discuss my particular interest in microfinance loans and the impact on social cohesion
• wrote final research paper on quantum mechanics in biochemical systems that recieved an "A" grade
• served as discussion section leader for Physics 1A because of strong performance in upper division courses; received postitive reviews from students in the course
• tutored high school students in basic algebra through involvement with college's community outreach program
• helped established our college chapter of climate change club and served as events organizer

etc.

 

(2) Your CV/résumé. This is a part of the UCR application, but you should also prepare a copy for your recommender.

 

When they agree to write the letter, email them with the following information:

• Thank them for their support
• Tell them briefly why you are specifically interested in the UCR program
• Remind them what the UCR program is looking for in their letter
• Include your list of experiences and qualifications and your CV/résumé
• Confirm that their email address you are using is the one they would like to use for the letter
• Let them know that an email with instructions will come directly from the application system – noreply@mail.smapply.io – and sometimes goes to spam.
• Remind them the letter is due January 11, 2023
• Provide them with education@santafe.edu in case of problems or questions about submitting their letter

 

A template email is provided below. You are welcome to create your own.

 

---

Dear [______],

 

Thank you for your support of my application to the Undergraduate Complexity Research program at the Santa Fe Institute. The summer program focuses on computational and mathematical modeling of complex systems. I am very excited about this program because [e.g. "it is a good opportunity to experience independent research", "I can combine my interests in applied math and literature", "complexity science seems like a useful framework for many of the questions that interest me", etc.].

 

The program asks that the letter of recommendation address the applicant's intellectual strengths, work habits, and ability to collaborate, as well as potential as an independent researcher.

 

I am including a list of some of my relevant accomplishments to help with the letter, as well as my current CV/résumé. [Attach these documents to the email.]

 

I will use this email address for you unless you let me know otherwise. An email with instructions for the letter will come directly from the application system – noreply@mail.smapply.io. These emails sometimes go to spam, so please check there or let me know if you do not receive that email within a day.

 

Again, the letter is due January 11, 2023.

 

If you have any questions or problems submitting the letter, please contact education@santafe.edu.

 

[End with your preferred closing and name]