Who you should ask also strongly depends on the type of program that you’re applying to. Graduate admissions committees want to get a good sense of your ability to perform well in their program, and this is difficult to accomplish if your recommender only knows you as a face in the crowd. It’s important to ask someone who knows you well, even if they are less well known than other professors at your institution. Ideally, this should be someone who you worked with outside of just the classroom context-for example, a former professor who supervised your research. Your first step is to decide who you’ll ask to write a letter for you. Frequently asked questions about recommendation letters.Step 5: Remind your recommenders of upcoming deadlines.Step 4: Share your resume and other materials.Step 3: Ask for a letter of recommendation.