Letters of Recommendation for Undergraduates

​In some cases, students may wish to ask me for a letter of recommendation.  If you do please see the below guidelines:

    • In general, I will only write academic letters of recommendation for students who receive an A- or better in one of my classes. 
      • If you received a grade lower than an A-, I suggest that you get a recommendation from an instructor in whose class you received a higher grade unless I make special mention to you that I am available to write a letter for you.
    • In requesting the letter or discussing what you are applying for, there is no need for us to meet in person.  Email is fine.
    • For any letter of recommendation request, please contact me a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the due date.
    • Some law school applications ask you to get a more “personal” reference that is different from the standard letter of recommendation.  I recommend that you not ask me for this additional personal reference (which asks me questions about things like your “integrity”).  In most cases, I do not have enough information about you to provide the information requested in this more personal reference.
    • For letters for the UCDC internship program, please see the below contact information for me and don’t worry about sending me the below materials (transcript/statement of purpose).

My address is:
Professor Ethan Scheiner

Department of Political Science
University of California at Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis CA, 95616

Here is additional contact information:
Phone: (530) 754-0943
Email Address:  escheiner@ucdavis.edu

Other Information

  • Please send me the following:
    • The courses you took with me and the Quarter/Year you took the class(es)
    • Your statement of purpose or other letter you are submitting with your application (rough draft is fine)
    • Your resume and transcript
  • Be sure to waive your right to see the letter.  I will not submit letters unless you do so.
  • Please fill out all information for me on whatever forms I need to complete, so that all I need to do is sign and date the form and submit the actual letter.
    • My title is: Professor, Department of Political Science, UC Davis
    • And my additional contact information is above.
  • Please get me all materials no less than 2 weeks before I need to mail in the letter.
  • Unless you have heard from me that the letter is submitted, 3 days before the letter needs to be submitted please send me a reminder email to submit the letter.
  • These letters are confidential, so I will not give a copy for your records.