Asking professors for references might be outside of your comfort zone. It definitely was for me when I applied to LSE, mainly because I was deeply aware that my teachers are busy enough without my request for references.
One thing that really changed my mindset about that was a conversation with my teacher. I was asking her for references in a rather apologetic way. She of course agreed and told me to stop being so contrite about it. She explained that writing references for students is a normal part of an academic’s job and they do it regularly every year. Indeed, they expect that they will be asked to do so in the application periods, and they manage their timetables accordingly.
Finally, my teacher told me that she is where she is because she was given countless references by her teachers and supervisors in the past. The academic system is in fact reliant on references, whether you’re applying for a master’s, PhD or a research grant. Thus, my teacher saw writing references as, in a way, giving back to the next generation what she owed to her teachers.
This conversation made me gain a different perspective on asking for references and I hope it can be helpful for others, too. Still, while there’s no need to be apologetic about it, it’s definitely better to be humble and polite rather than self-righteous.
Choose a teacher that knows you well enough to be able to comment comprehensively on your academic and personal qualities, for example your thesis supervisor, academic advisor, module coordinator or lecturer. They should include details on your up-to-date academic performance and capabilities, skills, motivation and suitability for the chosen programme. They should have taught you at the university level at your current or most recent institutions (i.e. not your high school teachers).
Be sure to choose someone who will be able to write you a strong, supportive letter of recommendation. It’s okay to ask them about that beforehand and potentially address their reservations. If they are hesitant, you might want to ask someone else.
It might be a good idea to approach your teachers in person, for example after a lecture, ask them face-to-face and then follow up with an email with all the details. Provide them with information that you can find on the LSE website.
As for your part, you will need to nominate both referees in the application system, providing their contact details. When you complete that section, they will automatically be sent an email with instructions from LSE asking them to submit their reference via a special online portal.
The key thing to understand when it comes to academic references is timing. The other parts of your application should be more or less finished when you approach your potential referees as they will most probably want to see your statement of academic purpose and CV. You want to give them enough time to write them (I would say two to three weeks is a safe prediction) without this affecting any deadlines connected to your application, particularly the deadline for funding or scholarships. Note that your application will not be considered until LSE receives both references.
All in all, it is worth thinking through the right approach to choosing your referees as academic references are one of the most crucial elements of your application, determining its success to a great extent.
