<p>I found out that for many schools a rec from dean of students is a part of application. But how do I get to know dean of students? I mean he is not my advisor or prof so I don't really have a chance to meet him. Isn't it kinda awkard to ask him for a rec even though I haven't met him before? Please give me some advice how to get a good rec from dean of students. I would appreciate you guys' help :-)</p>
<p>schedule a meeting, bring a resume, and very articulately and cogently explain your reasoning</p>
<p>The dean of students usually doesn't write a personal recommendation. All it is a common letter stating that you're of good academic standing, typically.</p>
<p>on some forms, it says you can have an advisor OR the dean write this letter. so the advisor can write a letter stating you are in good academic standing also, right?</p>
<p>I just did it myself. Schedule an appointment. If they say that he or she is too important or too busy to meet you, insist. Tell them that it's absolutely necessary for your application and show them the forms. When you get a meeting, bring a resume, a transcript, and have a couple of people (your fav. prof. and your favorite TA, for example) send him evaluations of you in class.</p>
<p>I was just about to post the same thread...We should bring a resume as in a resume for a job? I never thought about having a prof/TA send evaluations. Wouldn't it be too much since they are most likely the ones your asking to write recs from? I guess its always good to do the most you can but still, I can see why some may not appreciate that.</p>
<p>Well, resume is mostly to present the Dean with your extracurricular activies. Sometimes people also bring a statement about their transfer reasons. But you could throw in things like GPA, awards, etc. to make it look more like a resume. I think evaluations from a prof and a TA are useful. My prof and TA didn't mind doing it--I told them that they should be brief and informal.</p>
<p>The Dean of Students form is merely to show that you are in good standing and not one of the campus "troublemakers." It does not need to be a "recommendation" - that is for the professors/TAs whom you ask for letters of rec. It's not even like the GC recommendations which may have been done by your high school.</p>
<p>Don't go overboard with this; it's not necessary. If the Dean of Students happens to actually know you and can provide a real reference, that would be nice. But very rare and very unecessary; and a one-time interview/resume will not accomplish the same effect. So, if you don't have a pre-existing relationship with the Dean of Students (and if you don't, that's probably a good thing ;) ), don't sweat it. This is a formality.</p>