Blog — grad school tips

I get it — asking a professor for a recommendation letter when you haven’t been in school for a while can feel awkward, like knocking on a door you closed years ago. But trust me: it's doable. And if you approach it the right way, you can land strong, meaningful letters even after a long gap.

Here’s my playbook, woven from lived experience, a few awkward moments, and some advice that actually works.

1. Reframe Your Mindset: It’s Not Weird, It’s Strategic

First off: don’t assume professors will think...

Let’s just say it out loud: it’s 2025, and yes—more people are buying recommendation letters. And honestly? It makes a lot of sense.

If that makes you raise an eyebrow or feel a little uncomfortable, we get it. There’s still this weird taboo around the idea of paying someone to write a letter for you, even if that someone is a professional writer who knows how to hit all the right notes. But let’s be real. Who hasn’t been ghosted by a professor or waited weeks for a supervisor to “get...