Asking for a Recommendation

Well, I forgot to post about some progress I've had on the application process for studying abroad. The IP program requires two faculty recommendation, one of which must be within your department.

Well, I approached Dr. Martinez, my poli-sci professor, and Kataoka-sensei, who teaches my Japanese advanced conversation class. Dr. Martinez used to be on the IP selection board, so he gave me some tips on my essay. He said that the board is interested in how studying abroad will help me in my future career, so I should make sure to discuss my interest in working in the field of US-Japan relations.

It was harder to meet with Kataoka-sensei, but I finally got to ask her to be my reference during the one-on-one oral final for my Japanese class. Before we started, I asked if I could discuss something with her and brought up my intentions to study abroad. And then I asked her if she would please write me a recommendation letter. Awesomely enough, we learned in our conversation class how to make that very request, so I got to put my skills to use.

推薦状を書いてくれないかと思いまして．．．
suisenjyou wo kaite kurenai ka to omoimashite...

Which translates to something along the lines of "I was wondering if you would please maybe do me the favor of writing me a recommendation letter..." After asking some questions on when the due date, etc. was, Kataoka-sensei agreed to be my reference (yay) and even better -- since I had done all this in Japanese, she said I had completed that section of my oral and it wasn't necessary to do the role-play she had prepared.

Now I just have to finish my application and get my transcripts prepared. I'm nearly done, though I still need to write the essay question, which I haven't even begun to work on yet. I want to submit my application by Tuesday (Wednesday at the latest) because the faculty recommendation requests won't be sent out online until my application is submitted. As long as I submit by Wednesday the 17th, that should give my profs about two weeks to work on it. And faculty recommendations are due Thursday, February 1st.