This is my public policy for writing “recommendation letters” for Engineering students at Ecole Polytechnique. If you are a Bachelors or MScT student at Ecole Polytechnique, or an IP-Paris DNM student, then please look at this page.
Before getting started, know that in any given year, I will write at most one recommendation letter for Ecole Polytechnique students, per target school/program.
That means that, if, for example, 3 students (say, one Bachelors, one engineering, and one M.Sc.T student) all want to apply for a graduate programme in “Underwater Basket Weaving” at the “Midwestern Institute of Theology” (aka: the other MIT), then I will recommend at most one of the three students to that programme/school.
This policy is strictly applied for recommendation letters, regardless of if you are applying to a M2 in France or abroad, or a complete Masters program abroad, or you are applying for admission into a doctoral (PhD programme) — as well as if you’re looking for a recommendation letter for an internship, or for a scholarship.
For students in the Ecole Polytechnique Engineering Programme, I will not, under any circumstances, write a letter of recommendation for a student, for whom either of the below applies:
- The student has never been in a class that I have taught (surprisingly, it is necessary to call this out explicitly!); OR
- The student has obtained a grade below B in any class I’ve been teaching; OR
- The student has done a “rattrapage” (re-exam) in any class I’ve been teaching – except where medically excused, of course; OR
- The student has done more than one “rattrapage” (re-exam) while at Ecole Polytechnique – except where medically excused, of course; OR
- The student has “compensated” any failing grade in 3A/M1 (3rd year at Ecole Polytechnique, 5th year of studies after high-school) by an A/B, in order to validate a semester; OR
- The student has an average of B or below in 3A/M1 (3rd year at Ecole Polytechnique, 5th year of studies after high-school); OR
- The student is following the PA-IT (“PA Innovation Technologique” – aka, an M1 in innovation) and targets a “technical or scientific” M2/Masters (in France or abroad). The reason for this is, that this “PA Innovation Technologique” (regardless of which option is chosen) does not contain enough technico-scientific courses to supply students with necessary baggage to successfully complete a “technical or scientific” M2/Master … and I will not recommend students for failure.
I am likely to write a letter of recommendation for a student, for whom all of the below apply:
- The student has obtained an A in all the classes I have been teaching; AND
- The student has obtained no more than one single B in all the classes followed during 3A/M1 (3rd year at Ecole Polytechnique, 5th year of studies after high-school); AND
- The student has obtained no grades below B through the totality of his or her studies at Ecole Polytechnique; AND
- The student has had a “career counseling” meeting with me, during which we have discussed both the targeted school, program, and motivation for following it.
For students who are not excluded by the “I will not, under any circumstances” criteria, but who do not satisfy the “I am likely to” criteria, I may exceptionally write a letter of recommendation. This remains rather exceptional, though, and is usually conditioned on the student having shown exceptional potential/tenacity/motivation/ethics, and having justified and convinced me that (for example) a 2nd B or a single C was an accident.
Please, please observe the following:
- Recommendation letters must be requested through opening a ticket, using the form below.
- You MUST create one ticket per institution, for which you wish a recommendation letter.
- You MUST create a ticket, even if the institutions will send the “recommendation letter request” per email — emails are not reliable, and I get such excessive amounts of email that I am more likely than not to miss them.
Make sure that you include, for each ticket include:
- A complete and up-to-date grade transcript, for all your years of study at Ecole Polytechnique.
- A list of courses that you are currently taking – but, where you do not yet have grades.
- Your up-to-date CV.
- If you already have a (draft) motivation letter for that institution, do include that also.
- Any other information, that you deem would be helpful to me.
When you’re ready, here’s the form for opening a ticket: