Based on the hundreds of letters of recommendation we’ve read, we’ve identified five key elements that make a recommendation stand out from the rest and help the applicant shine. If you’re writing a recommendation for someone, or you’re drafting your own recommendation for your recommender to edit, these elements will help you structure your letter effectively and highlight the information the admissions committees want to see.
How to write a letter of recommendation for medical school
The best med school letters of recommendation fulfill the following five criteria:
1. They explain how well the letter writer knows the applicant.
The first section of the recommendation letter should explain the context of the relationship between the recommender and the applicant. For example, is the recommender a professor, mentor, or supervisor? How long has the recommender known the applicant? By clarifying the foundation of the relationship, the writer establishes themselves as a credible person to describe the applicant to the selection committee.
If the recommender is positioned to compare the applicant to others (favorably, of course!), this is valuable information that the admissions committee needs. For example, has the recommender taught or supervised other people in similar roles? Can they say that the applicant is among the top percentage of these students/employees, or place their performance on par with that of people who have more experience or education? An instructor’s letter that describes the content and difficulty of a course and then rates the applicant’s performance as much stronger than that of many other students tells an admissions committee something significant about that applicant.
2. They go into depth about the applicant’s accomplishments.
The best letters of recommendation highlight unique characteristics that the school has already learned about the applicant and explain why the individual will succeed in medical school. Therefore, the majority of the letter should focus on what the writer has observed about the quality of the applicant’s work and the characteristics and skills they have demonstrated. It is here that the recommender can help the applicant shine.
Convincing selection committees that the applicant is well prepared and will excel in the next phase of their education adds compelling support for the candidate’s application. Avoid hyperbole and exaggeration, however. Admissions committees love facts, numbers, and data, and providing details about the outcomes of an applicant’s work and the impact it’s had on others will make a letter stand out. This evidence can take many forms, from information on the number of patients assisted, to positive quotes from people the applicant has worked with, to achievements such as publications, poster presentations, and other awards.
3. They provide context for the applicant’s accomplishments.
If the applicant is the first person in their family to earn a college degree, this information makes their success even more remarkable. Fluency in other languages and knowledge of, or exposure to, other cultures can also support an applicant’s candidacy for medical school. A paragraph or two that describes the applicant’s background or the obstacles they have overcome can really elevate a letter of recommendation!
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4. They use positive language when discussing the applicant’s weaknesses.
Every individual has weaknesses, but if they are to be discussed in a recommendation letter, try to soften the blow by focusing on the applicant’s improvement. For instance, emphasizing the steep learning curve the applicant faced in a lab could highlight their resilience, while improvements in their organization and time-management skills over time could reflect the applicant’s personal growth and dedication. Qualities such as self-awareness and the capacity for improvement are important to admissions committees, so aim to present any weaknesses through these lenses.
5. They are an appropriate length.
Recommendation letters tend to be approximately three double-spaced pages long. Any more than that is simply too much, considering that each applicant submits at least three letters of recommendation and that medical schools receive on average 5,000 applications each year. That’s a lot of letters to read! A letter is more likely to be read all the way through and in detail if it’s to the point. That being said, a letter that is too brief – only one page or shorter – will not be helpful to the applicant’s candidacy because it will lack specifics that speak to the candidate’s abilities and character.
If you’re an applicant, how can you go about soliciting amazing recommendation letters?
1. Be strategic in varying the perspectives you want in your recommendations.
Your goal should be to have a mix of letters from a variety of experiences and perspectives. Each letter should highlight a different facet of you and your accomplishments, ideally presenting you from a different vantage point. If you have a job where you report to more than one person, don’t ask each of your supervisors for a letter. Similarly, if you’re a biology major, don’t ask three biology professors for letters. Granted, each might be able to speak highly of you, but they will all make similar observations from the same frame of reference. “Only one recommendation per source” is a good rule of thumb.
2. Choose your recommenders wisely.
Request letters only from people who have seen you perform at your best – in classes in which you received an A grade, on research that resulted in a poster presentation or publication, or in employment for which you earned an award or received a promotion. And don’t be afraid to ask whether your potential recommender is willing to write a strong letter for you. If they aren’t sure, ask someone else.
The best letters of recommendation are written by people who have seen you perform in some capacity – as a student, student leader, employee, researcher, or volunteer. People who have known you for a year or longer and who have worked closely with you on successful projects are ideal. The weakest letters are of the “character reference” variety or are from influential individuals who barely know you.
3. Make sure that you have alternates for each letter category.
Plan for at least one letter writer not to deliver. Other obligations or an unexpected illness or obstacle will keep some recommenders from following through. Choose backup letter writers for the most important categories: science professor, leadership, community service, and clinical.
4. Prepare a letter packet for each potential recommender.
To make writing your recommendation letter as easy as possible for your recommenders, create a packet for them that includes the following: an updated copy of your CV or resume, a final (or near-final) draft of your personal statement, and a copy of your transcripts. Also, be sure to include a list of bullet points about your background or important facts they should know about you (e.g., a reminder about a class project on which you earned an A+). This is a good place to share the angle or perspective you hope they will be able to present.
Be sure to include instructions for submitting the recommendation to the letter service (e.g., the AMCAS Letter Request Form). If they prefer to mail the letter, you should supply a stamped and addressed envelope along with the instructions.
5. Give your recommenders deadlines – and follow up when necessary!
Recommenders are busy people, so it’s a good idea to assign them a deadline that is notably earlier than the actual date by which you will need their letters. If you request the letters by the date you plan to submit your primary application, you should safely have them all by the time you submit your secondaries, weeks later.
And don’t be shy if you haven’t heard from a letter writer for a while and the deadline is only a week away. People get busy. They might have forgotten about it. Send a gentle and friendly reminder, and don’t take any delays personally.
6. Thank your recommenders!
After you have received a letter from a professor, employer, or mentor, write them a gracious thank-you note, and send it as soon as you can. Once you get busy with secondaries, the urgency will fade, but it is so important to acknowledge their kindness in supporting your application. Update your letter writers on your progress – especially if you receive an acceptance! They would love to know that their support was important to your success.
Contact Accepted for personalized guidance through the medical school letter of recommendation process. Schedule a free consultation today!
Since 2001, Cydney Foote has advised hundreds of successful applicants for medical and dental education, residency and fellowship training, and other health-related degrees. Admissions consulting combines her many years of creating marketing content with five years on fellowship and research selection committees at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She’s also shared her strategy for impressing interviewers in a popular webinar and written three books and numerous articles on the admissions process. Want Cydney to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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