You’ve taken the MCAT, completed all the pre-reqs, and maybe shadowed a physician, done some research, and volunteered. Now it’s time to make sure you’re all in for the last legs of this long journey. In this series, we’ll discuss how you can continue to navigate your way to a med school acceptance by analyzing your profile, creating a strong med school application, writing stellar AMCAS and secondary essays, and nailing your interview.
Here are some handy tips that you can pass along to your recommenders.
1. Review a copy of the applicant’s personal statement so that your letter of recommendation can dovetail with – not conflict with or duplicate – the rest of the application.
2. Ask the applicant to supply you with additional information like a resume, transcripts, or personal statement.
2. Ask the applicant to supply you with additional information like a resume, transcripts, or personal statement.
3. Describe your qualifications for comparing the applicant to other applicants.
I have been teaching for twenty years and have advised approximately 450 students on independent research projects over the last five years.
I have personally supervised ten interns every summer for the last five years plus worked with over two hundred college students in the Big Medical Center ER.
4. Discuss how well you know the applicant.
5. Choose two to three qualities that you observed in the applicant.
6. In discussing those qualities, support your statements with specific instances in which he or she demonstrated those attributes. Be as concrete and detailed as possible.
7. Try to quantify the student’s strengths or rank him or her vis-a-vis other applicants that you have observed.
8. Avoid generalities and platitudes.
9. Include some mild criticism, typically the flip-side of a strength.
10. Discuss the applicant’s potential in his or her chosen field.
I have been teaching for twenty years and have advised approximately 450 students on independent research projects over the last five years.
I have personally supervised ten interns every summer for the last five years plus worked with over two hundred college students in the Big Medical Center ER.
4. Discuss how well you know the applicant.
I was able to get to know Joe because he made it a point to attend two of my sections every week when only one was required.
Jane did research in my laboratory for two years, and I worked very closely with her.
Jane did research in my laboratory for two years, and I worked very closely with her.
5. Choose two to three qualities that you observed in the applicant.
Jane has a rare blend of top research, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
The combination of tenacity, willingness to help, and good communications skills found in Joe is truly unique.
The combination of tenacity, willingness to help, and good communications skills found in Joe is truly unique.
6. In discussing those qualities, support your statements with specific instances in which he or she demonstrated those attributes. Be as concrete and detailed as possible.
Joe is the only student I ever had who came to all my office hours as part of a relentless – and successful – drive to master biochemistry. He was one of just ten percent in the class to receive an A.
Because of Jane’s research and communications skills, I didn’t hesitate to ask her to monitor epileptic patients and prepare electrodes to be implanted in their bilateral temporal lobes. Her quality work contributed significantly to a paper we co-authored and presented to the Society for Neuroscience.
Because of Jane’s research and communications skills, I didn’t hesitate to ask her to monitor epileptic patients and prepare electrodes to be implanted in their bilateral temporal lobes. Her quality work contributed significantly to a paper we co-authored and presented to the Society for Neuroscience.
7. Try to quantify the student’s strengths or rank him or her vis-a-vis other applicants that you have observed.
He was in the top 10% of his class.
She has the best research skills of any person her age that I have ever supervised.
She has the best research skills of any person her age that I have ever supervised.
8. Avoid generalities and platitudes.
9. Include some mild criticism, typically the flip-side of a strength.
The only fault I have encountered in him is his retiring nature. His modesty sometimes hides a young man of remarkable sensitivity and broad interests.
Occasionally, her fortitude and persistence can turn into stubbornness, but usually her good nature and level-headedness prevail.
Occasionally, her fortitude and persistence can turn into stubbornness, but usually her good nature and level-headedness prevail.
10. Discuss the applicant’s potential in his or her chosen field.
I enthusiastically recommend Joe to your medical program. This well-rounded student will be a fine, compassionate doctor.
With her exceptional interpersonal and research skills, Jane will be an outstanding doctor and a credit to the medical school she attends.
With her exceptional interpersonal and research skills, Jane will be an outstanding doctor and a credit to the medical school she attends.
Need help composing a letter of recommendation that presents a compelling case to the admissions committee? Check out Accepted’s Recommendation Letter Assistance Packages!
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• How Your Academic Statistics Should Influence Your Medical School Choices
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
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