Your letters of recommendation for your medical school application are critical documents.
Many premed students submit a letter of recommendation, called a committee letter, that is provided by a pre-health advisor (also called a health professions advisor) at their undergraduate school or post-baccalaureate program. This letter is a summary written by the pre-health advisor about the student’s academic history and progress and their cocurricular activities, and includes the advisor’s general reflections on the applicant’s suitability to become a health professional in the future. An applicant’s committee packet includes at least three individual, confidential letters of recommendation. At least one of these letters should be written by a science professor with whom the applicant studied and should attest to the applicant’s abilities in the sciences. Most applicants have more than one letter from a science professor.
The committee letter is likely produced through steps in a process led by the advisor. The content of the committee letter summarizes aspects of individual letters and might even answer stock questions similar to those asked in secondary essay prompts that seek information important to medical schools, such as the following:
If your school does not offer a committee letter through the assistance of a pre-health advisor, you’ll need to gather individual, confidential letters yourself. Additionally, many applicants gather letters in addition to those in the committee packet so they can later match specific letters with key schools.
Also, keep in mind that applicants to osteopathic schools of medicine typically need a supplemental letter from a doctor of osteopathic medicine.
2. Request letters early: Approach your recommenders well in advance – ideally, several months before the application deadline. This gives them sufficient time to write a thoughtful and detailed letter on your behalf.
3. Provide necessary information: Offer your recommenders relevant materials, such as your CV/resume and personal statement, if you have them ready, or academic work, such as a stellar paper you wrote for them or a literature review you produced for their research. If there was a particular accomplishment or memorable experience you would like to have highlighted, you might ask the professor to write about that moment. For instance, perhaps you led a study session for the professor’s students in an organic chemistry class in which you had excelled, and the students were very pleased with the mentoring. You could politely ask this professor to include a reference to your success as a tutor for organic chemistry.
4. Discuss your goals and aspirations: Have a conversation with your recommenders about your career goals, why you want to pursue medicine, and which schools appeal to you in particular. The more your professors know you, the more personal a letter they can write for you.
Professors who know you well can also explain a trying semester, corroborate how you turned a challenging situation around, or expound on how you faced a personal trauma (e.g., illness or death in the family), struggled, and rebounded. Students with disabilities might want to be open and explicit about whether they want their recommender to address their triumphs in light of their cognitive or physical challenges.
5. Follow the application guidelines: Ensure that your recommenders are aware of each medical school’s specific requirements and submission procedures. Some schools have preferences regarding submission methods (e.g., online or mail) and formatting (e.g., signed and sealed envelopes). Note whether a professor’s letter needs to be sent to the pre-health advisor to be included in the committee packet.
A spreadsheet can help you keep this information clear and organized, but don’t give the spreadsheet to your professor unless they ask for it. Whatever supplemental material you give your recommenders should be concise. Stay organized and efficient. Make your professors’ task producing a letter for you as easy as possible.
2. Do not overlook the importance of academic references: Medical schools often value academic references, particularly from science professors. While letters from healthcare professionals you have worked with are valuable, make sure to include references that can speak to your academic capabilities and potential.
3. Do not assume the pre-health advisor works for you: Ultimately, your application and your letters of recommendation are your responsibility. Show appreciation for your advisor and recommenders. Be proactive, organized, and appreciative, and do not disappear. Send a sincere thank you note or brief email expressing your gratitude, and keep them informed about your application progress and outcomes. They will want to know your progress because they know you well and are rooting for you. Remember, always express gratitude.
4. Do not micromanage the content of the letters: While the material and information you provide your recommenders should be helpful and balanced, avoid trying to control the content of the letters they produce. It is ultimately up to your recommenders to craft their personal assessment of your abilities and potential. This is one reason it is so important to choose your recommenders honestly, wisely, and based on trust.
5. Do not submit too many or unnecessary letters: More is not always more. Follow the guidelines the medical schools provide regarding the number of recommendation letters required or allowed. If you submit an excessive number of letters or irrelevant references, you risk overwhelming the admissions committee, diluting the impact of your application, and raising questions about your choices. Do not submit letters from family members, personal acquaintances, peers, club members, or graduate students. (Typically, the strongest letters are from professors, physicians, researchers, employers, and supervisors of your volunteer work or community service.)
Remember, the best recommendation letters are effective and contribute positively to your application. They bring additional voices to weigh in on your character, achievements, resolve, and overall candidacy for medical school. Plan ahead and build strong relationships with your potential future recommenders.
This article was originally posted on blog.accepted.com
Many premed students submit a letter of recommendation, called a committee letter, that is provided by a pre-health advisor (also called a health professions advisor) at their undergraduate school or post-baccalaureate program. This letter is a summary written by the pre-health advisor about the student’s academic history and progress and their cocurricular activities, and includes the advisor’s general reflections on the applicant’s suitability to become a health professional in the future. An applicant’s committee packet includes at least three individual, confidential letters of recommendation. At least one of these letters should be written by a science professor with whom the applicant studied and should attest to the applicant’s abilities in the sciences. Most applicants have more than one letter from a science professor.
The committee letter is likely produced through steps in a process led by the advisor. The content of the committee letter summarizes aspects of individual letters and might even answer stock questions similar to those asked in secondary essay prompts that seek information important to medical schools, such as the following:
- “Will this applicant initiate projects?”
- “Does this applicant work well on teams?”
- “Does this applicant help others with their learning?”
If your school does not offer a committee letter through the assistance of a pre-health advisor, you’ll need to gather individual, confidential letters yourself. Additionally, many applicants gather letters in addition to those in the committee packet so they can later match specific letters with key schools.
Also, keep in mind that applicants to osteopathic schools of medicine typically need a supplemental letter from a doctor of osteopathic medicine.
Here are some key points to remember:
1. Choose the right recommenders: Select individuals who know you well and can speak to your academic abilities, personal qualities, and potential for success in medical school. Professors, research advisors, and healthcare professionals you have worked with are often good choices.2. Request letters early: Approach your recommenders well in advance – ideally, several months before the application deadline. This gives them sufficient time to write a thoughtful and detailed letter on your behalf.
3. Provide necessary information: Offer your recommenders relevant materials, such as your CV/resume and personal statement, if you have them ready, or academic work, such as a stellar paper you wrote for them or a literature review you produced for their research. If there was a particular accomplishment or memorable experience you would like to have highlighted, you might ask the professor to write about that moment. For instance, perhaps you led a study session for the professor’s students in an organic chemistry class in which you had excelled, and the students were very pleased with the mentoring. You could politely ask this professor to include a reference to your success as a tutor for organic chemistry.
4. Discuss your goals and aspirations: Have a conversation with your recommenders about your career goals, why you want to pursue medicine, and which schools appeal to you in particular. The more your professors know you, the more personal a letter they can write for you.
Professors who know you well can also explain a trying semester, corroborate how you turned a challenging situation around, or expound on how you faced a personal trauma (e.g., illness or death in the family), struggled, and rebounded. Students with disabilities might want to be open and explicit about whether they want their recommender to address their triumphs in light of their cognitive or physical challenges.
5. Follow the application guidelines: Ensure that your recommenders are aware of each medical school’s specific requirements and submission procedures. Some schools have preferences regarding submission methods (e.g., online or mail) and formatting (e.g., signed and sealed envelopes). Note whether a professor’s letter needs to be sent to the pre-health advisor to be included in the committee packet.
A spreadsheet can help you keep this information clear and organized, but don’t give the spreadsheet to your professor unless they ask for it. Whatever supplemental material you give your recommenders should be concise. Stay organized and efficient. Make your professors’ task producing a letter for you as easy as possible.
Here are some key things to avoid:
1. Do not choose recommenders based solely on their status: As tempting as it might be to ask a well-known researcher for a recommendation, it is important to prioritize people who know you well and can write a detailed and personalized letter. A generic or superficial recommendation from a renowned person can carry less weight than a specific and insightful letter from someone who knows you but perhaps has a less impressive title or role.2. Do not overlook the importance of academic references: Medical schools often value academic references, particularly from science professors. While letters from healthcare professionals you have worked with are valuable, make sure to include references that can speak to your academic capabilities and potential.
3. Do not assume the pre-health advisor works for you: Ultimately, your application and your letters of recommendation are your responsibility. Show appreciation for your advisor and recommenders. Be proactive, organized, and appreciative, and do not disappear. Send a sincere thank you note or brief email expressing your gratitude, and keep them informed about your application progress and outcomes. They will want to know your progress because they know you well and are rooting for you. Remember, always express gratitude.
4. Do not micromanage the content of the letters: While the material and information you provide your recommenders should be helpful and balanced, avoid trying to control the content of the letters they produce. It is ultimately up to your recommenders to craft their personal assessment of your abilities and potential. This is one reason it is so important to choose your recommenders honestly, wisely, and based on trust.
5. Do not submit too many or unnecessary letters: More is not always more. Follow the guidelines the medical schools provide regarding the number of recommendation letters required or allowed. If you submit an excessive number of letters or irrelevant references, you risk overwhelming the admissions committee, diluting the impact of your application, and raising questions about your choices. Do not submit letters from family members, personal acquaintances, peers, club members, or graduate students. (Typically, the strongest letters are from professors, physicians, researchers, employers, and supervisors of your volunteer work or community service.)
Remember, the best recommendation letters are effective and contribute positively to your application. They bring additional voices to weigh in on your character, achievements, resolve, and overall candidacy for medical school. Plan ahead and build strong relationships with your potential future recommenders.
This article was originally posted on blog.accepted.com
