Letters of Recommendation

Please don’t undervalue the five letters of recommendation. Strong letters can really boost your application. This is your opportunity to select 5 people who are going to brag about you….so don’t miss this opportunity. The better your teachers know you, the better your letters will be because they can give specific examples and tell stories about you.

Aim to gather 4-5 letters including at least 2 from science faculty that have taught you in science classes. Make a good impression by creating a packet for each faculty.  In this packet, include a cover letter stating the deadline for submission, instructions on how to submit, a draft of your medical school essay, then a paragraph of appreciation and thanks for the time and energy required to write you a strong letter. We always recommend that you schedule a meeting to present the packet in person, if possible. By creating a good impression, you can demonstrate maturity, organization and personal motivation.  A letter writer can see your dedication and organizational skills with a clean, well organized packet. 

Letters are technically part of your secondary application material. Contact faculty and secure letters by June 1. This will give you time to chase down late letters or quickly secure an additional letter.

Determine how you are going to submit your letters. Determine if your university offers a committee letter. If not, does the Career Center have a recommendation service for you to use?  If neither exist, then refer to the AAMC website for specifics on how to submit letters.  Interfolio is a go-to site for students seeking a letter management service. Do not submit letters to AMCAS until you have started your AMCAS application, you have reviewed the AMCAS instructions and understand how to obtain a letter ID# from the Letter Request Form. This will all become clear once you read the AMCAS Applicant Guide 2021, go to page 46.

Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Evaluation for a Medical School Applicant. Read this document to understand the ins and outs of the AMCAS letter service. You can even share it with people who will write you recommendations. Please review AMCAS® Letter Service for Advisors and Other Letter Authors. This will detail the guidelines and instructions for how to submit letters. Make sure you read this carefully. Late letters can delay your application. 

Remember to write handwritten thank you letters to all letter writers and keep them up to date on your application progress and acceptances. They took the time to write you a letter, now return the courtesy and keep them informed.