Applying to medical school can feel like a big undertaking—between crafting a personal statement, taking the MCAT, completing prerequisites, and gathering transcripts, there are a lot of pieces that go into a med school application. And among all those moving pieces, letters of recommendation can be especially tricky because they depend on other people.
St. George’s University School of Medicine helps streamline this part of the process by offering a flexible application system that even lets you upload letters of recommendation after you submit your application. That extra breathing room can make a big difference as you work with mentors and professors to gather strong, meaningful endorsements.
Here are eight tips to help you secure great letters of recommendation for medical school.
8 ways to score standout med school letters of recommendation
Consider these pointers whether you’ve already secured a few letters of recommendation for med school or have yet to begin.
1. Start thinking about medical school letters of recommendation early
While the typical medical school application process doesn’t involve actually filling out information until a bit more than a year before starting classes, the prep work should begin much sooner.
You can never start too early acquiring great contacts to obtain good letters. Students should be thinking about forming relationships that may eventually lead to an evaluation.
2. Include a committee letter if you can
Some universities support medical school applicants by offering a committee letter, an evaluation that summarizes your accomplishments and speaks to your preparedness for medical school. These can be composed by a pre-medical committee or a single pre-medical advisor, and they often incorporate insight from multiple professors. Committee letters are valuable for providing a holistic view of who you are, so seek one out if you’re able to—and start the process with a few months to spare. Remember that there are likely many other candidates requesting letters as well.
While it’s beneficial to have a committee letter, medical school admissions committees also recognize that not every student has access to that service. For college students in this position, consider obtaining a letter from your advisor. If you’re a nontraditional applicant—like a career changer who’s been out of school for a while—ask someone who knows your strengths and can speak to what you bring to the table.
3. Research specifics at different schools
There are different platforms aspiring med students use to submit their applications. Some of the most common platforms include:
- American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS),
- Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS), and
- Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
Each of these platforms have their own instructions for letters of recommendation submission. Additionally, guidelines on letter writers, formatting specifications, and submission deadlines, can vary by school. As such, it’s always a good idea to verify specifics with individual schools.
4. Think carefully about who to approach
Determining who you should reach out to for medical school letters of recommendation is simpler than you might expect. They should be individuals who know you very well and can speak to your abilities, particularly the 17 competencies the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) identifies as important. Some of those competencies are:
- Cultural awareness,
- Empathy and compassion,
- Oral communication,
- Critical thinking, and
- Scientific inquiry.
As for who to ask, make sure they’re individuals you know from school, work, volunteering, or extracurricular activities. Here are some options to consider:
- A science professor,
- One or two clinicians, likely physicians you’ve shadowed while gaining clinical experience,
- A school advisor,
- A mentor, or
- A job supervisor.
It’s best to avoid asking family members or close friends to write your letters of recommendation. While they know you well, they can’t offer the kind of objective, professional insight admissions committees expect. To reviewers, a personal letter like this can signal that you weren’t able to secure a more relevant evaluator.
5. Be clear and straightforward when asking for a letter
As for how to ask a professor or physician to write one of your evaluations, go into the conversation with confidence. When approaching the individual for help, be straightforward. Ask: “Would you be comfortable writing a letter of recommendation on my behalf?”
6. Remember that quality matters
It’s hard to say exactly how much weight medical schools place on letters of recommendation compared to other parts of your application. But it’s helpful to remember that these are the only materials that offer an outside view of your abilities, so they can make a meaningful difference. A strong letter can even give one candidate an edge over another.
Talking with someone who knows you well—rather than a professor who only knows you in a large class—often leads to a more personal and compelling letter. Still, nothing is guaranteed. If someone seems unsure about writing on your behalf, it’s best to thank them and ask someone else who can confidently support you.
7. Make the process easy for your letter writers
Make the process as easy as possible for your letter writers. Even if they already know you well and have a strong foundation to work from, giving them a few helpful materials can make their job much simpler. Share your CV, your med school personal statement, relevant grades, and clear instructions for how to submit the letter.
This same principle applies to deadlines. Your mentors and professors are juggling many responsibilities, so they may not remember exactly when their letters are due. Check in personally a few weeks before the deadline to make sure everything is on track and to give them a gentle reminder if needed.
8. Show your appreciation
Because letters of recommendation for medical school are so important, be sure to send a message of thanks to those who put pen to paper for you. This small gesture can go a long way toward maintaining those relationships. It’s also important to remember that your letter writers are rooting for you. Keep them informed of your progress so they can share in celebrating your success.
Plan ahead for a successful application
Obtaining enough high-quality letters of recommendation for medical school takes some time. It’s important to think about how this requirement fits into the bigger picture. After all, there are a lot of application components you’ll need to be working on simultaneously.
Find out how to get organized and tackle the entire process by reading The Pre-Med Student’s Guide to Planning Your Medical School Application Timeline.
This article was updated from October 2021 with the most recent facts and figures available.
