Letters of Recommendation

Professional programs will ask for letters of recommendation.  Medical schools prefer to receive letters from university math and science faculty, but letters can also be obtained from supervising physicians and employers.   Letters from family members, pastors, or political figures are usually of very limited value.  Topics that may be addressed in letters of support include the following:

1.   How well does the author of the letter know the applicant?
2.   Under what circumstances has the author interacted with the applicant?
3.   What strengths and/or weakness does the applicant possess?
4.   Has the author of the letter observed any characteristics that would
      render the candidate a particularly effective physician?
5.   How well does the applicant get along with faculty, supervisors, or peers?
6.   How does the applicant respond to disappointing or stressful situations?
7.   Does the applicant display emotional maturity?
8.   Describe the applicant's oral and written communication skills.
9.   If possible, provide reasons why the applicant should or should not become
      a physician.

The letters can be sent to your Pre-Health Professions Advisor, who will use them in preparation of a composite letter.  In order to make use of information contained in the individual letters, the advisor will likely want to receive the letters several weeks prior to the submission of a composite letter.  Typically, copies of strong individual letters are sent with the composite letter to medical schools that request secondary applications, although some medical programs impose limits on the number of letters that can be submitted.

The Health Professions Advising website has been developed by
the WWAMI School of Medical Education in partnership with the
Honors College Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarship.