Writing a medical school recommendation letter can be a daunting task. It’s important to provide an honest reflection of the candidate’s qualifications for medical school, and to communicate your respect for the applicant. The medical school recommendation letter should provide an accurate representation of the applicant’s capabilities, strengths, and achievements. Additionally, the letter should convey your trust in their abilities and serve as an endorsement of their character and qualifications for medical school. As a former professor, supervisor, mentor, or other reference, you have the unique opportunity to provide insight into an applicant’s qualifications. Your letter serves as a testimony to the candidate’s academic and professional achievements, as well as their personal characteristics. Writing a strong and effective letter is essential to helping a candidate stand out among the competition. In this blog post, we will provide some tips and guidelines on how to write an effective medical school recommendation letter.
- Three individual letters: Two letters from science professors and one letter from a non-science professor. …
- A committee letter: Some schools have a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor who writes a letter representing your school’s evaluation of you.
What to include in a medical school recommendation letter
Depending on the candidate’s qualifications and your relationship with them, what you include in your recommendation letter may change. A recommendation letter for medical school should contain things like these:
What is a medical school recommendation letter?
You can write a medical school recommendation letter as a way to show support for a prospective student. Before considering applicants for a position in the program, many medical education programs request that professors or supervisors provide evidence of the candidates’ moral character and skills. Many programs demand that applicants submit two or three letters, written by both medical and non-medical professionals. When you compose a recommendation letter for medical school, you offer a thorough assessment of the applicant’s suitability for medical training and a career in healthcare.
Template for a medical school recommendation letter
You can use the following model recommendation letter for medical school as a guide when writing your own:
[Date]
[Name of recipient]
[Position title]
[School name]
[School location]
Dear [recipient],
I’m [your name] from [name of the company you work for], and I’m writing to express my support for [subjects name] as a prospective student in your medical education program. I first met [name of subject] in [primary setting or circumstance of interaction] and have known them for [duration of relationship] Due to [characteristics and attributes], [subjects name] is a fantastic candidate for medical school and a career in the medical field.
They have a distinctive viewpoint and method of providing healthcare because [emphasize distinctive qualities and abilities] During coursework, they [exceptional work or contribution]. In response to our discussions with the class’s patients, [subjects name] wrote [significant writing]. They demonstrated [certain skills] in each [project] by [contribution or action].
One of the top students I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with is [Recipient’s name]. They possess a high level of [knowledge or skill], and I think that qualifies them to be accepted into this medical education program. Please feel free to contact me at [your phone number] if you have any further inquiries about [subject’s name]’s qualifications or character.
Best,
[Your full name]
[Your title]
[Your organization]
[Your complete signature]
How to write a medical school recommendation letter
Learning to write persuasive medical school recommendation letters can help you forge stronger bonds with students or medical professionals who are considering attending medical school, which can enhance your professional abilities and relationships. You can use the following steps to write a recommendation letter for medical school:
1. Format and address the recommendation letter
Formatting the letter is the first step in creating a recommendation letter for medical school. You can probably locate a recommendation template in a library, depending on the word processor you use. If you want to format the letter yourself, use Times New Roman with 1-inch margins, font size 11 or 12, and those formatting options. Speak with the applicant for clarification on letter formatting, as they may be able to provide you with specifics on what each school requires.
2. Introduce yourself and how you met the candidate
You can introduce yourself, describe your position or title, and provide specifics about how you met the applicant in the opening paragraph of the letter. You can briefly describe how you worked with them and what you discovered about their abilities and traits. This is also a good opportunity to briefly summarize the main factors that make you think they’d make a good medical school candidate.
3. Describe your interactions and their attributes
Afterward, you can elaborate on the circumstances in which you used their talents or skills. If you’re a professor, for instance, you might mention reading their papers or approving their research proposals. If you’re a coworker or supervisor, you could describe how they interact with patients or clients and how their abilities help them succeed at work.
4. Emphasize whats unique and distinguishes them
You can aid the candidate in standing out from the competition by emphasizing a special combination of skills or abilities that set the candidate apart. For instance, you might discuss their travels abroad, volunteer work, or time spent working with kids. The capacity to comprehend intricate concepts, speak additional languages, and handle challenging situations with ease and composure are just a few examples of unique abilities or knowledge.
5. Conclude the recommendation letter and sign it
Your recommendation letter’s closing sentence is where you express gratitude to the reader for their time. You can indicate that you’d like to talk more about the candidates’ positive qualities and provide your phone number. You can add a digital signature and your contact information after the last sentence. There are applications you can use to accomplish this where you first sign your name on a phone or tablet, then transfer it to the document.
Medical school recommendation examples
You can get ideas for writing your own recommendation letters for medical school by reviewing the following samples:
Example 1: Letter from a professor
January 1, 2022
Sonya Wolfe
Admissions expert
Pond University Medical Program
Pondville, Texas
Dear Sonya Wolfe,
The following is a letter of support for Randall Ballard as a candidate for your medical education program from Blue University’s Allison Dunn. I’ve known Randall Ballard for almost four years, having first met him in an introductory chemistry class. Because of their extraordinary commitment to education and research, Randall Ballard is a fantastic candidate for medical school and a career in healthcare.
They want to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry, which gives them a distinct viewpoint and method of approaching health care. They put in extra effort and ask for projects during coursework to help them expand their knowledge and skills beyond what is covered in the regular curriculum. Randall Ballard wrote a research proposal that a lab on campus adopted after our interactions with reactive chemicals in an advanced chemistry and pharmaceuticals class.
One of the top students I’ve had the pleasure of working with is Randall Ballard. They are excellent candidates for a position in this medical education program because they have advanced knowledge of chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and the future of medicine. Call me at (555)-555-5555 if you have any more inquiries about Randall Ballard’s qualifications or character.
Best,
Allison Dunn
Chemistry professor
Blue University
[email protected]
Example 2: Letter from volunteerism
January 5, 2022
Grace Collier
Admissions counselor
Sweet Rock Medical Center
Sweet Rock, Connecticut
Dear Grace Collier,
As the medical volunteer coordinator for Highlands Hospital in Twin Towns, Nevada, my name is Frank Scott. I’m writing to explain why Tabitha Gibson, given the best educational opportunities, has the potential to be an excellent medical professional.
When Tabitha Gibson was a senior in high school, she first began volunteering at the hospital. She has learned more about the healthcare industry and procedures during that time than any other volunteer, in my opinion. She is committed to learning more about the ailments patients deal with and the treatments available for them, but she also genuinely cares about every patient she encounters.
Tabitha Gibson is a fantastic volunteer at this hospital and a promising new employee in the medical industry. She is among the most motivated and inspiring individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I think she’s a great fit for this medical program, and you can reach me at (555)-555-5555 if you want to talk more about her qualifications.
Best,
Frank Scott
Volunteer director
Highlands Hospital
[email protected]
Example 3: Recommendation from a supervisor
January 15, 2022
Rose Carlson
Admissions professional
Sour Canyon Medical School
Sour Canyon, Missouri
Dear Rose Carlson,
Grace Chapman is the principal investigator at the Far-Field University research labs. I’m writing to support Agnes Cole today because I think she can lead research efforts in this area given the right education and preparation.
Agnes Cole and I first worked together in my research lab as interns. Agnes achieved a paid position on the research team as they learned and developed; this was a remarkable accomplishment for someone who has not yet completed medical school. During a clinical trial, Mx. Cole found a crucial mistake in some of our testing materials and fixed it right away, preventing months of research from having to be redone.
They are a strong candidate for your program due to their keen observation skills and commitment to their studies. They have a distinct viewpoint and method of providing healthcare because they have traveled to more than ten different nations to inform locals about the value of hand washing and proper waste disposal. Every day Agnes contributes to the lab, and I look forward to seeing them develop their abilities so they can start their own medical research and advance healthcare.
I highly recommend Mx. You can reach me at (555)-555-5555 if you’d like to talk more about Cole’s application for a position in your program.
Best,
Grace Chapman
Lead research scientist
Far-Field University
[email protected]
Tips for writing effective recommendation letters
These are some tips for writing effective recommendation letters:
Letters of Recommendation for Pre-Meds and Medical School (with Template) – Part 1
FAQ
What should be in a medical school letter of recommendation?
- Critical thinking.
- Quantitative reasoning.
- Scientific inquiry.
- Written communication.
- skills in the life sciences and in understanding how people behave
- Social skills.
- Teamwork.
- Oral communication.
What makes a strong letter of recommendation for medical school?
Your medical school recommendation letters must be exceptional. These letters will affect the impression you’ve made of yourself and your qualification as a future physician after screening hundreds of applicants with high GPAs, high MCAT scores, and impressive medical school personal statements.
Is 3 letters of recommendation enough for medical school?
We advise you to have four recommendation letters, at the very least. 2 letters must come from professors or instructors who instructed you in science. Many institutions strongly advise having one letter of recommendation for medical school come from a professor who taught you in a course unrelated to science.
Do medical schools verify letters of recommendation?
This means there’s no one way schools verify activities. In the majority of cases, an admissions committee receives applications. There, the data is examined, including MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. This can happen before or after interviews are granted.
