I Can Upload My Letter of Recommendation on Medical School Application

Whom, when, and how to ask for neat medical schoolhouse recommendation letters, including word-for-give-and-take scripts

(Annotation: A version of this article can too be establish in our free, 102-page comprehensive guide to medical school applications, Go Into Medical School: 6 Practical Lessons to Stand Out and Earn Your White Glaze .)

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Introduction

Similar to writing the AMCAS personal statement, the thought of asking for medical school letters of recommendation (or in AMCAS terms, messages of evaluation) makes most students cringe.

Therefore, it'due south not surprising that nosotros receive a ton of questions and concerns most recommendation letters, such equally:

• "How am I supposed to find 3 alphabetic character writers?!"

• "Would it exist a proficient idea to become a alphabetic character from Dr. Johnson? I don't really know her, but she works at Knuckles Med, loves my mom, and offered to write a alphabetic character on my behalf."

We decided to write a comprehensive guide to medical school recommendation letters to answer all of your questions. If your question isn't covered, please exit information technology in the comments section below so we tin respond it and add it to the guide, since other students surely share it.

Click on any question below to spring directly to it:

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Questions about whom y'all should request letters of recommendation from

Whom should I request letters of recommendation from?

We recommend you compile the following set of six recommendation messages:

1. Science professor 1 whose form you took for a letter grade

2. Science professor ii whose form you took for a alphabetic character grade

3. Not-scientific discipline professor whose class yous took for a letter grade

4. A professional—preferably a doctor—who has observed you providing patient care

5. Extracurricular observer 1

6. Extracurricular observer two

Your two "extracurricular observer" letters could come from anyone who can speak well to your distinguishing activities.

For instance, if y'all're a standout researcher, get one of those letters from a master investigator (PI). If y'all don't know your PI well, request a letter from a postdoc with whom you've worked closely, and request that the PI co-sign it.

If, on the other hand, yous're an fantabulous fundraiser, asking a letter from your superior inside the system you were office of or from a high-ranking member of the organization yous supported who knows you well.

A skilful rule of thumb is to ask for a letter from a supervisor from an extracurricular action that y'all designated as a 'Most Meaningful Feel' in your AMCAS Work and Activities section.

Some letters tin exercise "double duty"—that is, they can check two boxes at one time. For instance, if y'all took a neuroscience course with a professor whose lab you also worked in, a letter from that professor can satisfy one science professor letter and one extracurricular observer letter. Therefore, yous don't necessarily need six distinct letters.

The most of import consideration is that you submit outstanding letters. Outstanding letters come from individuals who can speak highly of your skills and qualities and, more chiefly, how your merits make you an excellent medical school candidate. Unenthusiastic messages, even if written by a well-known person, are not desirable.

From whom should I enquire for recommendation letters as a non-traditional bidder?

Medical schools want to see recent (i.due east., within the concluding iii years) information about your academic achievements. Therefore, if you've been out of schoolhouse for a while, you should aim to enroll in a few science courses—locally or online—to build relationships with professors.

Who qualifies every bit a scientific discipline professor?

Strictly speaking, medical schools would like to see your scientific discipline letters come from biology, chemistry, or physics (BCP) professors. While many schools will besides take a science letter from a math, information science, engineering, or other scientific discipline professor, other schools won't. Therefore, you should check directly with your top-choice schools if y'all intend to submit a science letter of the alphabet from a non-BCP professor.

Who qualifies as a non-science professor?

Any professor whose field falls outside of biology, chemical science, or physics.

Exercise I have to send a letter of the alphabet from a professor in my major?

A very small number of schools require a alphabetic character from a professor in your major. Since this isn't necessary for the majority of schools, you probably shouldn't worry well-nigh this.

Do I need to get a alphabetic character from a DO physician when applying to DO programs?

Yep, if y'all're looking to apply to osteopathic medical schools, brand sure to asking a alphabetic character from a DO physician you've adumbral.

DO programs are conscious of the reality that well-nigh applicants would prefer to attend an Md program if given the chance. Therefore, they similar to run into that applicants take demonstrated a specific interest in osteopathic medicine and have fabricated an endeavor to put this interest into practice.

(Further reading: Dr. vs DO: The Biggest Differences (And Which is Meliorate))

What recommendation letters should I avoid?

Generally speaking, you should avoid any letters that are negative, neutral, or slightly positive. In other words, y'all should avoid a alphabetic character from anyone who won't gush about yous.

In improver, yous'll want to avert sending letters from family members, clergy, or family friends who can't speak intimately most your professional person qualities.

Students routinely ask whether they should get a letter from a family friend who happens to be a well-known physician or faculty member at a school on their list, thinking that their ascendancy will carry significant weight in admissions decisions despite non knowing the applicant professionally. Avoid these messages as well. At best, they'll exist disregarded. At worst, they'll hurt your awarding because they'll exist seen as an attempt to gain an unfair reward.

Will I be able to see my recommendation letters?

You lot can, but you shouldn't. In other words, you should always waive your correct to read your messages. Otherwise, medical schools won't take your letters seriously.

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Questions nigh how many letters of recommendation you need

How many letters of recommendation exercise I need for medical school?

Schools vary with regard to the number of required recommendation letters, ranging from two to five. 3 letters is the most common requirement.

At minimum, about schools will inquire you lot to submit one of the following:

• Three individual messages: Two messages from scientific discipline professors and one letter from a non-science professor. These letters are to be sent directly to AMCAS by individual professors or by your school via a letter packet.

• A committee alphabetic character: Some schools have a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor who writes a alphabetic character representing your schoolhouse'due south evaluation of you. If your school offers the committee letter option, y'all should take it. Otherwise, medical schools could wonder whether you're avoiding the committee letter because you're trying to hide something or were told by the pre-health committee that you're non a competitive applicant.

Nevertheless, the improve question is, "How many letters of recommendation should I go when applying to medical school?" because:

• Some schools require that y'all submit four or five letters.

• Many schools optionally permit you to ship boosted recommendation letters beyond their requirements.

• Some letter of the alphabet writers tin can be flaky and even disappear when you lot demand them most. Therefore, it'due south best to take a backup letter of the alphabet.

Our answer to that question is y'all should gather half-dozen letters (see our response to the first question for further details).

How many letters of recommendation should I send to schools?

We recommend that you send no more than five or half dozen letters to med schools, even if they offering a higher limit on the number of allowed letters.

The quality of your messages and what they collectively say about you are much more of import than sending a large number of letters. Negative or fifty-fifty so-and so messages can cast a shadow over your other, strong letters, so be thoughtful nigh which to include or leave out.

How many recommendation letters can I upload to AMCAS?

AMCAS allows you to upload upwardly to 10 letters of recommendation.

How many recommendation letters tin can I upload to AACOMAS?

AACOMAS allows you to upload up to 6 letters of recommendation.

How many recommendation messages can I upload to TMDSAS?

TMDSAS allows you to upload upward to 4 messages of recommendation.

Can I send unlike recommendation letters to dissimilar schools?

It depends on which awarding organisation you're using. AMCAS allows y'all to send different recommendation letters to unlike schools, whereas AACOMAS and TMDSAS practice not.

In other words, when applying via AMCAS, you can "overcompile" letters of recommendation and pick and choose private schools that y'all'd like to ship each alphabetic character to. When applying via AACOMAS and TMDSAS, every schoolhouse you apply to will receive all the messages that you've uploaded into that system.

Can I choose where to transport each recommendation letter?

Equally noted above, only AMCAS allows you to choose private schools as recommendation letter recipients. Across this, you tin just select the application organisation to which you'd similar to send each recommendation letter of the alphabet.

For instance, allow'due south say you lot're applying to both MD and Practise schools, and you have eight letters, including messages from both Md and DO physicians, stored in a dossier service such as Interfolio. You could so choose the advisable letters to upload to AMCAS and AACOMAS, bearing in mind both the types of medical schools you're applying to and the maximum number of letters each arrangement allows.

Exercise my recommendation letters have to be addressed to specific medical schools?

No, this is not expected.

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Questions well-nigh how to ask for letters of recommendation

Should I ask for a letter of recommendation in person or via electronic mail?

Nosotros strongly encourage you to ask for letters from professors in person whenever possible, and definitely if information technology'south been a while since you've been in their course or interacted with them.

Before yous enquire for a recommendation letter, you should ready a packet that includes:

1. A list of your grades, separated by science and not-science courses

2. Your CV or resume

3. Your final or near-final personal statement draft

4. AAMC'due south guidelines for writing a strong letter of evaluation, including a reminder to write the letter on official letterhead and sign it. You should provide this bundle merely subsequently a professor or other recommendation alphabetic character author agrees to your request.

How should I ask for a letter of recommendation in person?

Below are verbal e-mail scripts you can employ to request a letter of the alphabet in person:

Word-for-word email script when planning to inquire someone you know well in person

Love [Professor's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I'm planning on applying to medical school this upcoming summertime, and was hoping you lot'd be willing to offer your perspective on the process since I've always valued your guidance. If so, please allow me know some days/times that work well for you lot to meet, and I'll make certain to adjust. Thanks for your consideration!

All-time,

[Your Name/Terminal Name]

Word-for-word email script when planning to ask someone in person whom you haven't seen or spoken with in a while

Dear [Professor's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. My proper name is [Proper name/Last Name], and I was a educatee in your [Course Number/Title] course during [Semester/year]. I really enjoyed your course because [accurate reason].

I'm planning on applying to medical school this upcoming summertime, and was hoping you'd exist willing to offer your perspective on the process. If so, please let me know some days/times that work well for you lot to come across, and I'll make certain to accommodate. Thanks for your consideration!

All-time,

[Your Name/Final Proper noun]

Boosted guidance for asking in person

Whenever you run into with a professor to request a letter in person, brand certain to let them know why you would value a letter of the alphabet from them, including why yous value their perspective and which of your qualities and experiences they can speak to.

Don't be shy about priming them to do this because it will assistance their letters approve how you draw yourself throughout the rest of your primary and secondary applications.

Once a letter writer agrees to write you a letter of the alphabet, provide the packet mentioned earlier.

How should I ask for a letter of recommendation by email?

Hither is an exact e-mail script y'all can use to request a letter via electronic mail:

Word-for-give-and-take email script when planning to ask someone you know well via e-mail

Honey [Professor's Name],

I hope this email finds yous well. I'g planning on applying to medical school this upcoming summer, and was wondering whether you'd feel comfortable writing a strong letter of the alphabet of recommendation. [Authentic sentence describing why yous would value a letter of the alphabet from them (e.g., why you value their perspective, which of your qualities they can speak to, etc.)].

If yous're willing to provide a letter, I will provide the following supporting materials: ane) a list of my grades, two) my CV, 3) a draft of my personal statement, and four) the AMCAS recommendation letter guidelines. Thanks for your consideration!

Best,

[Your Name/Last Name]

(Note: We take non included a script for requesting a letter of the alphabet via email from a professor who may not retrieve you considering you shouldn't ask them for one.)

When and how should I remind my letter writers to submit?

Recommendation letter writers ofttimes procrastinate on submitting letters on fourth dimension. Therefore, yous should electronic mail them using the following e-mail script two to three weeks prior to your main awarding submission:

Dear [Professor's Proper name],

I promise this email finds you well. I plan on submitting my medical school applications [on date or  in # of days/weeks], and so I wanted to send a reminder regarding your recommendation letter. Delight let me know if there'southward any additional information I tin provide.

Thanks once more for your support!

All-time,

[Your Name/Terminal Name]

Beyond this first reminder email, experience gratuitous to send additional reminder emails every one to weeks if y'all don't hear back from a letter writer. If you're unable to go a response via email, call them.

What should I include in my thank you notes to alphabetic character writers?

In one case a person submits a alphabetic character, you tin can employ the post-obit thanks annotation script to express appreciation (personalize this however you lot'd like):

Dear [Professor's Name],

Cheers again for supporting my medical school applications by offering your perspectives on the process and submitting a recommendation letter. I feel very fortunate to have great mentors like you.

I'll make sure to update you equally the application season progresses!

All-time,

[Your Proper name/Last Proper noun]

Do y'all have tips on how to get to know my professors?

Of course! Here they are:

• Consistently attend office hours, peculiarly during "off-tiptop" times, like the beginning of the term.

• During function hours, hash out something other than class material (eastward.g., the professor's research).

• Take multiple classes with the aforementioned professor.

• Invite the professor to java or lunch after the term to hash out their piece of work, too as your career aspirations.

• Work every bit the professor's educational activity assistant.

• If you're interested in their research, inquire to join their lab. Your enquiry involvement will not but improve your human relationship with that professor, but will also expect great on your application.

When should I request letters of recommendation?

Ideally, you will want to ask for recommendation letters no later than two to 3 months before you plan on submitting your chief awarding (i.e., AMCAS). Therefore, if you plan to submit AMCAS in June, you should ask no later than the beginning of May.

Professors receive a ton of recommendation letter requests during the medical school application process. Asking in accelerate volition give your alphabetic character writers the fourth dimension to write a strong alphabetic character, and also to prioritize getting yours done before those who asked later.

Finally, your schoolhouse has a pre-health committee or pre-wellness advisor who assembles and distributes letters on your behalf. If so, you should follow their suggested timeline for requesting recommendation messages.

(Further reading: The Ideal Medical Schoolhouse Application Timeline)

When are messages of recommendation due?

You should aim to take your letters sent to programs no later than the date of your secondary awarding submission (i.e., July at the earliest) because most med schools do not read recommendation letters until the remainder of your materials—primary application, secondary awarding, fees, MCAT score—have been submitted.

That said, we encourage yous to request that recommendation letters exist submitted by the terminate of June to avert feet. That manner, even if your writers procrastinate for a week or two, you'll still accept your letters in on time.

It's important to note that messages of recommendation are rarely used to decide whether or non to send you a secondary awarding (which near schools send to most applicants anyway). Withal, they are used to brand interview decisions.

When do medical schools await at letters of recommendation?

As noted to a higher place, most medical schools look at letters of recommendation later all of your application materials have been submitted. Therefore, the earliest that your letters volition be read is typically July.

Tin my letter writers submit letters of recommendation before AMCAS opens?

No, writers cannot submit earlier the day AMCAS opens.

Does AMCAS require that my recommendation letters be uploaded to verify my application?

No, it does not. Your submitted AMCAS application volition begin to undergo verification even if your letters of recommendation have not yet arrived.

Tin I add together new messages of recommendation after I submit my AMCAS awarding?

Yes, you can add new letters of recommendation after your AMCAS awarding has been submitted, so long as you lot oasis't withal reached the 10-letter maximum. Still, if you lot've already submitted your application, y'all must brand certain to resubmit your awarding after you assign a new letter to ensure that it's sent.

Even if your application has already been transmitted to a medical school, you tin can yet add and assign new letters to that school equally long equally information technology'southward before the school's borderline.

Tin I edit or delete letters of recommendation later I submit my AMCAS application?

No, you cannot delete or personally edit letters of recommendation later on your AMCAS application has been submitted. Even so, your recommenders may upload a new version of a letter they've already submitted, then long every bit they use the same Letter ID number that was assigned to the original letter.

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Questions well-nigh storing and reusing letters of recommendation

Where can I store my letters of recommendation?

You may have two options for storing letters of recommendation that you request ahead of fourth dimension (e.g., a yr or two before your application bike):

1. Through your school: Virtually universities offer to store your recommendation letters, either through the career center, pre-health advising center, or a similar service on campus.

2. Via an online third-political party letter storage service (also called a "dossier service"), such equally Interfolio.

Regardless of which option(south) is available to you, you volition take to ask your recommenders to transport their messages straight to the storage service. As with any other recommendation letter, stored messages must exist signed and ideally written on official letterhead. Once you're gear up to utilise to medical school, you can request that the storage service transport your letters to the application system.

What are the benefits of using Interfolio or another storage service?

As noted in a higher place, one reason why med school applicants use Interfolio or other letter storage services is to obtain a fresh, and therefore more enthusiastic, letter of recommendation well in advance of the application cycle.

Storage services too simplify the recommendation process for your letter writers by requiring them to simply upload their alphabetic character once. Even if yous aren't collecting messages far in advance, you may however detect this beneficial if you're either submitting applications within multiple systems (e.g. both AMCAS and TMDSAS) or you anticipate needing a letter of recommendation again, such as for a scholarship or a future med school application wheel, and don't want to repeatedly ask your recommenders.

That said, whether or not to store your letters is up to you. It isn't strictly necessary if you can maintain great relationships with your recommenders.

Does AMCAS store recommendation letters from one bike to some other?

No, AMCAS does not shop recommendation letters from one cycle to another.

Practice I need to submit letters of recommendation as a reapplicant?

Yes, considering AMCAS does not store letters of recommendation, you lot must either resubmit your existing messages or submit new letters of recommendation each time you utilize to medical school.

Tin can I reuse the aforementioned letters of recommendation if I reapply to medical school?

When reapplying to medical schoolhouse, you can choose to send the same letters from a previous cycle—ideally, with a revised date and, if appropriate, with updates—entirely new messages, or a combination of the two. Even if your letters are stored in Interfolio or a similar service, we encourage yous to inquire your rec letter writers for a letter with at least an updated engagement.

(Further reading: Reapplying to Medical School: Every Major Question Answered)

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