Letters of Recommendation
Programs to which you make application will be able to tell whether or not you are a capable student when they evaluate your transcript and your score on the admissions test. However, there are other aspects of you as a student that are important in the admissions process. These determine whether you have the personality traits to succeed both as a student in clinical training, and as a practitioner. While some of the characteristics might be gleaned from your application, the professional program uses two additional factors to assist them in evaluating these non-cognitive aspects of your personality. These factors include the letters of recommendation and the personal interview. In both of these the committee will attempt to assess such qualities as motivation, maturity, energy, compassion, integrity, interpersonal and communicative skills. and the potential for continued professional growth. These characteristics, or their lack, are most often responsible for keeping a student with high grades or an advanced degree from being accepted. If such qualities were not important, the entire class could be selected by computer.
You may expect, therefore, that all your applications will require letters of recommendation. The more personalized and specific the letter is, the more potentially valuable it can be to you. While it might be unrealistic to expect to become very close friends with all your professors, at EU you should be able to get to know some of them well. Some may invite you to an interview in an effort to get to know you better before writing the letter. If in doubt, ask the professor. Most professors wish their students to be successful in entering professional schools and will write letters gladly.
Graduate programs use various procedures in providing letters of recommendation. Many will request letters from professors and/or from the Premedical Advisory Committee. If you have the choice, always send the committee letter. It is much more strongly considered by admissions committees than individual letters.
Here are some suggestions for requesting letters of recommendation:
- Let the writer know exactly the type of school to which you are applying.
- Give the writer sufficient lead time to prepare your letter, and provide a clear deadline.
- Writing meaningful letters is not always easy, so remind the professor what classes you had with them and briefly summarize your extracurricular activities.
- Don't forget about your letter after you've asked for it. After sufficient time check with the program to see if it has been received. If not, check back with the writer.
- If you know a professional well enough that she might write a meaningful letter, by all means ask for one. You must be aware, however, that letters that simply extol you as a person are not particularly meaningful. Meaningful letters discuss at least one trait or experience that the writer feels will assist you in a professional career. If in doubt, tell the writer what comprises a meaningful letter.
- A letter from an employer who has seen you perform in a pertinent setting is potentially very valuable. Be certain that the writer has observed your work.
- If faculty seem reluctant to write a letter for you, it might be wise to reconsider your choice. Some faculty may have a hard time refusing you, but may not write a particularly good letter. It never hurts to ask if she feels comfortable writing on your behalf.
- Offer to pay postage, as a matter of consideration.