Letter of recommendation packet

[Hard24Get]

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Just wondering what should go in the packet one gives to letter writers. I have of course included my CV and personal statement, but I read on AAMC to include your evaluations. And while my grades are not horrendous, the perfectionist in me is ashamed to not have all honors.

So it standard to include your evals? What else should go in that letter writers find useful?

 

[heliotrope]

Thanks for bringing this up. I guess this means I need to get cranking on the personal statement.

 

[werewethere]

I gave my letter writers:
1) A personal statement identifying the field and why I chose it, what makes me a good candidate and what my goals are in that field. Mine was 2.5 pages, too long by most accounts, but very helpful to those who wanted to write a comprehensive letter consistent with my goals.
2) A 2 pg CV with academic, volunteer, work, biographical data, research, and grades for 3rd year broken down by test/clinical/overall, and step scores. Specific but brief. No HS/college stuff unless it was pertinent to med school work.
3) ERAS cover sheet waving my right to see the letter and providing the name of the person to recieve it and fax number.
4) Target day agreed upon, with friendly follow up email reminders.
5) Emails after interview season and match to let them know what happened, and thank you notes.

There may be other things that are useful, but I'm sure your letter writer may ask. Keep in mind their level of experience writing, if this is young faculty they may have not written many, and ask yourself if this person is particularly sympathetic and eloquent, both features that lead to well written, supportive letters.

 

[Medical123]

My letter writers pretty well told me what they wanted, which was basically my CV and personal statements. In general, they didn't ask for my evaluations as these were all people that I had worked with and knew me well.

I know that this will vary from school to school, but for my departmental letter, I had to meet with the PD for my specialty at my school, who interviewed me and asked about my grades, USMLE scores, and motivations for going into Internal Medicine. I met with her very late in my third year and she provided a lot of good advice as to how to write my personal statement, who in the department writes strong letters, what electives she found to be the most valuable for internship (ICU, EKG course), the best time for me to take the USMLE, and where she thought that I would be very competitive. I got my #1 choice for residency.

 

[lord_jeebus]

2 page extended CV including "personal interests" and particularly significant stuff from college

Personal Statement

Copies of all 3rd year evals

ERAS cover sheet, of course

One faculty member asked for a copy of my Step I score report.

 

[jennyboo]

I gave the letter writer the ERAS cover sheet, addressed envelope for them to send it to the appropriate office with, plus whatever else he or she asked for.

Writer A: Asked for nothing.

Writer B: Asked for CV, Step 1 score (just verbally told her) and medical school transcript.

Writer C: Asked for nothing.

But it is very nice of you to offer them something, i.e. "What do you need for it?" Then if they want it, or if your CV is particularly interesting, you can offer it.