Letters of Rec.

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dazedanconfused

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I know this topic probably has been beaten to death, but I have been searching keywords for awhile now, and I just cannot come up with what I am looking for. My question is that I have two professors that are going to write me letters of rec., but they want a sort of outline for how med schools like to see them. Also, if not that then a list of buzz words that they do or do not like to see so that they can include them into my letters of rec. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. If you could just refer me to a page where this is answered would be good enough for me, but like I said i just can't find it on the forums. 😀
 
I know this topic probably has been beaten to death, but I have been searching keywords for awhile now, and I just cannot come up with what I am looking for. My question is that I have two professors that are going to write me letters of rec., but they want a sort of outline for how med schools like to see them. Also, if not that then a list of buzz words that they do or do not like to see so that they can include them into my letters of rec. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. If you could just refer me to a page where this is answered would be good enough for me, but like I said i just can't find it on the forums. 😀

Vital Keywords/phrases:

Best
Ultimate
God-Like
Almighty
Future Nobel Prize winner
Cure for Cancer
African babies
Research powerhouse


Example: "Dazedanconfused is the ultimate student. In fact, in my 70 years of teaching at Harvard, he is the best student I have ever had the privilege of teaching. Dazedanconfused is an academic research powerhouse encapsulated in one single, God-like body - I have no doubts or reservations that one day he will be a future Nobel Prize winner and successfully discover the cure for cancer. Dazedanconfused is altruistic and brave, yet still humble. As he spend 5 years in the harshest communities of Africa [where he saved countless babies] the native inhabitants began to refer to him as "Dazedanconfused The Almighty" - however, it is a story that he rarely shares. I highly recommend that you accept him into your program with a full scholarship + stipend."

^^^ That is an example of a "decent" LOR.
 
I know this topic probably has been beaten to death, but I have been searching keywords for awhile now, and I just cannot come up with what I am looking for. My question is that I have two professors that are going to write me letters of rec., but they want a sort of outline for how med schools like to see them. Also, if not that then a list of buzz words that they do or do not like to see so that they can include them into my letters of rec. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. If you could just refer me to a page where this is answered would be good enough for me, but like I said i just can't find it on the forums. 😀

The advice that I have might not be exactly what you are looking for, but I promise I really am trying to give a helpful suggestion, not a pointless criticism. I would say that if your prof's don't know what a med school LOR looks like, you may want to make sure you 1) get them a very informative outline (which I know you are looking for on here) and be sure they will write you VERY strong letter, or 2) choose prof's who are more familiar with med school LOR's that will write you a good letter.

Just wanted to point out #2 above to make sure you have at least one LOR from someone that is familiar with the process. You just don't want to take the chance that the prof's you have already chosen might not be so great at writing a med school LOR on their first try.

Also, does your school have a pre-med committee? There is usually a process that pre-med committees go through to interview their pre-med students and write a letter on their behalf (depending on how the interview goes/how well they know you). Look into this....it is much more valuable for med schools to hear that the University of X endorses you as a future doctor rather than some professor who could be your uncle with a different last name, for all they know.

In any situation, it is always a good idea to blatantly ask a professor to write you a strong letter, if they feel comfortable doing so. You'd rather them be honest with you than just say yes and turn in a generic letter.
 
Vital Keywords/phrases:

Best
Ultimate
God-Like
Almighty
Future Nobel Prize winner
Cure for Cancer
African babies
Research powerhouse


Example: "Dazedanconfused is the ultimate student. In fact, in my 70 years of teaching at Harvard, he is the best student I have ever had the privilege of teaching. Dazedanconfused is an academic research powerhouse encapsulated in one single, God-like body - I have no doubts or reservations that one day he will be a future Nobel Prize winner and successfully discover the cure for cancer. Dazedanconfused is altruistic and brave, yet still humble. As he spend 5 years in the harshest communities of Africa [where he saved countless babies] the native inhabitants began to refer to him as "Dazedanconfused The Almighty" - however, it is a story that he rarely shares. I highly recommend that you accept him into your program with a full scholarship + stipend."

^^^ That is an example of a "decent" LOR.

I think I can get them to include all those except almighty 😛

Ursa said:
The advice that I have might not be exactly what you are looking for, but I promise I really am trying to give a helpful suggestion, not a pointless criticism. I would say that if your prof's don't know what a med school LOR looks like, you may want to make sure you 1) get them a very informative outline (which I know you are looking for on here) and be sure they will write you VERY strong letter, or 2) choose prof's who are more familiar with med school LOR's that will write you a good letter.

Just wanted to point out #2 above to make sure you have at least one LOR from someone that is familiar with the process. You just don't want to take the chance that the prof's you have already chosen might not be so great at writing a med school LOR on their first try.

Also, does your school have a pre-med committee? There is usually a process that pre-med committees go through to interview their pre-med students and write a letter on their behalf (depending on how the interview goes/how well they know you). Look into this....it is much more valuable for med schools to hear that the University of X endorses you as a future doctor rather than some professor who could be your uncle with a different last name, for all they know.

In any situation, it is always a good idea to blatantly ask a professor to write you a strong letter, if they feel comfortable doing so. You'd rather them be honest with you than just say yes and turn in a generic letter.

The letters are going to be very strong. Not only because I asked them about it, but they are huge supporters of me, which is the main reason I choose them. One of the profs is familiar with writing med school letters of rec., but it has been awhile since he has had to write one. He mainly wanted a refresher to see if anything had changed. The other prof is not and that is the main reason for some semblance of an outline.
Sadly, my school atm does not have a pre-med committee so that is a no-go. Thanks for all the replies so far, hopefully I can figure this out lol
 
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If you have a very good experience with a freshman or sophomore year professor, is asking for a medical school recommendation letter at the end of their course a good idea?
 
You want to provide them with as many of your accomplishments and experiences as possible. If they include some of these things in your LOR it is desirable, because although it is in your app, it always adds legitimacy when it comes from a third party.

You also want them to include how they know you, their professional opinion/evaluation of your work, and how you have impressed them as a person/student.

This is just my opinion, but good buzz words would be:

intelligent
thoughtful
professional
compassionate
hard working
indefatigable work ethic
persistent
mature
persevere
focused
ethical
 
You want to provide them with as many of your accomplishments and experiences as possible. If they include some of these things in your LOR it is desirable, because although it is in your app, it always adds legitimacy when it comes from a third party.

You also want them to include how they know you, their professional opinion/evaluation of your work, and how you have impressed them as a person/student.

This is just my opinion, but good buzz words would be:

intelligent
thoughtful
professional
compassionate
hard working
indefatigable work ethic
persistent
mature
persevere
focused
ethical

Thank for the straight-forward and helpful answer. Although I was hoping to become known as the almighty man who cures african babies cancer. :laugh:
 
Our advisor gives out a list of items that could/should be addressed by the letter writer:

"Professional school admissions committees would like your candid opinion of the student on any or all of the following traits:
- Knowledge of the applicant
- Academic performance / intellectual ability
- Motivation for medicine
- Attitude, character, maturity, emotional stability
- Originality, imagination, independent thinking
- Communication skills
- Distinctive qualifications"

Each bullet has more explanation but I'm not up for that much typing today. It also says to include specific examples/stories where possible.
 
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