MSTP letter - Feedback Appreciated!

[digambara]

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I have been working closely with a very prominent researcher for over a year. We are currently writing up our results for publication. I asked him for a strong letter of support for MSTP applications, and he was more than happy to do it.

I just picked up my sealed letter from him today to drop off at the school letter service. When thanking him, he mentioned that he pretty much focused the entire letter on our research results and his own impressions of their importance.

I am assuming there is VERY little about his opinions on my character, etc. I am thinking though that for MSTP this is more appropriate, as compared to a more encompassing approach for regular MD letters.

Any thoughts? If someone could give some feedback on what [ideally] would differentiate a regular MD vs MSTP letter, that would also be great. Thanks!

 

[Fritz]

I really don't know much about what letters should look like, but I am thinking that they should focus on the person for which they are written, so that to show the character of that person, the ability to work as a researcher, her/his knowledge of the research that was done.
I read a couple of these things ( but they were not MD MSTP admissions) and they were always concentrated on the individual and his/her activities.
just my 2 cents.

 

[noy]

I have been told that the letters say what they need to regardless of what is actually discussed. Whatever impression you have made becomes apparent to those who have read hundreds of these things from a variety of sources...