Research mentor wants me to write my own letter..

[ohword3]

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Any advice? He wants me to draft a template for him to modify, but did say that I would receive his "highest recommendation". We have published 3 articles together and a textbook chapter, two of which I am first author on.

I know I should state his relationship to me and use a personal example, but is there any other helpful information or resources out there?

 

[SN12357]

Any advice? He wants me to draft a template for him to modify, but did say that I would receive his "highest recommendation". We have published 3 articles together and a textbook chapter, two of which I am first author on.

I know I should state his relationship to me and use a personal example, but is there any other helpful information or resources out there?

1. State his relationship to you, including the length of time you've worked together. Include something like 'because I have worked with x [in blah blah blah capacity], I am highly qualified to evaluate his/her suitability for medical school'.
2. Be specific about your publications and describe them. Don't just say '3 articles and a chapter'.
3. Include statements about what an awesome person you are to work with.
4. Don't be afraid to use high praise. He's said he'll give you a great letter, so go ahead and write one!
5. Highlight the first author point and throw in language but your unusual level of independence and research abilities yadda yadda.

 

[Narmerguy]

This is pretty common and occurred to me with one of my research mentors a while back (not for med school but similar). I think one of the best things you can do is simply look up some LOR templates online or general recommendations offered there. There's lots of good ones.

 

[Solarium90]

As others have said, quite normal.

Does your mentor have old letters for other students that he would be comfortable with you using as a guideline for writing your own?

 

[Arkaine]

1. State his relationship to you, including the length of time you've worked together. Include something like 'because I have worked with x [in blah blah blah capacity], I am highly qualified to evaluate his/her suitability for medical school'.
2. Be specific about your publications and describe them. Don't just say '3 articles and a chapter'.
3. Include statements about what an awesome person you are to work with.
4. Don't be afraid to use high praise. He's said he'll give you a great letter, so go ahead and write one!
5. Highlight the first author point and throw in language but your unusual level of independence and research abilities yadda yadda.

This.

If there are other people you work with, graduate students or research scientists and the like, I would ask them for help. If your PI is asking you to write your own letter (as an undergrad), then they definitely have written letters for themselves.

 

[ohword3]

This.

If there are other people you work with, graduate students or research scientists and the like, I would ask them for help. If your PI is asking you to write your own letter (as an undergrad), then they definitely have written letters for themselves.

Well I guess "research mentor" in this case is a loose term. He is a very very busy cardiovascular surgeon who I have worked with for awhile. Essentially, he said he would write me a letter but is just too busy to actually do the brunt of the work.