The ideal LOR

[medzk]

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I have looked through the big official LOR thread but I didn't come across a good answer.

I've confirmed with my LOR writers that they would be willing to write me a strong LOR, however they haven't written the letters yet and I haven't yet provided them with any supplementary material.

With that in mind, what are some things I should suggest they emphasize? (My school lacks much support for pre-med students so it isn't a given that they are familiar with what med schools are looking for in a LOR.)

For example, I could ask that they include a line comparing me to all other students they have taught. Or I could ask them to speak to my maturity or to my promise as a physician.

TL;DR What are some specific points for LOR writers to mention?

 

[JSU]

You want them to make it personal. That is the biggest thing IMO

 

[jhay]

for me, I asked them to write about the reason I asked them in the first place (that might sound a little weird).


For example, in my letter to my research PI, I said something along the lines of "I asked you because you have watched all this reasearch i've done from beginning to publication, and have seen the dedication i have put into it" (except worded a lot better).

another professor, whom I had for 2 entirely different classes (one bio, 1 bio/philosophy, random I know) I said "I asked you because you've seen me succeed academically in a variety of different environments" (again, that's the short version)

does that make sense?

 

[kautionwirez]

"This man is a genius."

R.J. Duffin

Arguable the best letter of recommendation written.

 

[paul411]

Like most persuasive pieces of writing, they should contain concrete details to back up abstract statements.

Stating that you're an excellent candidate for medical school because of X would be more powerful if it was backed up by an anecdote of how you demonstrated X under the observance of the LoR writer.

Hence, you want a personalized and enthusiastic LoR.

Here's an LoR I got from a non-science prof: http://goo.gl/fIho0 - My premed advisor noted that it was "strong".

 

[raltima07]

Like most persuasive pieces of writing, they should contain concrete details to back up abstract statements.

Stating that you're an excellent candidate for medical school because of X would be more powerful if it was backed up by an anecdote of how you demonstrated X under the observance of the LoR writer.

Hence, you want a personalized and enthusiastic LoR.

Here's an LoR I got from a non-science prof: http://goo.gl/fIho0 - My premed advisor noted that it was "strong".

The more personal, the better.
Just like a college essay, when they back up there aruguement, like paul said, it is a stronger letter