What would you like your Letter of Reccomendation to emphasize?

[clarity16]

Hello all,

Am receiving rec letters from several professors and each has asked if there is anything special I wish them to highlight. My input is mostly discretionary, but what is the best way to answer this question? If you are an ADCOM, what info in a LOR has turned out to be the most helpful to you regarding an applicant? And if you are an applicant, what did you choose to stress when advocating for yourself? I know my choice may differ, but I am looking for inspiration to get the ball rolling. TIA!

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[clarity16]

https://www.aamc.org/download/349990/data/lettersguidelinesbrochure.pdf

look at the 2nd page Core competencies and pick what describes you best.

Hi HopefulPilot,
Thanks for the response; I thought this was very helpful. I am still curious about your own particular input (and that of others.) What did you focus on when you were applying?

 

[Medic2MD4me]

My PS and hopefully my letters of Rec have a big emphasis on my teaching experience. I hope this will help my application stand out. For instance- in one LoR from a prior professor, I now serve as clinical preceptor for their current students at my hospital so hopefully she includes that in the LoR along with how I did in the program as a student. I also got one from my MD boss , again he hopefully highlights all the ems and clinical preceptor teaching I do, in addition to work function , etc. Another science LoR highlights my involvement in specific case study presentations when I was a student. Overall teaching and a desire to go into academic medicine is a general theme I've tried to build into my application. I'll let you know if it helps....

 

[Goro]

A good LOR is a letter of evaluation, and not merely "Joe/Jill is a nice kid, made A's in my class, was in the top 5%, and will be a good doctor."

Hello all,

Am receiving rec letters from several professors and each has asked if there is anything special I wish them to highlight. My input is mostly discretionary, but what is the best way to answer this question? If you are an ADCOM, what info in a LOR has turned out to be the most helpful to you regarding an applicant? And if you are an applicant, what did you choose to stress when advocating for yourself? I know my choice may differ, but I am looking for inspiration to get the ball rolling. TIA!

 

[TX_AK]

https://www.aamc.org/download/349990/data/lettersguidelinesbrochure.pdf

look at the 2nd page Core competencies and pick what describes you best.

Thanks, I was looking for this the other day.

 

[clarity16]

My PS and hopefully my letters of Rec have a big emphasis on my teaching experience. I hope this will help my application stand out. For instance- in one LoR from a prior professor, I now serve as clinical preceptor for their current students at my hospital so hopefully she includes that in the LoR along with how I did in the program as a student. I also got one from my MD boss , again he hopefully highlights all the ems and clinical preceptor teaching I do, in addition to work function , etc. Another science LoR highlights my involvement in specific case study presentations when I was a student. Overall teaching and a desire to go into academic medicine is a general theme I've tried to build into my application. I'll let you know if it helps....

Thank you! GL

 

[clarity16]

A good LOR is a letter of evaluation, and not merely "Joe/Jill is a nice kid, made A's in my class, was in the top 5%, and will be a good doctor."

Thanks for responding. I feel fairly confident they will be evaluating me; I suppose my contribution is then an added ( and perhaps redundant) criterion. That helps.