Write me a recommendation letter

[jaboy]

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I need to get a couple of recommendation letters from some of the doctors I work with. I am not sure that the docs know how to write a recommendation letter without any input on my part. What have you guys done to get a good letter? Should I say "Please place emphasis on these charastics you have observed?"

 

[TTSD]

I had sex with them...

 

[jbing]

Originally posted by jaboy
I need to get a couple of recommendation letters from some of the doctors I work with. I am not sure that the docs know how to write a recommendation letter without any input on my part. What have you guys done to get a good letter? Should I say "Please place emphasis on these charastics you have observed?"

exactly. one of my letter writers asked me to give her an itemized list of 3-4 key things she wanted me to highlight. it was for some clinical research i did, so i told her to emphasize things like "aptitude for working with people", "intellectual curiosity", things like that. in your case, just think what you feel would most impress adcoms about the work you did with those doctors and ask the doctors to emphasize those points. just make sure they are relevant points, ie. don't ask the doc to speak on your ability to work with patients if you didn't actually have any patient contact in the job. but that goes without saying. good luck...

 

[DrBodacious]

The doctors probably had to get LORs too didn't they?

J/K Just:

give them a resume and you personal statement so they can fill in the blanks they may not know from working with you,

give them the requirements (i.e. letterhead, signiture sealing, deadline) that may be required

and ask them if they have any questions. If they aren't clear on what to write then give some suggestions.

You don't want to get too bossy with them before they write you a letter as it can be somewhat of a burden depending on how busy the person is and their personality.

 

[superdevil]

yes, definately have sex with them. if that doesn't work, try having sex with some of their close family members. it couldn't hurt to take pictures, either.


seriously, just one from a doc should do, and although it might not be a lot of help, a rule of thumb is to only ask for a letter if you know you've given them something to write about. ask one of them if you could take them out to lunch (and then try to have sex with them!) so that they can get to know you better (for the letter, its not quite as important for the sex). then they'll know more about you and your motivations to write about.

don't forget the sex, though

 

[superdevil]

also, when i got my MD letter, i gave him a packet with my personal statement, cirriculum vitae, transcript, etc., as DrBodacious alluded to.