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Applying for Residency
The Match: General Information
Obtaining Residency
Information/Applications
The Application: General
Information
The Curriculum Vitae
The Dean's Letter
Letters of Recommendation
The Personal Statement
Interviewing
Rank List
Letters of Recommendation
Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?
Target
faculty members who know you best, especially if they were impressed with your
work.
When should I begin to ask for letters of recommendation?
Many students ask faculty members for letters of recommendation after their
third year of medical school ends. You can, however, ask for a letter of
recommendation during your third year of medical school. For example, if you did
particularly well during a rotation, you may wish to ask the attending physician
who gave you a strong evaluation for a letter of recommendation at the end of the
clerkship. The attending physician will then be able to prepare the letter at a
time when your performance is fresh in his or her mind. This letter can be updated
later when you are ready for it to be submitted.
How do I ask for a letter of recommendation?
Too often,
students procrastinate when asking for letters of recommendation. Remember that
faculty members expect to be asked to write letters for good students. It's one of
their many professional responsibilities so you shouldn't consider asking for a
letter an imposition. When you do ask the faculty member, be sure to phrase your
request properly. "Dr. Smith, do you feel you know me well enough to write me a
strong letter of recommendation?" is an appropriate way of requesting a letter.
This gives the faculty member the opportunity to politely decline if he or she
does not feel that they know you well enough, in which case you can move on to
another faculty member.
How much time should I give the faculty member to write the
letter?
You should give your letter-writers at least four weeks to write
the letter of recommendation.
Is there anything else that I can do to help the
letter-writer?
At your meeting with the letter-writer, be sure to give him
or her your curriculum vitae and personal statement. Discuss your career goals and
the residency programs to which you are applying. Be sure to thank your
letter-writers and don't forget to keep them abreast of your progress.
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