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Getting to Know Faculty

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When I conduct Strategy Sessions with medical and dental school applicants, I notice a recurring problem: It’s hard to get very strong academic letters of recommendation, especially at colleges with large classes.

So I’m here to offer a piece of advice to those just starting their university studies: Get to know your profs. In addition to keeping your grades up from the beginning of your college career, acquainting yourself well with your teachers is one of the most important pieces of advice I can give to the new pre-med. Go to office hours, send an email invite for a lunch meeting or approach the faculty member about working in his or her laboratory.

In addition to being strategic, these relationships can fill a mentorship role that is invaluable.

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Submitting your Medical School Letters of Recommendation

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Your medical school recommenders have several options for submitting their letters to AMCAS. You want to make the process as convenient as possible for the writers, and different ones may have different preferences. So offer each writer all feasible alternatives. If your recommender plans to send the letter by snail mail, provide him or her with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Here are the options:

1. AMCAS Letter Writer Application: This application enables letter writers to upload documents securely to AMCAS rather than send letters via the mail. If you are interested in this option, and can upload a PDF version of your letter, make note of the requesting applicant’s AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID included above and go to https://services.aamc.org/letterwriter. You will need to register for your own AAMC account in order to use this service.

2. Interfolio: AMCAS can receive letters sent to Interfolio if the student requesting this letter is an Interfolio user or your
institution/organization uses Interfolio to deliver letters of evaluation/recommendation.

3. Mail your letter: If you select this option, please attach this form to your letter(s) and mail to:
AMCAS, attn: AMCAS Letters
AAMC Medical School Application Services
P.O. Box 18958
Washington, DC 20036

4. VirtualEvals (VE): VE is available to members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP). If you are a VE user, make note of the requesting student’s AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID included above and upload your letter(s) to VE.

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Getting into Medical School: Tips for Obtaining Optimal Letters of Recommendation

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In part because of the failing economy, getting into medical school is becoming increasingly competitive. Top-notch candidates who used to target law or business school are turning their interest toward medicine, a more secure field. Consequently, more competitive candidates are now pursuing a medical career, making the submission of an excellent medical school application more important.

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS®) is a centralized application processing service for medical school applicants. AMCAS® accepts letters of recommendation (LOR) for participating medical schools, enabling institutions to receive letters electronically. It also allows the letter of recommendation writers to send their written materials to AMCAS® instead of to individual medical schools, saving time. Read more ›

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Appropriate Letters of Recommendation

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For residency applicants, remember that beyond getting strong letters of recommendation, you want to get appropriate ones. You need at the very least one letter in your field and other letters from associated specialties; a psychiatry letter for a general surgery residency is going to be almost worthless.

For help with your residency application please contact me as soon as possible.

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Letters of Recommendation: Mediocre = Bad

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I’ve been advising a lot of clients lately regarding letters of recommendation both for medical school and residency. Remember that your letters have a big impact on your application, and a mediocre letter can bomb your candidacy. Always ask your potential letter writers if they will write you a “strong letter” of recommendation. If they say no, hesitate or tell you they are too busy think of their negative responses as a favor.

For help with application strategy please contact me. The earlier in the season the better.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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