Welcome to the blog! I’m starting with a discussion of letters of recommendation (LOR) because they’re a part of your application you should get moving on immediately if you haven’t already. (Getting started sooner rather than later on various parts of your application is advice you’ll hear from me ad nauseam.)

Choosing who writes your LOR for medical school, residency or fellowship applications is a critical decision because your letters – good or bad – will significantly impact your admissions success. Here is my suggested wish list for potential letter-writers:

1. They are senior faculty with weighty titles and are well known in their field.
2. They have spent significant time with you.
3. They are experienced letter-writers.
4. They have explicitly stated they will write you a strong LOR.

Of course all of these qualifications are not possible for all letter-writers. But the more of these you can garner the better. With regard to #1, admissions officers are human just like the rest of us: Receiving a LOR from an accomplished, known colleague will be weighed much more heavily than one from someone deemed less successful and unfamiliar. If you are better connected to someone without a title (for example, a TA for pre-meds or a resident for pre-residents and pre-fellows), consider asking a more senior person who has a weightier title if s/he would consider writing a LOR with significant input from your closer contact. That way you get the best of #1, #2 and #3.

With regard to #4, don’t be afraid to ask a potential letter-writer if s/he will write you “a very strong” LOR. It may seem awkward at the time you ask but, believe me, getting a wimpy letter will be much thornier. I’ll write more about LOR in future entries.

For one-on-one help with your application please see http://www.insidermedicaladmissions.com/ .