Letters of Recommendation

A letter of recommendation is a letter you request recommending you to the programs of your choice. You will need several letters of recommendation for your application. You may save as many letters as you like in ERAS, but each program requests a specific number - usually 3 or 4. Send only that number, no more, no less. Some programs request that one of the letters be from the Department Chair. Our departments know of this requirement and schedule appointments with students to craft a Chairman's Letter. For the other letters, choose someone who knows you and your work and can write passionately about your candidacy. If there is an attending in the third year you had a great experience with, ask them if they would be comfortable writing you an LOR. Your LOR's become an important reflection of your academic performance and serve as a source of information on your non-cognitive qualities. It is important to identify faculty members who are in a position to state your suitability for a career in that specialty. You will want to request a letter from a rotation in which you did well, one that relates to your chosen field and/or one that is specifically requested by the program. Include your AAMC ID # on the form. If you are unsure of your AAMC ID #, please visit AAMC ID Look up.

Some programs will put stock in letters from nationally known faculty, and our program directors should be able to alert you to that. When you identify a faculty member you think will write you a good letter, it is acceptable to ask if he/she would be willing to write a letter. Indicate that you will contact them again close to the time of application to confirm their ability to assist you.

When the time comes for you to request the written letter, set up meetings with the faculty you have chosen to refresh their memories about who you are and what you did. Send them a copy of your personal statement and CV.

Download the cover sheet (the cover sheet gives instruction to the letter writer/faculty member, resident, etc.) and give to the letter writer. If you are able, we suggest setting a date to pick up the letter and hand-carry it to OSA to be scanned into your ERAS application. Request that the letter be given to you in a signed, sealed envelope. If you are going to be out of town, you may have the LOR mailed to the OSA. You might need to gently remind your letter writers several times of deadline constraints. To check if the letter has been received, you should go the Applicant Document Tracking System in MyERAS. Keep in mind that this system only works if you have selected and applied to your programs.

OSA personnel cannot review these letters and make decisions/suggestions about which letter should or should not be used. OSA also cannot proof the letters for typos, grammar, etc.  

After the Match, consider sending thank you notes to your letter writers and ultimately let them know where you will be going for your residency.