Tips for Writing Strong Letters of Recommendation

TipsforWritingStrongLettersofRecommendation

Important:Ifyoucannotwriteasupportiveletter ofrecommendation(e.g.,ifyoudidnotworkwiththe

studentverylongordidnothaveagoodexperience),pleaseletthestudentknowthathe/sheshould

requestaletterfromsomeoneelse.

Thetipsbelow assumethatyouareinsupportofthestudent’sapplicationandwouldliketosee

him/herbesuccessful:

 Thestrongestlettersincludeat

least3paragraphs:

o Introduction–includinghowlongandinwhatcapacityyouhaveknownthestudent

o 2

Paragraph–outliningdetailsofyourassessmentofthestudent’sabilities

o Conclusion–summarizingthestrengthofyourrecommendation

 Letterlengthisofteninterpretedasameasureofthestrengthofyourrecommendation–ifyour

recommendationisstrong,thelettershouldgoontoasecondpag e;

lettersthatare1pageor

lessareoftenconsidered“redflags”bysomeprogramdirectors

 Includeaccuratedescriptionsandspecificexamplesofthestudent’sabilities–avoideither

exaggerationoroverlyvague/genericdescriptors

 Whenpossible,includestatistics(e.g.,“Ms.Jonesisamongthetop5%ofstudentswith

whomI

haveworked,”or10%,20%,etc.)

 Indescribinganyweaknesses,considerwhetheryoucanframethempositively(e.g.,

“demonstratedimprovementindocumentation…”ratherthan“demonstratedpoor

documentation”)

 Includeanypositiontitles,includingfacultyappointments,inyoursignature

 “Real”signaturesarepreferredoverdigitalsignatures

The

tablebelowprovidesa usefulexampleofrevisinga“vague”or“ambiguous”letter:



Roberts&Termuehlen,AcadPsych2013;37(1):55‐9.

SAMPLELETTEROFRECOMMENDATION–STRONG



EsteemedResidencyProgram

Well‐KnownUniversity

1234UniversityWay

BigCity,Florida54321



March19,2014



DearProgramDirector,

ItismypleasuretowriteinsupportoftheapplicationofMr.IanHarrisforyourresidency

program.Ihavebeenaneducatorfordecadeswithconsiderableexperiencewithnational

organizations.IworkedcloselywithMr.Harrisduringhisthirdyearclerkshipaswellasduring

hisactinginternship.AsisevidentfromhisCV,Mr.Harrishasexcelledthroughouthiscareer

withmanynotableaccomplishmentswhichIwillnotrepeathere.Iwillfocusonmy

experienceswithMr.Harris,primarilythoserelatedtohisclinicalabilitiesandwhich

demonstratethequalitiesnecessaryforyourresidency:excellentknowledge,clinicalskills,

patientcare,andleadership.IhaveobservedMr.Harrisinboththeinpatientandoutpatient

setting,taughthiminclass,andoverseenhisperformanceduringhisclerkshipandacting

internship.

Inadditiontoconsiderableintellectandexemplaryperformancesonstandardized

examinations,Mr.Harrisisawarm,engagingindividualwhoteachesothersbyexample,is

inclusive,andconsistentlyexhibitscuriosityandmotivationtolearn.Hecomespreparedforall

typesoflearningsituations,havingresearchedtherelevanttopicssothathecan

provide

qualitycareaswellasparticipateactivelyinclassandclinicalsupervision.Mr.Harrisis

articulate,well‐read,andabletoutilizehisknowledgeeffectivelyintheclinicalsetting.In

additiontoprioritizinghisownlearning,Mr.Harrisconsiderstheneedsofothers.Onmultiple

occasions,hehasarrivedinclinicwithhandoutsonrelevantclinicaltopicstailoredfortherest

ofthemedicalteam.Hehasbeendescribedasoneofthebeststudentstorotateonour

servicebyourresidentsandseveralattendingphysicians.AcolleaguewassoimpressedbyMr.

Harris’knowledgeandskillsthatshe

invitedhimtogiveapresentationduringGrandRounds.

Hispresentationwasoutstanding–comprehensiveinscopeyetpresentedefficientlyand

effectively.Onhisowntime,Mr.Harrisdesignedawell‐conceived,thoroughstudyprotocolon

riskfactorsforreadmissionwithin30daystoourinpatientservice.

Inconclusion,IamhappytogiveMr.Harrismyhighestrecommendationforyourresidency

program.Inmyexperience,heisinthetop10%ofallmedicalstudentswithwhomIhave

workedoverthepast20years.Ifyouhaveanyadditionalquestionsorrequirefurther

information,pleasedonothesitatetocontactme.

Sincerely,



JosephAttending,M.D.

AssociateProfessorofMedicine



Note:Thisletterisstrongforseveralreasons.Itdescribeshowandinwhatcontexttheletterwriter

knowsthestudent.Itprovidesspecificexamplesofthestudent’sperformance,includingaspectsthat

madehimstandoutincomparisontohispeers.Italsoprovidesanestimateof howthisstudentranks

amongallstudentswithwhomtheletterwriterhasinteractedovertheyears.



SAMPLELETTEROFRECOMMENDATION–WEAK



EsteemedResidencyProgram

Well‐KnownUniversity

1234UniversityWay

BigCity,Florida54321



March19,2014



DearProgramDirector,

IampleasedtowritethisletterofrecommendationforJohnJones,whowasfirstintroducedto

mewhenhecametoButterworthHospitalasafourthyearstudentin2013.



IfoundMr.Jonestobeaveryhardworking,conscientiousindividual.Hetookverygoodcareof

patientswhowereassignedtohim,andhemadesurethatallthework‐upwasdonebeforethe

morningrounds,whereheactivelyparticipated.Hisresponsibilitiesincludedtakinghistories

andphysicals,writingSOAPnotes,collectinglabreportsfromthepreviousday,writingtransfer

anddischargesummariesandalsoparticipatinginmorningreportsandnoonconferences.He

alsogavesomeexcellentpresentations.Hehasexcellentclinicalskillsanddisplaysthemwith

maturemannerisms.



Johnisaveryhumbleindividualwhogetsalongwellwithhispeersandtheentiremedical

team.ItisthereforewithoutreservationsthatIrecommendhimtoyouforanyresidency

programthathemaybeseeking.Iamsurehewillbeavaluableassettoyourorganization.



Pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeifyouneed

furtherinformation.



Sincerelyyours,



WilliamAttending,M.D.

AssociateProfessorofMedicine



Note:Thisletterisweakforseveralreasons.Itisvagueandnon‐specific,describingwhatanymedical

studentwoulddoonarotation.TherearenospecificexamplesofJohn’sworkprovided.Itappearsthe

writerdoesnotevenknowthestudent’sspecialtychoice.Overall,theletterisoflittlevalueinassessing

thestudent’sapplication.