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TipsforWritingStrongLettersofRecommendation

Important:Ifyoucannotwriteasupportiveletterofrecommendation(e.g.,ifyoudidnotworkwiththe
studentverylongordidnothaveagoodexperience),pleaseletthestudentknowthathe/sheshould
requestaletterfromsomeoneelse.
Thetipsbelowassumethatyouareinsupportofthestudentsapplicationandwouldliketosee
him/herbesuccessful:

Thestrongestlettersincludeatleast3paragraphs:
o Introductionincludinghowlongandinwhatcapacityyouhaveknownthestudent
o 2ndParagraphoutliningdetailsofyourassessmentofthestudentsabilities
o Conclusionsummarizingthestrengthofyourrecommendation
Letterlengthisofteninterpretedasameasureofthestrengthofyourrecommendationifyour
recommendationisstrong,thelettershouldgoontoasecondpage;lettersthatare1pageor
lessareoftenconsideredredflagsbysomeprogramdirectors
Includeaccuratedescriptionsandspecificexamplesofthestudentsabilitiesavoideither
exaggerationoroverlyvague/genericdescriptors
Whenpossible,includestatistics(e.g.,Ms.Jonesisamongthetop5%ofstudentswithwhomI
haveworked,or10%,20%,etc.)
Indescribinganyweaknesses,considerwhetheryoucanframethempositively(e.g.,
demonstratedimprovementindocumentationratherthandemonstratedpoor
documentation)
Includeanypositiontitles,includingfacultyappointments,inyoursignature
Realsignaturesarepreferredoverdigitalsignatures

Thetablebelowprovidesausefulexampleofrevisingavagueorambiguousletter:

Roberts&Termuehlen,AcadPsych2013;37(1):559.

SAMPLELETTEROFRECOMMENDATIONSTRONG

EsteemedResidencyProgram
WellKnownUniversity
1234UniversityWay
BigCity,Florida54321

March19,2014

DearProgramDirector,
ItismypleasuretowriteinsupportoftheapplicationofMr.IanHarrisforyourresidency
program.Ihavebeenaneducatorfordecadeswithconsiderableexperiencewithnational
organizations.IworkedcloselywithMr.Harrisduringhisthirdyearclerkshipaswellasduring
hisactinginternship.AsisevidentfromhisCV,Mr.Harrishasexcelledthroughouthiscareer
withmanynotableaccomplishmentswhichIwillnotrepeathere.Iwillfocusonmy
experienceswithMr.Harris,primarilythoserelatedtohisclinicalabilitiesandwhich
demonstratethequalitiesnecessaryforyourresidency:excellentknowledge,clinicalskills,
patientcare,andleadership.IhaveobservedMr.Harrisinboththeinpatientandoutpatient
setting,taughthiminclass,andoverseenhisperformanceduringhisclerkshipandacting
internship.
Inadditiontoconsiderableintellectandexemplaryperformancesonstandardized
examinations,Mr.Harrisisawarm,engagingindividualwhoteachesothersbyexample,is
inclusive,andconsistentlyexhibitscuriosityandmotivationtolearn.Hecomespreparedforall
typesoflearningsituations,havingresearchedtherelevanttopicssothathecanprovide
qualitycareaswellasparticipateactivelyinclassandclinicalsupervision.Mr.Harrisis
articulate,wellread,andabletoutilizehisknowledgeeffectivelyintheclinicalsetting.In
additiontoprioritizinghisownlearning,Mr.Harrisconsiderstheneedsofothers.Onmultiple
occasions,hehasarrivedinclinicwithhandoutsonrelevantclinicaltopicstailoredfortherest
ofthemedicalteam.Hehasbeendescribedasoneofthebeststudentstorotateonour
servicebyourresidentsandseveralattendingphysicians.AcolleaguewassoimpressedbyMr.
HarrisknowledgeandskillsthatsheinvitedhimtogiveapresentationduringGrandRounds.
Hispresentationwasoutstandingcomprehensiveinscopeyetpresentedefficientlyand
effectively.Onhisowntime,Mr.Harrisdesignedawellconceived,thoroughstudyprotocolon
riskfactorsforreadmissionwithin30daystoourinpatientservice.

Inconclusion,IamhappytogiveMr.Harrismyhighestrecommendationforyourresidency
program.Inmyexperience,heisinthetop10%ofallmedicalstudentswithwhomIhave
workedoverthepast20years.Ifyouhaveanyadditionalquestionsorrequirefurther
information,pleasedonothesitatetocontactme.
Sincerely,

JosephAttending,M.D.
AssociateProfessorofMedicine

Note:Thisletterisstrongforseveralreasons.Itdescribeshowandinwhatcontexttheletterwriter
knowsthestudent.Itprovidesspecificexamplesofthestudentsperformance,includingaspectsthat
madehimstandoutincomparisontohispeers.Italsoprovidesanestimateofhowthisstudentranks
amongallstudentswithwhomtheletterwriterhasinteractedovertheyears.

SAMPLELETTEROFRECOMMENDATIONWEAK

EsteemedResidencyProgram
WellKnownUniversity
1234UniversityWay
BigCity,Florida54321

March19,2014

DearProgramDirector,
IampleasedtowritethisletterofrecommendationforJohnJones,whowasfirstintroducedto
mewhenhecametoButterworthHospitalasafourthyearstudentin2013.

IfoundMr.Jonestobeaveryhardworking,conscientiousindividual.Hetookverygoodcareof
patientswhowereassignedtohim,andhemadesurethatalltheworkupwasdonebeforethe
morningrounds,whereheactivelyparticipated.Hisresponsibilitiesincludedtakinghistories
andphysicals,writingSOAPnotes,collectinglabreportsfromthepreviousday,writingtransfer
anddischargesummariesandalsoparticipatinginmorningreportsandnoonconferences.He
alsogavesomeexcellentpresentations.Hehasexcellentclinicalskillsanddisplaysthemwith
maturemannerisms.

Johnisaveryhumbleindividualwhogetsalongwellwithhispeersandtheentiremedical
team.ItisthereforewithoutreservationsthatIrecommendhimtoyouforanyresidency
programthathemaybeseeking.Iamsurehewillbeavaluableassettoyourorganization.

Pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeifyouneedfurtherinformation.

Sincerelyyours,

WilliamAttending,M.D.
AssociateProfessorofMedicine

Note:Thisletterisweakforseveralreasons.Itisvagueandnonspecific,describingwhatanymedical
studentwoulddoonarotation.TherearenospecificexamplesofJohnsworkprovided.Itappearsthe
writerdoesnotevenknowthestudentsspecialtychoice.Overall,theletterisoflittlevalueinassessing
thestudentsapplication.

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