It may seem like a lone endeavor to apply for medical school. However, you have to do almost everything.
You must attain high academic standing, do well on the MCAT, complete enough clinical hours, and produce an outstanding collection of personal statements and secondary essays.
Therefore, it makes sense that you might be eager to delegate the writing of your recommendations, one application component, to another person.
Both DO and MD programs require letters of recommendation from medical schools as a crucial component of the admission process. They are intended to give admissions committees a third-party, unbiased assessment of your suitability for a career in medicine.
This article is here to give you letters of recommendation samples. If you want to know what a strong letter of recommendation looks like, please keep reading.
How to Get an Excellent and Strong Letter of Recommendation for Medical Schools
Your letters of recommendation could be the deciding factor for you to get admitted to the medical school of your choice.
The tricky part, however, is that you will not be writing these letters of recommendation.
How do you get a strong letter of recommendation and know who to ask to write them for you?
Below are some tips that will help you get a great letter of recommendation worthy of acceptance:
Letters of Recommendation Samples
Letters of recommendation are a crucial part of your application to medical school. While you will not be the one writing it, it is also vital that you are aware of what a good recommendation letter looks like.
Below are letters of recommendation samples from different kinds of authors for your reference:
Letter of Recommendation Sample from a Science Professor:
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Date
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
Amanda Smith was a student of mine in the fourth-year seminar "Advanced Embryology and Developmental Biology" in the fall of 2018. It is a joy for me to write this reference letter for Amanda. She is a remarkable student. She has been among the best students I have ever taught in my ten years at X University.
Amanda excelled in my class thanks to her strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Her other instructors, with whom I have spoken, concur that she possesses outstanding analytical skills. I had frequently observed her ability to monitor and draw enlightening conclusions, mainly when working in the lab. Even outside the allotted lab time, Amanda seemed to spend much time diligently working on her studies.
Amanda displayed exceptional levels of technical knowledge and advancements in embryological systems. Her thoughtful queries revealed her interest in the unknown and her desire to broaden her knowledge. She is a great teammate who is always willing to assist her colleagues.
In the classroom and as a tutor after class, I have seen Amanda assist her peers with challenging lab experiments. She is happy and compassionate in her contact with teachers, students, and faculty members. Amanda completed all lab and tutorial tasks on time and to the highest standard. She offered to lead a student study group ahead of my course's final lab and exam. She dedicated much of his time and effort to ensuring she and her classmates were ready.
Amanda spent extra time explaining concepts to an international student who struggled to grasp them. She listened to the student's worries and gradually deconstructed the idea until he was confident the student had a firm grasp of the subject. Her compassion moved me deeply.
Amanda's professionalism and maturity also made an impression on me. She developed polite connections with my assistants, peers, and myself throughout her stay in my class.
Amanda Smith is an ideal candidate for your medical school program, and I wholeheartedly recommend her. I can only think of a select handful of students throughout my teaching career that merits such high praise and endorsement. Amanda is a talented scientist who is also very intelligent and caring. She would make a fantastic doctor in the future. Her commitment to greatness is admirable.
Please get in touch with me if there is anything else I can say to convince you of Amanda Smith's sterling character.
Sincerely,
Dr. Writer's Name
Letter of Recommendation Sample from a Non-Science Professor
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Date
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
It gives me great pleasure to endorse Oscar Sanchez for medical school. Oscar was genuinely interested in and applied to the subject during the previous term, so I welcomed him as a student in my Sociology course.
Oscar and I have met frequently during my office hours throughout the two semesters I have taught him. I consider him an up-and-coming student. He consistently outperformed my top sociology majors regarding homework quality and academic performance.
When reading through the course materials, I ask my students to create brainstorming sheets to gauge their preparation and participation in class. I can make sure my pupils consider and reflect on what they are learning in this way. Oscar undoubtedly spent the most time in his style, honing his ability to understand new ideas by taking notes. Mr. Sanchez was always prepared for class and provided very constructive in-class involvement due to his effort.
Oscar wrote about the challenges doctors encounter when providing care to low-income neighborhoods for his final-term project in Sociology. He conducted in-depth research into elite doctors' tendency to serve wealthy communities and the lack of incentives for highly qualified healthcare professionals to work in underserved areas.
The conclusions he made to show the cost of medical school vs. the types of salaries offered by institutions that get government financing were included in his article as visual aids. His ability to describe and combine several issues into a single argument and how he integrated sociological theory into his analysis were highly outstanding.
Oscar has several characteristics that constitute a good learner. He is equally adept at independently thinking and conducting research as he is at skillfully integrating and applying new ideas. He is a brilliant student who efficiently manages the pressure and demands of academic work.
Oscar can succeed in medical school; therefore, I sincerely hope you will carefully consider allowing him to enroll in your course.
Please contact me if there is anything further I can do to support Oscar's candidacy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Writer's Name
Letter of Recommendation Sample from a Research Supervisor:
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Date
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
It gives me great pleasure to endorse Priya Gupta, who worked as my research assistant over the summer of 2018 in the Minority Health Disparities Undergraduate Summer Research Program. Priya has proven to be one of the top research assistants I have enjoyed working with in my five years as the summer research program's director.
Priya excelled throughout the summer research program, showcasing outstanding analytical and problem-solving abilities. She has fulfilled her duty as a research assistant, offering to work overtime or assist with lab tasks with flying colors. She constantly seeks clarification, double-checks her data, and requests input on her work, all signs of her attention to detail. I've confirmed with my colleagues that other program supervisors have taken notice of her work ethic.
Priya consistently displayed a high caliber and grade of work while participating in the summer research program, in addition to a high degree of empathy and comprehension. She volunteered to assist another research assistant who made a mistake, apologize to the offended colleague, and reassure the other student after the issue was fixed.
To prevent the error from occurring again and help the other student regain her confidence, Priya worked with her after that. After receiving Priya's help and coaching, the other student's confidence and work quality significantly improved. Priya assisted another student without dominating or being intrusive, handling the problem with empathy and adept interpersonal skills. I was struck by how she treated the other research assistant with consideration and kindness.
Priya was a delight to have in the program, especially when out in the field. When undertaking fieldwork, she acted with the utmost professionalism and politeness toward her coworkers, her bosses, and outside consultants. Priya treated every participant in the study with the utmost respect. She even made friends with some of our colleagues, who told me they were impressed by Priya's zeal and excitement. She consistently displayed enthusiasm and passion for the endeavor, regardless of the circumstance.
Priya Gupta is the top applicant for your medical school program, in my opinion. No other research assistant that I can think of has had such a positive impact on my colleagues and me. Thanks to her excellent work ethic, kind heart, and keen mind, Priya will make a fantastic doctor.
Should there be anything I can do to support Priya's candidacy, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Writer's Name
Letter of Recommendation Sample from an Extracurricular Advisor:
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Date
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
I've had the pleasure of coaching Peter Johnson for the last four years as a member of the X University Pandas basketball team, so I'm writing this letter of recommendation for him.
Peter has consistently turned up and proved why he is a great athlete and teammate, from his initial tryouts to his final successes with our team. When he graduates this spring, the other coaches, me, and the squad will miss having him on the floor.
Peter immediately made an impression on me during freshmen auditions because of his athleticism, excitement, contagious optimism, and unwavering dedication to consistently turning up, getting better, and enduring.
No matter the obstacles he encountered due to injury, illness, game cancellations, or personal issues, his energy and tireless optimism never faltered once he had made the team. He could juggle his academic schedule with our workouts and games while maintaining a positive attitude on the court.
Clearly, Peter also impacted his teammates because they looked up to him as a buddy, mentor, and natural leader. Peter never criticizes others or assigns responsibility for errors; instead, he is eager to encourage, congratulate, and assist. His colleagues have picked up this mindset because he keeps his head up and is focused on the future.
But because of his medical background, he contributed to the team's most notable success. First aid training is something that Peter has, and it came in handy when a teammate passed out on the court during a routine practice. Immediately starting first aid after rushing to his teammate's side, Peter guided the other players on what to do while maintaining everyone's composure and keeping them updated on the situation.
Thankfully, the teammate made a full recovery, but Peter's heroics inspired not only the squad but also me. Peter was essential in organizing a series of first aid and sports injury first aid lessons that I would host with the team.
Without a doubt, Peter will succeed in becoming a top-notch doctor. His enthusiasm, ambition, and nature are boundless, and he succeeds at anything he sets his mind to. Peter's Pandas teammates have nothing but affection and respect for him. We are all eager to see where his next step in life leads him. I can't express how much I think Peter deserves a seat in your program.
Sincerely,
Name of Author
Letter of Recommendation from a Physician/Employer Sample:
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Date
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
I'm sending this letter on Lee Hong's behalf as he applies to medical school. I've known Lee for the past two years. He has worked as a medical assistant under my direct supervision in my internal medicine practice. He has observed me as I conduct patient evaluations.
Lee's primary duties in my office were to welcome clients, record visits in our electronic medical record, and assist clients with check-out. Six months ago, Lee completed his EMS certification and assisted our clinical assistants and nurses with the initial vital sign collection during patient visits. When the patients were willing, Lee watched me as I provided care as a shadow student.
I think Lee possesses numerous strengths that will help him succeed as a medical professional and student. He is, first and foremost, independent and intellectually curious since he reads about the patient's diagnosis independently. He would also pose inquiries that showed intelligence and a swift ability to assemble data. Our occasional discussions on his college coursework were exciting and demonstrated his academic dedication.
Lee possesses the understanding and compassion that all medical professionals ought to have. His kindness, compassion, and attentive listening were frequently complimented by patients. Lee received a lot of holiday gifts from his appreciative patients. He is the first young student I have worked with who received this recognition. In addition, I observed that he had an exceptional capacity for relating to patients due to her openness, authenticity, honesty, and respect for everyone.
Finally, Lee had exceptional interpersonal abilities. He worked excellently with my diverse staff, respecting everyone in my office and adding to the productive work environment. Lee was an outstanding team member who was constantly conscious of when someone needed assistance or was having a difficult day. I have never seen someone his age have the maturity and respect for others that he demonstrates.
Lee has my highest possible recommendation. Of all the students I've worked with, Lee is the most intelligent, responsible, and fit for a medical career. I commend the medical school that was successful in choosing him to enroll.
Contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Writer’s Name
Follow-up Letter Samples
A strong letter of recommendation will better your chances of being admitted into the medical school of your choice…if your writer submits them on time.
That is why it is essential to follow up on them, especially if the due date is approaching and you have not heard from them.
Here are a few samples of follow-up letters:
Sample 1:
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Date
Dear (Name of Referee),
I trust all is well with you.
I just wanted to check in to see if you needed any additional aid to help you create a strong letter of recommendation on my behalf as the application season for medical school is approaching. Do you require any other information to help you with your writing?
In addition, I wanted to inform you that the letter submission deadline is (insert date). I appreciate your decision to help me with my medical school application.
If you require anything else, don't hesitate to let me know.
Sincerely,
Your name
Sample 2:
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Date
Dear (Name of Referee),
I appreciate your recommending me for medical education so much. I've attached a draft of a letter of reference for you to review and edit as necessary, as we discussed last week.
My interests are global medicine and public health. Since I cannot speak to myself, I have left room for you to fill in a paragraph that places me in the context of other students you have worked with.
Please inform me if there is anything else I can do to assist you with this letter or if you need any additional information. I’d be more than willing and happy to do so.
I sincerely appreciate your help throughout this procedure.
Sincerely,
Your name
Thank You Letter Samples
Lastly, sending a thank you note to those who have supported your candidacy means a lot to your referees. It shows that you are grateful for their time and effort in writing your recommendation letter.
Here are a couple of thank you letter samples for your reference.
Sample 1:
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Date
Dear (Name of Referee),
Thank you so much for composing a recommendation for me to support my medical school application.
Thank you for making an effort to do this for me. Being your student was an incredible honor, and I appreciate the letter you wrote to support my academic aspirations.
As the application season develops, I will inform you of any updates.
Sincerely,
Your name
Sample 2:
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Date
Dear (Name of Referee),
I want to express my gratitude for composing a letter of recommendation for my medical school application. I appreciate you for supporting my candidacy.
As the entry period for medical school develops, I'll keep you informed.
Have a great summer with your family!
Sincerely,
Your name
Additional FAQs – Letters of Recommendation Samples
Can I Submit a Non-Science Letter of Recommendation to Medical Schools?
You should get an outstanding letter from a faculty member who could speak about your other intellectual strengths, especially if you graduated with a non-science degree.
When Should My Letters of Recommendation Be Sent?
Medical schools will only examine your application once the secondary application is received.
However, remember that some letter writers take quite a while to prepare letters, so do not allow this to prevent you from seeking your letters of recommendation.
In an ideal world, your letters would be sent along with your application for medical school.
How Long Should My Letters of Recommendation Be?
Always prioritize content quality over length.
Examples of solid recommendation letters can be found in the examples above in this article.