How To Ask for a LOR

This is a pretty important topic. And hopefully everyone in the MD2013 applicant pool has asked for theirs. But for those in the MD 2014+ club, start thinking about this.

This is how I asked for a LOR and this is what I recommend to you:

1) Figure out a rough idea of which schools you want to apply to (remember to think broadly and include your state school). From that list, look up the admissions requirements. Make sure you're taking the required pre-med classes. For this LOR topic, however, take note of how many and what kind of LORs are required.

Example:

Yale Medical School - "An evaluation from the applicant's Premedical Advisory Committee, or individual letters from three of the applicant's teachers, two of whom should be in science fields. These evaluations must be sent directly to Yale. " Yale wants 3 letters, 2 of which are science.

2) Using that information, figure out how many letters you need in general and what kind of professors they should be from. This is what I went with: 1 science, 2 research supervisors, 1 literature, 1 pre-med advisor, 1 extracurricular/leadership group advisor. I would have only sent in 5, but one school had weird requirements and I couldn't do it! I recommend including a humanities professor and a group advisor from one of your clinical/extracurricular activies. Also, if you do any research, a letter from the PI (written by grad supervisor co-signed by PI more accurately) is absolutely gold (and required for Harvard).

3) Scope out which teachers you want to get letters from. If you still have a semester or two until you need to ask for the letters, figure out which upcoming classes fit the categories and MAKE A POINT TO GET TO KNOW THE PROF! This means go to office hours with genuine good questions, ask about their professional life (if they always wanted to be a prof, what kind of stuff they do work on, why they're passionate about it, etc), then segue gradualy into telling them a bit about yourself and your goals and ambitions.

As long as you respect the prof's time and aren't a drain on their energy level, he should be receptive and willing to talk.

Also, do well in the class. AKA, get an A.

4) When May rolls around, request an appointment with them. Dress relatively well and come prepared with my portfoli

PedsMedic's PORTFOLIO of success:

1. A signed cover letter explaining again your goal of medicine, the LOR requirement, how much you appreciate it, highlight and bold the due date (make it June or July so they can get it with buffer time for you - actual "due date" isn't until you get your secondaries in). Leave a contact number and email.
2. A crisp copy of your resume. By now you should have one, if you don't, slap yourself 2x. Proofread it!! Make sure all the lines are spaced out just right. You'd be surprised how seriously some take it.
3. A photocopy of an official copy of your school transcript (+ any other relevant transcripts). If you want to give them official copies, go ahead...
4. A fresh copy of your personal statement. The same one you submitted to AMCAS. Or if you made edits since then for some crazy reason, give that to them too.
5. A list of your publications in citation format. May be included in your resume if there's space.
6. Immediately after the list, attach paper copies of all your publications. There's something about physically holding your paper that just is so cool. They're also much more likely to glance at it/read it as opposed to doing a pubmed search for you, etc.
7. Attach copies of any awards/honors/news articles about you. The idea is to show them how involved and special you are.
8. OPTIONAL -- Something I didn't do but that I just thought of is to include a print-out of your 15 activities from your AMCAS. It might be overkill, though, up to you.

Container: Put these all into a nice red plastic zip-up folder. I found a few nice sturdy ones at Staples for under 3 dollars I think. Rationale:

• Keeps all your stuff together
• Sturdy -- plastic
• Attention grabbing -- it's bright red. If it's sitting on your prof's desk, he'll be like.. OH YEAH, i gotta write this letter. Instead of looking like all the other papers on his desk, your packet will shine.

5) During the meeting reiterate your desire for a career helping people through medicine and ask if they FEEL COMFORTABLE writing you a LOR. Tell them you understand if they don't have time. This is an easy-out if they don't think they can write a strong letter for you. Better that they take it than write you a weak letter.

Present them with the packet, explain what's inside and the deadline. Tell them about how you waived your rights to see it, etc.

THANK THEM. Ask them the best way to get in touch if necessary. THANK THEM AGAIN.

6) Check up on the letter after a month. And keep checking up on it as you get scared and nervous.

My application was not fully complete until early November because of a tardy LOR. Don't let that happen to you, please!

Good luck and remember you can email me questions at pediatricmedic@gmail.com