How to Write Compelling Letters of Recommendation Jennifer L. Bloom, Ed.D. Associate Dean for Student Affairs & the Medical Scholars Program University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign

Overview Importance of Letters of Recommendation (LORs) Writing letters for ERAS What you need to ask students to provide Format of good letters Tips for writing letters How to diplomatically say no to a request Sample good and bad letters

“There is no such thing as a ‘self- made’ man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.” - George Adams, Philosopher

Importance of LORS “A LOR is a letter that makes a statement of support for a candidate….(it) should also present a well-documented evaluation, providing sufficient evidence and information to help a selection committee in making its decision.” Typically the letters are given a lot of weight in the decision Can be as important or more important than other components of the application Allows the reader to get a clear idea of what the person is “really” like

Writing Letters for ERAS See ERAS Letter of Recommendation Cover Sheet What happens once the letter arrives at the Office of Student Affairs

What Students Need to Provide You At least 2 weeks notice Deadline for submitting the letter Up-to-date CV Draft of their ERAS personal statement (if available) Complete information about the award or their residency intentions Signed ERAS waiver form

Tips for Writing Good Letters Put yourself in the shoes of the recipient of the letter – what would you be seeking? Provide specific details about their strengths Compare the student with others that you have known Share stories that illustrate the student’s qualities Potential topics: student’s potential, professionalism, interpersonal & leadership skills, passion for medicine, etc. Don’t reiterate the student’s CV line for line Write on official letterhead Proofread your letter – especially the student’s name

More Tips If you agree to write the letter, please tell the student when you will submit it and then keep your word. The letter should be more than one paragraph – details about student performance are helpful to the reader Keep a hard copy of the letter on your hard drive so that you can easily update it in the future for other opportunities the student once you have submitted the letter

Format of Good Letters Opening – Dear Program Director: – Include student name and AAMC ID# – Indicate the nature and length of your relationship Body – use specific examples Closing –reiterate the strength of your overall recommendation. – Would you recruit this person if you were a residency director?

Diplomatically Saying No What are my options if a student that is not very strong requests that I write him/her a letter? Tell the student how strong a letter you can honestly write up front

Sample Good LORs See sample strong letters

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Sir Winston Churchhill