All health professions schools require letters of recommendation. The purpose of the letters are for admissions committees to get a sense the characteristics that are not evident through solely your metrics. It is important to cultivate relationships with professors, supervisors and other mentors over time. Schools will likely ask for 3-4 letters.
Cultivate relationships with recommenders:
- Visit office hours, engage in class discussions, and keep in contact after the course ends.
- Demonstrate exemplary work ethic, and keep in contact with supervisors beyond your time in that setting.
Guidelines in asking for letters of recommendation:
- Include two letters from science faculty, and one from a non-Science faculty.
- Include a letter from someone who has supervised you in a work or volunteer setting.
- If you have research experience, include a letter from whomever supervised you.
- Ask for letters far in advance (ideally three months).
- Share your resume and your personal statement with your recommenders.
- Provide all the necessary details and procedures as to how and when to submit the letters.
- It’s OK if the person you ask says no, just make sure to ask with enough time so you can secure the letters from enough recommendors.