writing med school rec letters

[Writer]

Should I write a student's letter of rec for med school like I do a grad school rec letter (e.g., emphasize academic achievements, quality of research and papers he's done, his depth of thinking, etc.) or; given that from year 1 med schools call students "doctor," should I write it like I would a job rec letter (e.g., emphasize work record, internships in the field, his leadship and teamwork skills, etc.)?

[yes]

Sept 6, 2015 2:28:22 GMT -5 Writer said:

Should I write a student's letter of rec for med school like I do a grad school rec letter (e.g., emphasize academic achievements, quality of research and papers he's done, his depth of thinking, etc.) or; given that from year 1 med schools call students "doctor," should I write it like I would a job rec letter (e.g., emphasize work record, internships in the field, his leadship and teamwork skills, etc.)?

Like grad school. Med school uses tests scores, gpa and that to select candidates, and you can speak more authoritatively about those. Unless you were related to the internships and so on, don't try to cram those in.

[Writer]

Thanks! Will do!

[More info]

The pre-med advisor on our campus gives us a couple of short articles/brochures to help us write strong LOR's for med students, including:

www.aamc.org/initiatives/admissionsinitiative/letters/

[Student doctors?]

Sept 6, 2015 2:28:22 GMT -5 Writer said:

Should I write a student's letter of rec for med school like I do a grad school rec letter (e.g., emphasize academic achievements, quality of research and papers he's done, his depth of thinking, etc.) or; given that from year 1 med schools call students "doctor," should I write it like I would a job rec letter (e.g., emphasize work record, internships in the field, his leadship and teamwork skills, etc.)?

I've taught in three medical schools. In none of them did we call students "doctor." Ever.  Oh...and in the schools where I have taught, none of us on admissions committees actually look at recommendation letters.  We should just stop asking for them.  After applicants are screened out by GPA and MCAT scores, we look at their personal statements and experience - work and volunteer - to see if there is evidence of a long-term desire/plan to be a doctor.  Then we consider their performance in face-to-face interviews.  Recommendation letters actually mean very little.  I guess my point is that you shouldn't spend a huge amount of time creating a document that might never be read. 

[Writer]

Thanks More Info and Student Doctors! I finished the letter and uploaded it. I checked the AAMC website posted and my letter did follow the conventions suggested so I feel better about it now. Re: calling students "doctor," I dated a med student and that's what they did at his school; I assumed it was common/typical of all med schools.