Many interviewers and committee members put a lot of weight on recommendations when they look at someone's record. They pay particular attention to what people say about the applicant's personal qualities. That is why you should choose with care the people you ask to recommend you.

Who to ask:

You should ask people who can give you a subjective evaluation of your personal attributes. Your thesis advisor, research mentor, a professor who had you in a small seminar class, or supervisor who you worked with during your volunteering activities are all excellent choices. Avoid asking family members, friends, and relatives. Avoid asking full professors who had you in a large lecture class or division heads in a research department that you didn't have much contact with. Some prefer to see a letter from an assistant professor who led a seminar you were involved in, rather than a nationally recognised full professor who had you in lecture and says that you got an A in his/her course but doesn't know you very well. Try to get letters from anyone you can that knows you well and in an objective fashion. Someone like a research advisor, your supervisor at work, your academic advisor, a faculty person in residence. These people are more likely to know you well and have more to say about you. A local physician you did some volunteer work with is also a good choice, but not somebody who is a friend of your family and only knows you in that capacity. It is also very useful to have a committee letter from your school where they pool all your letters and write a composite highlighting the bright point. These save the admissions committee people a lot of time. Make yourself known when working with professors on class projects, and ask to do some independent work. These things will set you apart from the pack.

You should try to ask for letters of recommendations in June-July. This way your application can be completed and submitted to your schools by August. If you have a premed committee to write a letter compiling the recommendations from your professors, then your job is going to be a little easier. Here are general guidelines you may use to ask for letters of recommendation.

You should also approach the recommender and ask if he/she will write you a favourable letter of recommendation. If he/she will write you a favourable letter, then provide your recommender with the following items:

• A stamped, pre-addressed envelope.
• A copy of your personal essay so that your recommender can provide additional support without contradicting or duplicating the information in your application.
• A copy of your resume so that the recommender will know your accomplishments and extracurricular activities.
• Provide a list of important topics to be covered in the letter of recommendation (e.g., description of the qualifications of the recommender in comparing applicants, statement of how well the recommender knows you, request that the recommender provide 2-3 qualities about you with support from specific instances, ask that they rank you - for instance are you the best they have ever seen or are you in the top 10%, and finally, ask that the recommender comment on your potential in the medical field).

It's a good idea to wait a month, and then call your recommenders. Ask politely if your letter of recommendation has been written and sent.