Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) are a critical component of every residency candidate’s ERAS Application. In fact, Program Directors consistently rank specialty-specific LoRs as one of the most important factors for inviting candidates to interviews: in 2020, 84% of PD’s cited LoRs as an important interview invitation factor with an importance
value of 4.3 out of 5. Furthermore, specialty-specific LoRs are consistently among the Top 5 Most Important factors for ranking an applicant, according to NRMP Program Director Surveys year after year. ERAS Letters of Recommendation serve several key functions in your residency application: Your ERAS LoRs are 1-2 page letters written by those you have worked with in the
field. You should apply with 2 or more specialty-specific LoRs out of the 3 or 4 total LoRs you submit with each application. **DO NOT SUBMIT LoRs recommending you for a different specialty than the one which you are applying to.** Instead, ask your LoR authors to write 2 versions of your LoR. For example, the first LoR could be recommending you for Internal Medicine (especially if they are an
internist) while the second LoR is a general recommendation for any specialty. Asking your authors to make a few small tweaks to their LoR (usually just a few sentences each) is an excellent way to help tailor your application to your top specialty as well as any backups to which you may be applying. The author of your LoRs is very important. It helps establish credibility, relevance to the chosen
specialty, and can even serve as a bridge for further confirmation/investigation by programs of interest. Generally speaking, your LoR Authors should be: The BEST Letters
of Recommendation are from: Letter of Recommendation Authors should NOT be: Basically, the strongest ERAS Letters of Recommendation will come from specialty-specific physicians in the USA who have worked with you extensively and can craft a very detailed, personable, precise, and persuasive reference toward your candidacy – which leads to our next important topic – how to actually get
these Letters of Recommendation. Getting the strongest LoRs takes planning and early execution. It will take your authors time to discuss your LoR with you, draft and edit, and then upload to ERAS (which can be a daunting and confusing task – especially for international authors who are unfamiliar with ERAS). For those currently in medical school – your clinical rotations during MS3 are when you should START PLANNING for obtaining your LoRs. This means making yourself known to attendings, establishing personal relationships, and standing out in the best ways. Moreover, be sure to foster these relationships even after your rotations. A strong residency network is one of your best allies when it comes to success in The Match. The Reality: How to Write Your Own ERAS Letters of RecommendationThe truth is that every year, thousands of residency applicants are asked to write their own residency Letters of Recommendation. Many physicians simply may not have the time, interest, or desire to write the LoR for you, but are happy to sign off at the bottom after you’ve written it for them. So, how do you write your own Letters of Recommendation? Luckily, we’ve created an Authorship Guide for any letter writer to use. If you’ve written one or more LoRs for yourself, we highly recommend having a professional review and edit this document. Since LoRs are so incredibly important for your application, you do not want to fall short. With Residency Experts, Residency Document Editing (including LoRs) is only $99 for comprehensive, in-depth editing and optimization. The Reality: How to Write Your Own ERAS Letters of RecommendationResidency Letter of Recommendation Checklist
Thanking Your Letter of Recommendation AuthorsThanking your LoR writers is respectful, polite, and simply the right thing to do! Sending a genuine thank you letter or email is a wonderful way to continue building a strong rapport with your LoR author. Remember, getting this LoR isn’t the end of the road with your writer. They may serve as an invaluable aspect of your medical network, helping you land the future opportunities you are dreaming of! Questions about your Letters of Recommendation? Call us at 858-221-8580 or email your question to . We are happy to assist you! How do I write a letter of recommendation for a residency program?Demonstrate experiences specific to the specialty to which you are applying. Demonstrate good rapport with multiple physicians. Showcase work ethic, commitment to the specialty, and contributions to medicine. Exemplify personal characteristics, academic performance, and involvement.
How many words should a letter of recommendation be for residency?Limit your letter to one or two pages.
The strongest letters include at least three paragraphs. Length of the letter may be interpreted by some programs as a measure of strength of the recommendation, although some my specify “one page or less” (such as the military).
How do you write a strong letter of recommendation?Be specific.
Choose strong, accurate adjectives over general terms or cliches. Think about what the person reading the letter might want to know. Include details or insight that wouldn't necessarily show up on a resume or application. Your letter should help the recipient get to know the person you are recommending.
How do you write a letter of recommendation for a medical student?Use specific examples.
End with a clear summary statement. “I would recruit this student for my program.” “I give this student my highest recommendation.” “In my last ten years, this was one of the top 5% of students with whom I have worked.” Include your contact information. “Feel free to contact me at ….”
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