RECOMMENDATION LETTERS - STUDENT RESOURCE
General: Most professional schools will require three letters of evaluation from people who know you well, and each of whom can address at least one major aspect of your preparatory work. Typically:
- Science instructor
- Community service supervisor
- A professor or employer of your choice
Students are responsible for requesting faculty to write letters of evaluation for their applications to professional schools. This is an important request, as faculty letters may critically affect how a student's application is evaluated. One of the advantages CSUS students have is their contact with faculty. Here are some things to consider:
- Does the faculty member know you well enough to write a good or excellent letter? Students often think that because they earned a good grade in a class that the instructor will be able to write them a good letter. This is not always true. If a faculty member is not enthusiastic about your request, you may want to consider finding someone who will write you a stronger letter. It is not to your advantage to have mediocre letters.
- Do you want an individual or committee letter?
- Most medical and dental schools prefer committee letters, but students should research this to decide (see links available from the Health professions page and the specific instructions of the schools to which you are applying.
- Most medical and dental schools prefer committee letters, but students should research this to decide (see links available from the Health professions page and the specific instructions of the schools to which you are applying.
Individual letter
Student check list
Provide to your letter writers:
- Name of each school, with deadline for receipt of letter
- Stamped, addressed envelopes (University envelopes can be obtained from your letter writers)
- Application Services may offer evaluation letter submissions online. This method saves time, and money, and decreases the likelihood of delivery errors.
- A copy of your personal statement
- A copy of your transcripts
- An e-mail reminder a couple weeks prior to the deadline
Your evaluators may also request
- A meeting in preparation for writing a letter (you may also want to request a meeting with your evaluators about your experiences and aspirations. The quality of a letter is often limited by the writers knowledge of the student)
- Pre-professional exam scores (e.g., MCAT)
Committee letter
Committee letters require an Interview. During the interview, you will be asked questions that the committee thinks will help prepare you for your secondary interviews, and help them write your evaluation letter. Students must ask someone to Chair their committee. Typically this will be your pre-professional advisor who has come to know you well over several semesters. Most Chairs like to see your pre-professional standardized test scores before holding a committee interview and composing a letter of evaluation. Plan on meeting with your advisor in late spring or summer to receive feedback on your application, and plan on arranging your committee interview for late summer or early fall. Ideally, your interview committee will consist of your advisor, a second advisor who knows you, and a third advisor who does not know you. Another faculty member who knows you well may substitute for the second member, but it is beneficial to be interviewed by at least one person who does not have pre-conceived ideas about you. Based on your application, past interactions, your interview, and letters from other professionals familiar with your qualifications, the Chair will write a letter of evaluation, which is then subject to modification by other committee members.
For the interview: Dress professionally and come prepared to answer questions regarding all aspects of your application for professional school. This is a great opportunity to show the committee how prepared you are to take the next step in the process. It is important for the committee as well, as it helps them to formulate the best letter they can for you. They will give you lots of suggestions on how to improve your interviewing skills before you have any professional school interviews as well.
Student check list
- Identify a faculty member who will serve as Chair
- Meet with your Chair in late spring to discuss your application
- Identify two other faculty who will serve on your committee
- E-mail all committee members prospective two hour time periods for the interview (allow several weeks for a consensus)
- After a time has been agreed upon, reserve a room for two hours (make the request to the administrative office staff of your committee Chair's department)
- E-mail to your committee the room number and confirm the time of the meeting
- It is always a good idea to send a reminder to faculty a few days prior to the meeting
Provide to all committee members:
- Personal statement
- Completed professional school application (e.g., AMCAS)
- Pre-professional exam scores (e.g., MCAT)
- Copy of Transcripts
- Date, time, and location of the committee interview
Additionally, provide to your Chair:
- Up to three letters of evaluation (from individuals NOT on your committee). Have these sent directly from the evaluators to the Chair, or, through you in sealed envelopes (i.e., you should not see these letters)
- Stamped, addressed envelopes for each school that has requested evaluation letters (University envelopes can be obtained from your committee Chair)