Write A Cover Letter For Better Letters of Recommendation

Ryannguyen ♦ February 16, 2012 ♦ 2 Comments

via Flickr user Jonas Design & Photography

As I start hearing the ruffling of other premeds beginning to prepare their medical school applications, one of the inevitable issues that arises is the hoopla surrounding letters of recommendation.

What if the writer says no? Who should I ask? What should I give them?

I pondered all these questions while I was putting my application together just under a year ago. Thankfully, I was able to get all my letters in on time, and I’ve even had some interviewers inform me that my writers wrote some pretty glowing insights (hopefully something better than, “HE STUDIES A LOT”). And while I attribute having built relationships with (most) of my letter writers, I think the resources that I gave to my writers really allowed them to write focused and targeted letters. So without further ado, I present to you…

How To Prepare A “PracticalPremed-Style” Letter Of Recommendation Folder Packet.

When I approached writers to ask for a recommendation I came prepared with a folder that contained everything they needed to write an effective letter. Organized by their functions, the documents in this packet gave my writers all the tools they needed to (ideally) write a great letter of recommendation.

Left Side: Instructional

1. Interfolio instructions for uploading
2. Addressed and Stamped Envelope

Left side explanations: This side of the packet contains everything the writer needs to submit the letter. I used Interfolio to managed my letters, and included the printable instructions that came with each letter file. Interfolio offers writers the option of electronically uploading or mailing in letters, and so I included the prepared envelope if the writer would prefer postal mail. Remember, writers are busy people, and every effort you make to assist them ensures your letters get in as soon as possible.

Right Side: File-specific

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Personal Statement
4. Transcript

Right side explanations: The right side of the packet contains everything the letter needs to compose the letter. The cover letter was the “secret weapon” I used to help my letter writers, and I’ll address that in a bit. Resume, personal statement, and transcript are pretty self-explanatory. While the personal statement doesn’t need to be the finished draft, having even a very preliminary draft will help your writer compose a letter that compliments your motivations for pursuing a medical career.

Why did this packet work?

I can’t emphasize this enough: one of the best things about this packet is the professional impression that it gives off. I had multiple writers remark at how impressed they were by this approach, and at this point in the game, every impression a writer gets is crucial. So back to that cover letter…

Probably Not A Good Professor To Ask For A LOR

What should the cover letter say?

While most students gave their writers just a personal statement, I wanted to give my writers the ability to write letters that were specific and targeted to my strengths, and so I composed a cover letter for each of my writers. Here is an example of one of the cover letters I used (note: heavily edited to both protect identities and reduce my embarrassment):

Dear Dr. Awesome,

It has been a great honor to work beside you both serving patients and advocating on their behalf over the past months through the organization XYZ.  I hope to one-day become a physician who so passionately cares for those whom he serves. As such, I have decided to take the first step and apply to medical schools this summer. Because I highly value your opinion, I am asking for a letter of recommendation from you to help shape my application. I have enclosed all the necessary materials in this folder, but feel free to send me any questions or issues you may have at  and I will promptly respond. If possible I would like to have your letter of recommendation submitted by [insert date].

To assist the writing process I have included some qualities I would appreciate if you could emphasize in your letter. Of course, you are free to compose the letter with any content you would like; these points are merely suggestions to help guide the letter writing process.

Commitment to Service- Volunteering with XYZ organization has been an eye-opening experience for me, and has been a driving force behind my decision to pursue a medical career. XYZ has provided me with such an amazing experience of service to others that I know my future plans will include a similar style of work. Can you describe, from your perspective, my growth as a volunteer, from the very beginnings of when we met up until this point.

Communication Skills- I feel my ability to communicate and connect with both patients and other members of the community has greatly improved throughout XYZ. On a technological basis, I have been able to manage and communicate effectively over email to coordinate several projects such as ABC and DFG. Additionally, the presentations I have been giving to schools and local groups have highlighted my growth as a public speaker. In your letter, could you comment on your evaluation of my communication skills and how they would affect my future medical career?

Submitting Letters Through Interfolio:

I am utilizing Interfolio, an online service, to manage and distribute my letters of recommendation. I have included all necessary instructions and paperwork in the left pocket of this folder, but please feel free to ask my any questions you may have. The service is entirely secure, I will be to see if you have uploaded a document, but I will be unable to read the document. This ensures that the process remains confidential, as I have waived my right to read the letter. You may upload the letter through Interfolio when you are finished. If you would prefer to mail it to their office I have also included an addressed and stamped envelope for you to send the letter.

To see more detailed information on submitting your letter through Interfolio, please see the instructions I have included on the right side of this packet.

Once again, thank you so much for your recommendation and for your time. I will be sure to update you with my plans throughout the application cycle.

Sincerely,

A Frantic Premed

Some important highlights from this letter…

• How we know each other is addressed in the very first line.
• Contact information and DUE DATE is bolded in the first paragraph. (In fact, the more times you subliminally get the due date in your packet, the better. Trust me.)
• How to segway into suggested “writing points” is a delicate task, and I’d love to hear suggestions on how to best do this. I went with “these are merely suggestions to assist the writing process,” but I think the important part is to make it implicit that the writer can write whatever they want. Hence my, “Of course, you are free to compose the letter with any content…”
• Writing points- the two bolded qualities (commitment to service and communication skills) were the the characteristics that I felt this particular letter writer could touch on. As letters should ideally gives a more complete picture of your candidacy, I addressed different qualities in my cover letter to each writer. With each quality that I suggested, I also provided one or two examples of times that I demonstrated that characteristic. For science professors, I asked them to comment on my academic ability in their classes and intellectual curiosity. For my non-science professor, I asked her to comment on my writing ability. For clinicians, such as the letter above, I asked them to write about interpersonal skills that they observed over my time volunteering. I feel this enables your application to have multiple letters that showcase a diverse array of strengths, rather than having multiple letters that echo the same things over and over. 
• Finally, this should go without saying, but a thank you is always a necessity. Writers are typically very busy people, and the time it takes to have a letter composed is often more of a hassle than the actual letter itself. Stay classy and always thank them for both.

Feel free to use the above letter as a template (you don’t even have to pay me royalty fees!). And while I’m sure your writer would appreciate being called “Dr. Awesome,” just be sure to change your name from “A Frantic Premed.”

Are you about to ask for a letter of recommendation and have a question? Comment away!