Letters of Recommendation
This guideline serves as a starting point in your journey to attaining letters of evaluation. The Health Professions Advising office does not assume responsibility for false or inaccurate information. It is the applicant's responsibility to check each institutions’ requirements regarding letters of evaluation. Review more information in the Reference Request Guide.
How to Request a Letter of Evaluation
Letters of evaluation are one of the most important aspects of your application and it is essential to select the best individual to compose a letter on your behalf. Letters attest to your personal qualities seen both inside and outside the classroom, including details about personality traits that would make you successful in a Health Professions Program.
Make a good impression with your future letter writer. It is important that you create and maintain a working relationship with individuals whom you would like to ask for a letter of evaluation. If an instructor hasn’t seen or spoken to you on a consistent basis and know very little about your personal qualities, it will be very difficult for them to persuade an admissions committee to admit you into a Health Professional Program. Most letter writers prefer to be asked for a letter of evaluation in a scheduled meeting and not in passing or via email. It is also important how you ask your letter writer to compose a letter of evaluation on your behalf. Asking a prospective letter writer if they would “like to” compose a letter on your behalf instead of simply “can they” is an excellent way to go about requesting a letter of reference. This slight change in vocabulary greatly affects your potential letter. Most anyone can compose a letter on your behalf, but adding "like to" greatly decreases the likelihood of a mediocre letter of reference.
The best time to ask an instructor for a letter of reference is the middle of the semester, as their workload is often heavier at the start and end of the semester.
What to Bring to Your Meeting
Prepare for your meeting by creating a short list of important events that have taken place in your life. Bring a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae to give to your letter writer and assist them with composing the letter of reference. A copy of your personal statement is a nice addition to add to the other documents that you are providing your letter writer. Place all of the documents that you are providing your letter writer in a folder with your name on the front and the desired due date. Due dates are important as they allow you to follow up directly with your letter writer after the date has passed.
During your meeting with your letter writer, inform them about your desire to enter into a Health Professional program and what makes you a good candidate. They will often address this in their letter and thus greatly strengthen your evaluation.
The Health Professions Advising office has a Reference Request Guide
to provide to each of your letter writers. The letter of evaluation guideline provides your letter writer with: where to send your letter to, what items to include in your letter and how to address your letter.
Following Up with Your Letter Writer
Assign a date for your letter writer by which they should submit the letter of evaluation. Usually a month’s time is sufficient for an individual to compose a good letter of evaluation.
Letters should arrive at the Health Professions Advising office a few months before you submit your application to prevent any delay of your file going to your professional programs.
Most importantly, send your letter writer a thank you card once the letter has been submitted.
What If My Letter Has Not Been Received by the Submission Date
It is important to keep track of when your letters of evaluation are received. A letter that is submitted late can greatly delay the submission of your letters to a Health Professional program.
If the letter has not been received by the due date, it is essential to follow up with your letter writer and kindly remind them that the submission date has passed and give them an additional week to submit the letter of evaluation. Gently enforce to them the urgency and ask once more if there are additional documents that you can submit to assist with composing the letter of reference.
If, after a week's time, the letter writer still has not submitted your letter of evaluation, contact the Health Professions Advising office. The Health Professions Advising office will then send an email to the letter writer.
