The document provides guidance on obtaining letters of recommendation for medical school applications, noting that most schools require at least 3 letters - 2 from science professors and 1 from a non-science professor. It outlines the process for choosing letter writers, providing them with necessary forms and background information, maintaining communication, and ensuring the letters are submitted through the appropriate channels by the applicable deadlines. Obtaining strong letters of recommendation that are submitted on time can substantially support an applicant's medical school application.

1. Letters of
Recommendation
UCB Career Center|AMCAS Letter Service
Shashank Patil

2. For Starters: Why?
• Are you applying for
• A Volunteering Position?
• An Internship/Job?
• Graduate School?
• Most applications will require you to provide either references or letters of
recommendation (LOR) from previous employers, PI’s, professors, etc.
• A strong recommendation letter can substantially corroborate an application

3. Asking for a Letter
• Ask a person who knows you well, thinks well of you, and is willing to write
a thoughtful appraisal of your qualifications
• If your professor doesn't know you well enough, you might want consider asking the
GSI/TA to write the letter and having the professor co-sign it
• Remember: Quality of Relationship > Prestige of Letter Writer

4. How many should I have?
• Most medical schools will require at least 3 letters from professors of
undergraduate classes: 2 science & 1 non-science.
• A “science” letter refers to the BCPM category (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math)
• I would also recommend a LOR from a PI, Physician, Employer, or Volunteering Director if
you spent a significant amount of time working with them.
• Research the specific LOR policies of each of your schools to be sure you
meet all of their requirements.

5. Asking for a Letter
• Provide the letter writer sufficient advance notice
• Often, faculty members are asked to write recommendations for many students, so
requesting your recommendation several weeks before you need them in your file will
be helpful to the letter writer.
• My advice: Ask 1-2 months before you need them. This allows for flexibility!
• Discuss your plans with the writer and remind him/her about your
background.
• A resume or summary of your background might be useful to the letter writer.

6. If They Agree...
• If you’re planning to do your LOR’s via Cal Career Center, give them:
• A waiver statement – This waiver form must be printed from your online account. You need
to complete and sign this form before forwarding to your writer. The name you enter on this
waiver must be consistent with the name you have for your online letter file.
• A letter form (with or without ranking grid) - These letter forms can be printed from your
online account or you can direct your writer to the letter writer Guidelines webpage. Writers
can also use their own professional letterhead. If they complete the ranking gridform
separately, they can include that page with their letter.
• A copy of (or link to) Guidelines for Writing Letters of Recommendation.
• Remind them that their letter must be signed in black or blue ink and then forwarded to the
Career Center

7. If They Agree...
• Besides the necessary forms, provide your writer with a note containing your
full name (first, middle, last, and any other name used so as to prevent
confusion), your contact phone number, email address, and what kind of
letter you need from them.
• If you have a name that the writer can't guess your gender, you should write that down
too, to avoid the "she/he/xe" mix up

8. Maintaining Communication
• You should maintain at least some contact with your writer until your letter
shows up in your account.
• Gently remind your writer about the letter as your deadline approaches. A brief email
or voice message is sufficient.
• They’re [hopefully]not ignoring you on purpose. They’re just busy people!
• Important: Thank them frequently! They’re doing this in their personal time to help you!

9. Sending Letters
• Using the Career Center Letter Service
• 3 Delivery Methods: Mail (Basic, Express, Rush), Email, or Website Uploading.
• However, AMCAS does not accept Email/Uploading from UCB Career Center  Mail
• Prior to making a request, be sure to:
• Verify that the letters and approved matching forms are posted to your file. Log-In to your Career Center
Application to check.
• Have sufficient funds in your account to cover the costs of your requests. (You can quickly add money to your
account via credit/debit card)
• By making a AMCAS Letter Writer Account* (My recommendation)
• Letter writers can upload their LOR’s directly into AMCAS by making an account (Takes <5 minutes)
• You just have to send them a letter request form: Click Me

10. AMCAS Application

11. AMCAS Application
• Letters of Recommendation deadlines:
• The usual deadline for LOR’s is the secondary application deadline
•  You can submit them before/after you submit your primary (AMCAS) application and
before/after your secondary (school-specific) application
• My recommendation: Submit them ASAP
• Some schools (Ex. Mayo Clinic) do not have a secondary appication, so you don’t want your
application review to be delayed because of late LOR’s
• One less thing to worry about! 

12. Final Thoughts
• Apart from the AMCAS Letter Service and the Career Center’s Letter
Service, you can use Interfolio or Virtual Evals as well.
• Though the Career Center process involves more steps, one advantage is that
you create a safe storage for all of your LOR’s if you plan to reapply in the
future for grad/med/professional school [5 year storage] or if you plan to
pursue an educational career [10 year storage]

13. Resources

14. Questions?
Further Questions? Email me: shashankpatil@berkeley.edu