Letters of recommendation (LORs) are an important component of the application process to health professional schools. The purpose of a letter of recommendation is to share information and insights regarding your character, motivations, and specific abilities that others observed.
Prepare
Preparation: Prepare for letter writers
- ONLY ASK REFERENCES WHO YOU KNOW WILL BE ABLE TO WRITE STRONG LORs!
- Some fields or schools ask for specific aspects to be discussed by references. For example, allopathic medical schools have specific guidelines for letter writers. View the guidelines for the field and schools and then decide who would best be able to talk about these qualities:
- What kind of letter do I need?
- Referee explains why you would be good in the field you are applying to.
- Referee objectively evaluates your strengths and weaknesses in the field you are applying to.
- How many letters will I need?
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- The number and type of letters required vary by school.
- Create a LOR grid to determine how many of each type of letter you will need.
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- Check each school to determine what kind of letter and how many you will need! Lists of specific types of LOR for each school can be found in the table below.
| Dentistry |
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- If the school requires a LOR from a pre-health academic advisor AND you are a current student or graduate of UHM, then you can apply for a letter from the pre-health academic advisor.
Requesting LORs
After
Resources