How to Request LORs for your Match Cycle

Knowing how to ask for letters of recommendation for your residency match cycle (or medical school application) is key in getting strong letters submitted on time.

We all hate dong this. Using the following steps, you can be sure that you won't "annoy" people and you'll be one step closer to working as a doctor in your dream specialty.

Scroll down for some templates of what to say and how to ask.

Firstly, please remember: don't sweat it. Getting someone to write you a LOR (letter of recommendation) feels like you're asking a huge favor – and in some ways, it is – but it's also part of being a faculty member and mentor to young students, and we signed up for it.

Here are some best practices of how to ask your LW (letter writer) for a letter of recommendation and gives you the best chances for success.

• Ask early: everyone is really busy. I mean months in advance.
• Approach the right person: make sure it’s someone you have actually worked with, and someone who knows you. Otherwise you’ll get a generic letter and that’s as good as useless.
• Plan ahead, and ask for feedback about halfway through your rotation, so that you can learn what to do better early on. This shows that you're teachable and that you're genuinely interested in improving. Also, if you're doing something wrong, this is your chance to improve. Whatever changes they suggest, make them.
• Find a good time to ask: do NOT ask in the middle of a busy shift or when they’re rushing to get home. I would often preface it by, “I wanted to speak to you about something; is now a good time?” and if it wasn’t, we’d agree to chat another time that worked for them.
• Talk privately. This should be a no-brainer. Do not ask in front of other people.
• There’s a difference between a LOR and a good LOR; when you ask for one, try to word it in a way that emphasizes that they would write you a strong letter.
• Make them aware of the deadline, so they can gauge if they have the capacity. “My application is due…”
• Ask them the best way to contact them (email, phone?). Some people prefer texting, some prefer emails.
• Send them a follow-up text/email. “Thank you for agreeing to …”; you can gently mention the deadline again.
• When you send them your first official email, include a few key things:
  • your motivations for pursuing this job/specialty. “I am applying to EM because…” It doesn't hurt to include an "I've really enjoyed working with you."
  • Consider attaching your CV (some people will ask this right off the bat; this gives the LW an idea of what you’ve accomplished so far) and makes it easier for them to write your letter.
• As the deadline approaches (a few weeks out), write them a gentle reminder. We're all quite busy and might have forgotten. By sending a reminder you're often triggering their memory and most will not consider this rude by any means.

Important things to remember:

• never be demanding or rude: this is, after all, a favor
• always address your LW with the appropriate title (Dr. not Mr., etc.)
• do not have any spelling mistakes in your email/text
• formal is best unless they're old family friends that you've known for years

Finally, remember: this all starts long before it comes time to ask for your LOR. You have to plan ahead. Network, connections, find valuable rotations, do well on your exams, study hard and put your best foot forward.

Templates:

I put together a script/template for how to approach this often difficult conversation. This is free and is meant to serve as advice ONLY. It's by no means a guarantee.

It worked for me, but remember: your relationship with letter writers might be tighter/closer. You don’t have to use my scripts exactly but this is just to give you an idea of where to start when you’re not sure what to say.

If you would like to get all my match application tips & advice in one place, check out my ebook called Mastering the Match: IMG Guidebook, which includes everything I've learned. You can buy it here for only $37 and learn in 2 hours what took me 3+ years.