Securing strong recommendation letters is a crucial part of your AMCAS application. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how AMCAS letters work, who should write them, how to request and submit them, and what makes a letter stand out. I’ll also share two sample letters and answer the most common questions.
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What Are AMCAS Recommendation Letters?
Recommendation letters (or Letters of Evaluation) are third-party evaluations that help medical schools learn more about you from people who’ve worked with you closely. They're part of your AMCAS application.
Why They Matter
These letters give schools a sense of how you perform in academic, clinical, research, and volunteer settings. A strong letter can highlight personal qualities that stats alone don’t show—like reliability, emotional maturity, and integrity. A great letter helps humanize your application and strengthens your narrative as a future physician.
Types of AMCAS Recommendation Letters
You can submit three types:
- Committee Letter: A letter written by a pre-health committee or advisor. May include quotes or full letters from multiple instructors. It’s a good option if your school offers it.
- Letter Packet: A set of letters assembled by your institution’s career office, but without a committee summary. These may still be reviewed as a single document.
- Individual Letters: Letters written by individual recommenders (professors, supervisors, etc.) and sent separately. This is the most flexible and common format for applicants whose schools do not offer committee letters.
Note: Each medical school has its own preference. Check MSAR or the school’s site before finalizing.
Who Should Write Your Letters?
Pick people who:
- Know you well
- Have supervised you in a relevant setting (academic, clinical, research, etc.)
- Can write with enthusiasm and detail about your abilities and character
Strong choices include:
- Science faculty who taught you in upper-level courses
- Non-science faculty who saw your communication or critical thinking skills
- Research or clinical mentors who directly supervised your work
- Volunteer coordinators who observed you over time
- Employers in medically relevant roles who can speak to your professionalism
Avoid:
- Family members or friends
- Anyone who barely knows you or can only speak in generalities
Want more tips for your rec letters?
How to Request a Recommendation Letter
Ask Early
Give your recommenders at least 4–6 weeks—more if possible. You’re not their only request, and good letters take time.
Provide Context
Send them:
- A short note reminding them who you are and how you know each other
- Your resume or CV with relevant experience
- A copy of your personal statement
- Bullet points about experiences or qualities you’d like them to mention
This isn’t just polite—it helps them write a better, more specific letter.
Use the AMCAS Letter Request Form
You’ll generate this form from your AMCAS account and send it to your letter writer. Each letter gets a unique Letter ID.
Waive Your Right to View It
Most med schools expect you to waive your right to read the letters. It shows integrity and gives more credibility to the letter.
Follow Up Politely
Check in one week before their deadline. Then follow up after submission to say thank you—ideally with a personal note.
How to Submit Letters Through AMCAS
Once you’ve added your letter writers in AMCAS:
- Each letter gets a unique ID
- Writers can submit via:
- AMCAS Letter Writer Application
- Interfolio
- VirtualEvals
Track Status
Log into your AMCAS account to check if letters are marked as "Received." You are responsible for making sure they’re uploaded correctly and on time.
Assign Letters to Schools
You can assign specific letters to each medical school. This allows you to tailor your application—for example, assigning a research-focused letter to research-heavy programs.
Unique Scenarios: What If Things Don’t Go Smoothly?
What if You Can’t Ask In Person?
Sometimes, you're not on campus or your recommender is remote. In this case, send a thoughtful, personalized email and ask to meet via Zoom or phone to explain your request. Avoid sending a generic email without context—build the connection first.
What if Your Recommender Is Hesitant?
If someone seems reluctant, do not try to convince them. A lukewarm letter can do more harm than good. Thank them politely and ask someone else who can be enthusiastic.
What if a Writer Misses the Deadline?
Follow up once—briefly and respectfully. If they’re nonresponsive, move on. Have a backup recommender in mind so you're not caught off guard.
What if You’re a Reapplicant?
You can reuse past letters if they're stored in Interfolio or AMCAS, but consider updating your list. Reach out to a previous writer and ask them to revise or reaffirm their letter based on your recent growth.
What if You’re Out of School and Don’t Have Professors to Ask?
In this case, focus on supervisors from work, volunteering, or clinical settings. Admissions committees understand non-traditional paths—just make sure your writers can still speak to the competencies med schools value.
What Makes a Strong Recommendation Letter?
The best letters:
- Are detailed and personal
- Include specific stories or examples of your character and work
- Compare you to peers or typical premed students
- Highlight growth, adaptability, or resilience
- Align with AAMC Core Competencies like ethics, communication, and teamwork
Avoid letters that simply repeat your resume or offer general praise without evidence.
Sample AMCAS Recommendation Letters
Sample #1: Science Professor
"I had the pleasure of teaching and mentoring Elena Rodriguez in both my Organic Chemistry course and Advanced Research Methods seminar during her sophomore and junior years. From our first interaction, it was clear that Elena possessed a sharp analytical mind and a genuine curiosity about the natural sciences. She consistently asked insightful questions in lecture and was often the first to volunteer answers. What impressed me most, however, was not just her academic ability, but her response to setbacks.
Early in the semester, Elena received a lower-than-expected grade on her first exam. Many students might have been discouraged, but Elena took it as a wake-up call. She began attending office hours regularly, initiated a peer study group, and improved her study methods. Her second exam score improved significantly, and she finished the course in the top 5% of the class.
Beyond academics, Elena showed a collaborative and generous spirit in lab settings. She was always the one to help a classmate troubleshoot an experiment or explain a complex concept. In group work, she was a natural leader—organizing timelines, delegating tasks, and making sure everyone understood the material. Her work ethic, combined with her compassion for others, made her one of the most respected students in the department.
She later worked with me on an independent research project, exploring protein folding mechanisms. She not only demonstrated technical proficiency in running Western blots and managing our data logs, but she also took initiative by proposing a small procedural change that improved our yield consistency. Her attention to detail and curiosity were evident throughout the process.
In my 15 years of teaching, Elena ranks among the top 1% of students I’ve had the privilege of mentoring. I have no doubt she will bring the same level of commitment, resilience, and intellectual drive to her medical education. I strongly recommend her for admission to your program."
Sample #2: Clinical Supervisor
"It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter in support of Daniel Kim’s application to medical school. Daniel volunteered under my supervision at our downtown community health clinic for over eight months. From day one, Daniel stood out—not because he tried to impress anyone, but because of his consistent reliability, quiet professionalism, and deep sense of empathy for every patient he interacted with.
One of Daniel’s strengths is his emotional intelligence. I watched him adapt his communication style based on the patient’s comfort level, age, or background. With pediatric patients, he was calm and gentle, often engaging them with a smile or joke to ease their nerves. With older adults, he practiced patience—never rushing, always listening. One case in particular stands out: a Spanish-speaking patient with anxiety came in for a basic health screening. Daniel, who is fluent in Spanish, not only translated but also made sure the patient understood each step of the process, checking in frequently and offering reassurance. The patient later returned and specifically asked for him.
Daniel didn’t just show up to volunteer shifts—he took ownership. He noticed that many intake forms were causing confusion due to wording. On his own initiative, he created a revised bilingual form that was later adopted across our intake desks. His ability to identify small problems and propose realistic, user-centered solutions is a quality I’ve rarely seen in volunteers.
His clinical judgment and interpersonal skills are already well beyond what one might expect of a premed student. But what I appreciate most about Daniel is his humility. He never sought praise, never complained, and was always open to feedback. His maturity, reflective nature, and cultural sensitivity will serve him well as a physician.
I give Daniel Kim my highest recommendation. He is the kind of future doctor any patient would be lucky to have."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Asking too late: Give at least 4–6 weeks, ideally more.
- Choosing a "big name" over a good match: Prestige doesn’t matter if they don’t know you.
- Not prepping your writer: Make it easy for them to write a great letter.
- Forgetting to follow up: A gentle nudge goes a long way. A thank-you matters even more.
- Assuming letters aren’t that important: They are. Weak letters can hurt strong applications.
Final Checklist Before Submission
Use this to make sure nothing slips through the cracks:
- I checked each medical school’s letter requirements on MSAR or their website
- I’ve asked the right mix of letter writers (science, clinical, etc.)
- All letters are marked “Received” in my AMCAS portal
- I’ve waived my right to view each letter
- I’ve followed up with any writers who haven’t submitted yet
- I’ve assigned the correct letters to each school
- I’ve thanked every letter writer with a message or card
- I’ve saved copies of my letter IDs and confirmation emails
FAQs
1. How many letters does AMCAS allow?
You can submit up to 10 letters through AMCAS. But each medical school has its own requirements—some ask for 3, some 5, and a few specify exact types (like two science, one non-science). Check each school.
2. Can I submit different letters to different schools?
Yes. You can assign different combinations of letters to each school through the AMCAS system. This gives you flexibility to match letters with school priorities.
3. What if a recommender misses the deadline?
Follow up immediately and politely. If you can’t reach them or they can’t submit in time, you’ll need to replace them with another qualified writer.
4. Should I waive my right to view the letters?
Yes. Most schools expect you to. Letters hold more weight when they’re confidential.
5. Can I reuse letters from last year?
Yes, especially if stored in a service like Interfolio. Just make sure they’re still relevant and have updated context if needed.
6. How do I track letter status?
Log into AMCAS and go to the “Letters of Evaluation” section. You’ll see whether each letter is marked “Received.”
7. What if a letter is missing or delayed?
Contact your recommender first. If needed, contact AMCAS or your schools to explain. Be proactive, and if possible, offer a backup recommender.
8. Can I add new letters after I submit my application?
Yes. You can add and assign new letters even after submitting your primary application. Just make sure the schools you’re applying to still accept updates.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
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