Residency letters of recommendation: preparing a clear and authentic request

Who should write your letter?

AAMC advises considering physicians who know your clinical work and can comment on your performance. For ERAS 2027, letters are submitted through the AAMC Letter Writer Portal. Sources: AAMC — Letters of Recommendation for Residency Applicants; AAMC — 2027 ERAS Season Updates.

Separate the content from the logistics: the writer needs a basis for recommending you, and submission needs to follow the current cycle's process.

Illustrative image. Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels. Cover: Pixabay / Pexels.

Prepare a specific conversation

First recall the activities you genuinely shared. Rather than asking abstractly for a “strong letter,” ask whether the person feels comfortable writing about your work and professional development.

You can organize a factual summary of dates, role, activities and career objective. Do not write judgments about yourself as though they were the recommender's words. The letter should reflect the signer's assessment.

A preparation exercise

Imagine that you observed a team for four weeks. Before asking, record when you participated, who supervised and which activities were authorized. This provides context without turning observation into clinical responsibility or participation into leadership.

The scenario is an editorial exercise, not a required duration or a promise of a recommendation.

Track the process

• Program and official instructions consulted.
• Invited writer and confirmation of availability.
• Information the writer requested.
• Agreed timeline and submission status.
• Questions still requiring clarification.

If an instruction is unclear, check the system or its designated support channel. Do not automatically reuse the steps in an older tutorial.

What to avoid

Do not invent activities, alter another person's assessment or promise outcomes on a program's behalf. Avoid pressuring someone who cannot confidently recommend you. The aim is an authentic, contextualized recommendation supported by respectful follow-up and consistent documentation.

Check the format required by the specialty

AAMC/OPDA guidance for narrative letters recommends explaining the relationship with the applicant and observed performance. Some specialties use standardized letters and their own instructions; check the applicable format before requesting a letter. AAMC / OPDA — Narrative Letter of Recommendation Guidelines.