Lindsay Ma asked 4 years ago
What is generally required of a person who writes a letter of recommendation for me? I understand TAs and GSIs aren’t supposed to be asked for letters, but what could a lecturer who has a PhD write me a letter? Is there an official answer to my questions at AMCAS or at each medical schools’ websites?
Thanks!
Pre-Med Hub Staff answered 4 years ago
Hi Lindsay,
Great question! Anybody who has taught you, whether it be someone whose title is Lecturer or Professor, can write you a letter of recommendation. Generally speaking, you will need at least three letters of recommendations, but some schools allow you to send more. The rule of thumb is to get two recommendations from lecturers/professors who taught you in science disciplines (anything that counts towards a B.S. or the NS distribution requirement here at Michigan) and one lecturer/professor who taught you in any other academic discipline. The MSAR tool on AMCAS or the school’s website will tell you more about what they are looking for. Additionally, there are numerous resources on the AMCAS/AAMC website which give more information about what they look for in recommendation letters. This can vary from year to year, so make sure to check out their most updated information.
Best,
PMH Board
Pre-Med Hub Staff answered 3 years ago
Check out our new blog post for more information: https://premedhubumich.com/asking-for-a-rec-letter-qa/