Letters of Rec

The Art of the Letter of Recommendation Packet

Asking for letters of recommendation? Don't just, like, ask, you know. Make sure you come prepared with a packet of materials that the letter of recommendation writer might want.‍What goes in this packet, you ask?

What’s a good Letter of Recommendation?

Asking for recommendation letters can be nerve-wracking, but it doesn't have to be. Rob Humbracht shares tips to help you turn an awkward request into recommendation gold. Learn how to provide your recommenders with the right info and focus to make your letters shine. Dive into this guide and transform your letters from dull lists to standout endorsements.

Networking 101- How to Network Without Selling Your Soul

Do you want to network like a pro, without feeling like a sleazy salesperson? In this article, you’ll discover how to connect with people authentically, kindly, and strategically. You’ll learn how to change your mindset, practice meditation, network for your future self, and use online tools to find and contact potential contacts. You’ll also get to practice your skills with an AI bot that can give you feedback and advice. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to network without selling your soul.

Are Letters of Recommendation a Total Sham?

At best, letters of recommendation are a (mostly) harmless formality, and at worst, they’re a total sham. The evolution of recommendation letters over the years has actually nullified their original intent and purpose. This article is not about pointing blame or bringing shame to those who have exploited the loopholes in the system. Instead, it seeks to bring light to the problems in the system and analyze why and how things needs to change.

Every Question You Have About Letters of Recommendation for Medical School

The topic on which I get the most questions every application cycle is letters of recommendation. The following FAQ represents every question I've received over the past few years.

How to Make Connections with Your Professors in Zoom University

Professors are busy, and they don’t get paid to write letters of recommendation. Other than effectively lecturing in their classes and offering a certain amount of office hours, they don’t owe you anything, so you need to meet them more than halfway and have realistic expectations of them. In other words, the onus is on you to make them care about you and your future. Here are some useful tips that will endear you to your professors, especially during these COVID times of virtual learning. 

13 Changes Medical School Admissions and the AAMC Should Make for 2020-2021

13 Changes Medical School Admissions and the AAMC Should Make for 2020-2021

5 Bold Coronavirus Predictions: What Will Happen to Med School Admissions in 2020?

5 Bold Coronavirus Predictions: What Will Happen to Med School Admissions in 2020?

The MedSwipe Dating App: A Guide to Your Med School Application

The MedSwipe Dating App: A Guide to Your Med School Application

The Secret Skill That Separates Average Pre-meds from Standout Ones

“People are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their wants and problems than they are in you and your problems.” This excerpt from Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, is not a condemnation of people as self-absorbed jerks. He’s merely pointing out a very important fact about networking - the secret skill that separates average pre-meds from standout ones.

I Applied to 151 Medical Schools and Lived to Tell the Tale

If you wanted to apply to 151 medical schools, what would you need to accomplish that?

Every Question You Have About the AMCAS

The race begins! The AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) opens tomorrow, and if you’re not one of the first few to fill it out in the hours that it opens, you will never fulfill your dreams of becoming a physician.

20 Best Letter of Recommendation Tips in 90 Seconds

So what should you be aiming for with your letters of recommendation? Every year I find myself repeating the same lesson to my pre-meds: get the best set of letters you can.

Why I’m Totally Unimpressed by Your Letter of Recommendation

Imagine you’re a college professor, practicing physician, or busy working professional. Sometime in spring, you receive an email - it’s Johnny or Jessica Pre-med - some young excited face you can barely picture.

5 Characteristics of the Most Successful Pre-Meds

Last week we explained the The 5 Necessary Factors for Getting into Medical School, but what about the cherries on top? The X-factors? What are the ways you can elevate your application from average to extraordinary?

Every Question You Have About Letters of Recommendation for Medical School

The topic on which I get the most questions every application cycle is letters of recommendation. The following FAQ represents every question I've received over the past few years.

How to Write Your Own Letter of Recommendation

So you found someone to write you a letter, and you’re feeling pretty darn good about yourself. You mustered the confidence to approach the recommender, who has happily complied. Congrats--kudos--huzzah! You deserve a nice long catnap on the campus quad. But wait, hold up--did they just tell you to write the letter yourself? What? As in write your own recommendation? Aren’t there rules against this kind of thing?

Why does it feel so awkward to ask for a letter of recommendation?