Letter of Recommendation for Medical School — Free Template
Medical school letters of recommendation carry real weight because admissions committees want to know how an applicant thinks, works with patients and teammates and handles pressure. This version helps a professor, physician or research mentor write a detailed, specific letter built around observed examples.
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[Your email and phone number]
October 15, 2026
Re: Letter of recommendation for [Name of the person you're recommending]
Dear Medical School Admissions Committee,
It is my pleasure to recommend [Name of the person you're recommending] for medical school. [How you know them, and for how long]
[Their key strengths]
One example shows the kind of person [Name of the person you're recommending] is. [A specific example or story]
Based on everything I have seen, I recommend [Name of the person you're recommending] in the strongest possible terms. I am confident [Name of the person you're recommending] will bring the same ability, care and commitment to this next step.
Please feel free to contact me at [Your email and phone number] if you would like any more information.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
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What medical schools want to hear
Admissions committees look for academic strength, but also for qualities like integrity, empathy, teamwork, resilience and the ability to learn from mistakes. Give concrete examples of the applicant in your course, lab, clinic or program.
Comparisons help when they're honest: telling the committee where the applicant ranks among students you've taught or supervised gives useful context.
Check how letters are submitted
Many medical schools receive letters through the central application service rather than directly, and some undergraduate schools prepare a committee letter or letter packet. Ask the applicant how your letter should be submitted and whether it will be part of a committee packet.
Write on letterhead, sign it and keep a copy. Applicants often apply in more than one cycle, and they may need the letter again.
Mistakes to avoid
Avoid listing accomplishments that already appear in the application without adding your own observations. Don't overstate the applicant's role in research or clinical work, and never include identifying patient details. Generic praise such as "will make an excellent doctor" carries little weight unless it follows a specific example of the applicant's judgment, compassion or perseverance.
What to do, step by step
Agree to write it only if you can be positive
A lukewarm recommendation can hurt more than no letter at all. If you don't know the person well enough to be specific and enthusiastic, say so and suggest someone who does.
Ask for the details you need
Get the deadline, where the letter goes, who it should be addressed to and what the opportunity is. A résumé, job posting or program description helps you choose the right strengths to highlight.
Fill in your letter
Answer the questions above. Lead with how you know the person, pick two or three strengths that fit the opportunity, and back them up with one concrete example.
Keep it to one page and proofread it
Most readers skim. Three or four short paragraphs, the person's name spelled correctly and no generic filler will do more than a long letter.
Send it the way the recipient asks
Upload it to the application portal, email it as a PDF or hand a signed copy to the candidate. Keep a copy in case you're asked to write another one later.
What if you don't know the person well enough to write a strong letter?
It's fine to say no. A short, honest reply such as "I don't think I know your work well enough to write the strong letter you deserve" is kinder than a vague recommendation that admissions officers or hiring managers will read as a warning sign.
If you're willing but unsure what to say, ask the person for a quick list of things you worked on together, the qualities they'd like you to speak to and any accomplishments you may not know about. Many strong letters start from a conversation like this.
If you can only speak to part of their experience, write about that part honestly and specifically. A narrow letter with a real example is usually more useful than a broad one full of general praise.
Example letter of recommendation for medical school
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Dr. Alan Whitaker
Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Fairmont State University
awhitaker@fairmontstate.edu, (555) 413-8857
October 5, 2026
Re: Letter of recommendation for Nadia Rahman
Dear Medical School Admissions Committee,
It is my pleasure to recommend Nadia Rahman for medical school. Nadia took my upper-level biochemistry course and has worked in my lab studying enzyme regulation for two and a half years.
Nadia is intellectually curious, meticulous and remarkably mature. She earned one of the top grades in my course, designs her own experiments with growing independence and communicates complex ideas clearly to both scientists and non-scientists. Outside the lab, she volunteers weekly at a free clinic, where staff tell me patients ask for her by name.
One example shows the kind of person Nadia Rahman is. When a key experiment repeatedly failed last year, Nadia methodically tested each step, identified a contamination issue in a shared reagent and wrote up a new protocol that the whole lab now uses. She handled the setback with patience and good humor, and her persistence turned months of frustration into her first co-authored paper.
Based on everything I have seen, I recommend Nadia Rahman in the strongest possible terms. I am confident Nadia Rahman will bring the same ability, care and commitment to this next step.
Please feel free to contact me at awhitaker@fairmontstate.edu, (555) 413-8857 if you would like any more information.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alan Whitaker
Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Fairmont State University
Frequently asked questions
Who should write a medical school recommendation letter?
Commonly, science professors who taught the applicant, research mentors, physicians who supervised clinical or shadowing experience, and supervisors from meaningful volunteer or work roles. Many schools specify how many letters they want and from whom, so check each school's requirements.
What is a committee letter?
Some colleges have a pre-health advising committee that collects individual letters and writes a single combined evaluation of the applicant. If the applicant's school offers one, medical schools often expect it. Your individual letter may be included in that packet.
How long should a medical school recommendation be?
Often one to two pages. Committees value detail, but every paragraph should include specific observations rather than general praise.
Can a physician I shadowed write one?
Yes, if they observed you closely enough to describe your interactions, curiosity and professionalism. A brief shadowing experience may not give them enough to write a detailed letter, so ask honestly whether they can write a strong one.
What should a letter of recommendation include?
Explain who you are and how you know the candidate, including how long. Then describe two or three specific strengths relevant to the opportunity, support them with a concrete example, and close with a clear statement of your recommendation and your contact details so the reader can follow up.
How long should a letter of recommendation be?
Usually one page, or roughly 300 to 500 words. Admissions committees and hiring managers read many letters, so a focused letter with one strong example is more effective than a long one. Some graduate programs expect a little more detail, so check any instructions you've been given.
FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.