Like many other preceptors, I have spent the last few days writing numerous letters of recommendation for hopeful residency candidates. Although the process is time consuming, I enjoy the opportunity to help promote talented students who have a bright future in our profession. Over the past few months, I have also struggled with some requests from students whose performance has opportunity for improvement. Through my experiences as a writer and a reader of letters of recommendation, it is evident that there is an art to responding to letter writing requests and writing a standout letter of recommendation. Most of us are familiar with the uncomfortable situation of being asked to write a letter of recommendation for a student who you do not view as a top performer, and I’m sure you all have read the cookie cutter letters of recommendation and the letters of recommendation that make you think, “Wow – I want to learn more about this candidate.” My goal with this blog entry is to initiate a dialogue to share tips and tricks for responding to recommendation requests and writing letters of recommendation that highlight candidate’s strengths and honestly discuss any areas for continued improvement.
- Responding to requests for letters of recommendation: For superstar students who request letters of recommendation, the response is easy. For moderate or poor performing students, the task can be more difficult. My experience and advice from my mentors has always taught me that being honest is the best course of action. One of my colleagues explained to me that she was recently approached by a student requesting a recommendation, and the student had multiple performance deficiencies during her rotation. The preceptor explained to the student that her letter would include both the strengths and the weaknesses that were noted during the rotation. This approach allows the student to make a decision with an honest understanding of the information that will be shared with the residency programs. It can be difficult to have this conversation, so don’t be afraid to practice the response with a peer. In the end, the slight discomfort in providing an honest response is better than a bigger misunderstanding later.