What are the best kinds of recommendations for med school?
The Health Careers Advisory Committee requires that applicants from Brown University have two letters of recommendation from faculty at the University, at least one of which must be from a professor in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics. You are also required to have a third letter from an individual who knows you in an academic, supervisory, or mentoring capacity. This could be another Brown faculty member but it could also come from individuals on or off campus. In general, letters of recommendation should be substantive evaluations of the particular qualities that you will bring to your chosen profession. Therefore, the best recommendations will come from people who know you well. Recommendations from high-ranking or well known individuals who do not show a substantive knowledge of your qualifications are less helpful then letters from individuals who are less prominent but who have a better knowledge of your abilities.
