Medical School

Letters of Recommendation

UNDERGRAD LETTERS – You need one of the following:

• Premedical Advisory Committee Letter: If your school has a Premed Committee that generates a cumulative letter. This is generally a single letter, but may have other letters attached.
• Undergraduate institution packet of letters: If your undergraduate institution has a service that compiles all your letters and forwards them together with a cover letter.
• Two separate letters from classroom professors: If your undergraduate institution has neither a Premed Committee or a Service, you will need to supply us with two letters from classroom professors, one of which must have taught you Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

GRADUATE LETTERS – You need one of the following:

• Currently Enrolled: If you are currently enrolled in graduate school, you are required to supply two letters of recommendation. One must come from your professor or thesis advisor. The other one from the dean or department chairman must include a statement indicating they are aware of your medical school application.
• Previously Enrolled: If you were previously enrolled in graduate school, you are required to supply one letter of recommendation from a professor.
• Recently Accepted: If you have recently enrolled in a graduate program you are required to supply one letter from the dean or department chairman. This letter must include a statement indicating they are aware of your medical school application.
• Never Enrolled:  No letters required.

OPTIONAL LETTERS
Optional letters of recommendation are generally personal or professional in nature and are not required to complete the application. If they are listed and arrive before the application is complete they will be included in the review. If the application becomes complete before they arrive they will not be included in the review.  We will accept a maximum of 3 optional letters.
 

MEDICAL SCIENTIST TRAINING PROGRAM (MSTP)
If you are an applicant to MSTP, you must submit three letters to support your
career as a physician- scientist.
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use letters of recommendations from Post Baccalaureate coursework?
If the coursework was not part of the graduate program, you can use these letters to fulfill the undergraduate letter requirement.
 

How will I know my letters of recommendation have arrived?
After you certify your Secondary Application on-line, the Admissions Office will then be able enter letters of recommendation that have been received. You can check your status on-line from the Status Check Page.
 

Do you accept letters electronically?
Yes, letters are accepted from approved venders, (AMCAS, Virtual Eval and Interfolio)
 

Where should letters be forwarded if coming through the mail?
All letters are to be forwarded to:
Office of Admissions
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
 

Can I make changes to my letter writers?
You can make changes prior to certifying the application. After certifying the application, you must contact the Office of Admissions to make changes.