Getting
Recommendations
Payoff time is here. Hopefully you have established close
relationships with professors, volunteered at clinics, worked
with professionals, and become friends with an advisor of an
extracurricular activity. In short, you should have done
everything we advised you to...or at least some
brown-nosing!
You should put a lot of thought into who you would like to
write your letters of recommendation. Most dental schools
require at least 3 recommendations. The people that you choose
should know you well, be familiar with your abilities, and
understand your goals.
Do not wait until the last minute. If you want good
recommendations, you have to give those you select a
substantial amount of time to write them. Remember that many
professors will be asked to write several letters, so get in
touch with them as early as possible. You should allow a
minimum of three weeks for them to compose it. This means that
you must make contact about a month before your application is
due, at the latest.
Make sure you supply all necessary forms, addresses, due dates,
and stamped addressed envelopes. It would be helpful to write
down or discuss when you took their class (or worked for/with
them), information about your qualifications, and any
additional background that you feel would aid your
recommendation. You may even want to provide a copy of your
resume and transcript.
You should follow up with a thank you note a few days before
the recommendation is due. Not only is your gratitude a polite
gesture, it will serve as a reminder.
