Letters of Reference Requirements

IMPORTANT! Read this Section Carefully!

We understand the concern of requesting, obtaining, and submitting letters of recommendation. The information below will assist you with our letters of recommedation requirement.

How are letters of reference submitted?

  • All letters of reference MUST be submitted through AMCAS
    View AMCAS Instructions Manual   starting at page 55 for guidance.
  • Do NOT have your letters mailed directly to USF College of Medicine. They will not be accepted to complete your application.
    AMCAS has several ways to allow for successful integration of letters of reference into your application. If you have not completed the Letters of Evaluation section of your AMCAS application, please contact AMCAS to determine the best way to have your letters upload to your application.
  • Be sure you have completed all the steps in AMCAS to release your letters to USF COM.
  • Many students do not check off the appropriate boxes and submit their AMCAS application correctly and their letters do not populate to their application.
  • If your letters do not populate to your application, your application will not complete and therefore will not be considered.

How many letters of reference are required?

We require a minimum of 5 letters of recommendation (3 faculty & 2 character letters).

  • The 3 faculty letters should include only instructors who taught you in a formal course:
    • Two (2) letters from a basic science faculty
      • Science faculty include but are not limited to

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Engineering, Exercise Science, Psychology

    • One (1) letter from a non-science faculty
      • Non-Science faculty include but are not limited to:

Accounting, Economics, Sociology, English, Anthropology, History, Philosophy

  • The 2 character letters required are recommended to be written by individuals who can speak of your abilities and attributes outside of an academic setting. 
    • Character letters should not be from a family member or relative
      • Character letters include but are not limited to:

Physicians you've shadowed, Research Mentors, Volunteer Coordinators/Supervisors

PLEASE NOTE: If you submit four (4) letters, your application WILL NOT COMPLETE, AND YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Continue to check AMCAS to see what letters are outstanding, received, etc.

What if I have or don't have a Committee letter packet?

There are different options to submit letters of recommendation. Often times schools will offer a Committee Evaluation letter or a Letter Packet to compile your individual letters. Some schools do not have any Committee letters or Letter Packets; therefore, the applicant is required to seek out 5 separate recommendations. The applicant will then have 5 separate letters sent by the recommenders to AMCAS (refer to page 55 of AMCAS Instructions Manual ). Please review the options below on how to submit the items required to fulfill our LOR requirement:

Option 1 - If your school has a Committe Evaluation Letter  

  • Refer to page 55 in AMCAS instruction manual for the Letter Request form to send to AMCAS
  • Submit the pre-professional Committee Evaluation from your undergraduate institution to AMCAS
    • This will only fulfill the Faculty portion of our LOR requirement.
  • Submit TWO (2) CHARACTER letters.
    • If your Committee Evaluation includes the faculty letters AND character letters, this will fulfill our LOR requirement for Option 1

Option 2 - If your school has a Letter Packet that includes ALL 5 letters required

  • Refer to page 55 in AMCAS instruction manual for the Letter Request form to send to AMCAS
  • Submit the pre-professional Letter Packet from your undergraduate institution to AMCAS
    • This will only fulfill our LOR requirement IF all 5 letters (3 faculty & 2 character) are included in the Letter Packet.
    • If the Letter Packet only includes faculty letters then you MUST submit 2 character letters  

PLEASE NOTE: If you submit four (4) letters, your application WILL NOT COMPLETE, AND YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Continue to check AMCAS to see what letters are outstanding, received, etc.

Option 3 - If you are sending 5 separate letters

  • Refer to page 55 in AMCAS instruction manual for the Letter Request form to send to AMCAS
  • Submit THREE (3) FACULTY letters of recommendation
    • See above for criteria for a Faculty letter
  • Submit TWO (2) CHARACTER letters
    • See above for criteria for a Character letter

But what if I have been out of school a bit?

That's okay! You are considered a Non-Traditional student applying to medical school. You will most likely be utilizing Option 3  

  • Note: If you have been out of school for more than two years, and can no longer get letters from any undergraduate professor, or you cannot get a "non" science faculty letter" you can submit letters from a lab supervisor or an employment supervisor.