Secure strong residency letters from the right writers — who to ask, how to brief them, the 2027 AAMC Letter Writer Portal process, and exactly when to follow up.
Updated 21 June 2026 · For the 2027 ERAS® residency season
Beginning with the 2027 ERAS cycle, all letters of recommendation are submitted through the new AAMC Letter Writer Portal — a single, streamlined system. You add writers in MyERAS; they receive an email invitation to upload directly. You may assign up to four letters per program, and three specialties (Dermatology, Plastic Surgery–Integrated, and Urology) now use specialty-designed evaluation forms.
Someone who knows you well, can speak to your clinical abilities, has observed your growth, and carries weight in the medical community. Quality trumps title every time — a specific letter from an attending who supervised you beats a generic one from a famous name.
Strength
Institutional weight
Best When
Strong clinical performance in their department
Avoid If
If minimal interaction or generic letter likely
Strength
Detailed project knowledge
Best When
Significant research contribution with publications
Avoid If
If research is minor part of application
Strength
Direct observation of skills
Best When
Worked closely for 4+ weeks with excellent performance
Avoid If
If only worked nights/weekends with minimal interaction
Strength
Understanding of residency readiness
Best When
Away rotation or special program participation
Avoid If
If from your home institution (conflict of interest)
Letter writer asks you to write it yourself
Shows lack of investment — and the AAMC expects letters to be the writer's own work
Solution: Politely decline and find another writer
Vague commitment ('I'll try to get to it')
High risk of late or missing letter
Solution: Seek more enthusiastic writer
No recent interaction (>2 years)
Letter will lack specific, current examples
Solution: Reconnect first or choose someone more recent
Cannot speak to your clinical work
Programs weight clinical letters most heavily
Solution: Prioritize attendings who supervised you directly
Mentions they're writing many letters
Your letter may be generic or delayed
Solution: Provide exceptional packet and follow up regularly
Sources: AAMC ERAS Letters of Recommendation guidance, the AAMC Letter Writer Portal, and the 2027 ERAS season updates (aamc.org, students-residents.aamc.org). Verified June 2026.
In ERAS you may assign up to four letters of recommendation to each program. Most programs ask for around three, and some specialties request a specific type (for example a chair's letter or a specialty-specific letter). Always check each program's requirements and your specialty's guidance statement before finalizing your writers.
Beginning with the 2027 ERAS cycle, all letters are submitted through the new AAMC Letter Writer Portal — a single, streamlined system. You add each writer in MyERAS; they then receive an email invitation to upload their letter directly to the portal. You do not handle the letter yourself when you have waived your right to view it.
Yes — the AAMC recommends waiving your right to view your letters, and programs give waived letters more weight because they signal candor. Note that once you waive the right to view a letter, you are not permitted to view or obtain it under any circumstances.
No. Letters should be the writer's own work. If a potential writer asks you to draft the letter yourself, treat it as a sign they cannot give you a strong, invested letter, and consider asking someone else. (Technically, only letters where you did not waive your right to view can be uploaded by the applicant — but the standard, expected practice is for writers to upload through the portal.)
Prioritize writers who know you well and can speak specifically to your clinical abilities — usually attendings who supervised you directly for several weeks. Strong options include a department chair (institutional weight), a research mentor (if research is central to your application), clinical attendings (direct observation), and away-rotation faculty or program directors. Quality and specificity beat title every time.
Two things: all letters now flow through the new AAMC Letter Writer Portal instead of the older Letter of Recommendation Portal workflow, and three specialties — Dermatology, Plastic Surgery (Integrated), and Urology — adopted specialty-designed evaluation forms to support more consistent evaluation across programs.
Ask 8–10 weeks before you need them. For the 2027 cycle, applicants may submit to programs on September 2, 2026 and programs begin reviewing on September 23, 2026, so request letters in spring or early summer 2026. Provide a complete packet (CV, near-final personal statement, program list, and talking points), then follow up gently every couple of weeks.
Give writers a clear deadline up front, then send a brief, polite reminder roughly every two weeks. Confirm they received the Letter Writer Portal invitation, offer to provide anything else, and track each writer's submission status in MyERAS. Always close the loop with a thank-you note and your match outcome.
Give writers your near-final statement so letters align with your narrative.
Share your experiences so writers can cite specific, concrete examples.
When to request letters so they're ready before programs review.
Which letters each specialty expects — and the new evaluation forms.
Our review service helps ensure your entire application package, including how you present yourself to letter writers, is optimized for success.