5 | P a g e U p d a t e d N o v . 2023
f. Once a writer has completed one recommendation, they have the opportunity to reuse the evaluation
for that applicant, as writers tend to receive multiple requests from one applicant.
i. If the writer chooses the reuse option, no additional edits can be made to the evaluation
ii. If the writer wants to submit a letter of recommendation that is program specific, they should
choose to not reuse the evaluation
iii. Additional resources and tools for completing a recommendation can be found at
https://help.liaisonedu.com/Letters_by_Liaison_Help_Center
Images from: https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/professional-development/residencies/docs/1023-PhORCAS-Recommendation-Form.pdf
4. LEVEL OF RECOMMENDATION
a. Ensure the final recommendation for a candidate is supported by the written content of the letter
b. Provide your true recommendation based on your interactions with the candidate
i. Inflating a recommendation (e.g., highly recommending when you truly have reservations) can
be misleading to programs
ii. Candidates with “highly recommend” selected are not necessarily more likely to receive an
interview compared to candidates with “recommend”
1. An evaluation reported that 55.2% of candidates with a combination of “highly
recommend” and “recommend” will be considered for an interview, compared to
candidates with at least one “highly recommend” (14.1%) and all references with “highly
recommend” (9.3%) (Skrupky L, et al. J Amer Col Clin Phar 2021;4:379-389)
c. If the application does not have the option to select a specific recommendation (e.g., highly
recommend, do not recommend), ensure your level of recommendation for the candidate is clear in the
written content
5. TIPS AND TRICKS
a. Use strong and illustrative verbs (e.g., Active Verbs | Writing Recommendation Letters Online (psu.edu))
b. Be specific – it is important to demonstrate connection to the candidate to authenticate your credibility
as their letter writer
c. Be honest and genuine
d. Do not agree to write a letter for a candidate if it will not be in strong support of their endeavor
e. Have someone else read your letter to provide insight/feedback
f. Address relevant information and experiences; avoid discussing content not pertinent to the
recommendation or prospective job/residency
Additional Resources:
1. Brazeale, et al, Tips for writing a letter of recommendation as a new practitioner pharmacist,
American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Volume 80, Issue 5, 1 March 2023, Pages 245–
248, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxac309