Hey folks,
I'm in a dilemma. I'm a second semester senior planning on applying to med school this summer, and my non-science LOR options are kind of weak. I took all of my small, non-science classes as a freshman and sophomore, so it's been a while. Who do you think is the best here?
1. French instructor from fall of freshman year - wrote me a terrific letter for a summer study abroad program, but it's obviously been a long time since then. My pre-med advisory office says absolutely not due to the length of time passed...
2. History course TA from fall of senior year - she's a 1st year grad student, but she graded all of my papers and exams, and I was also a regular participant during discussion. Pre-med office says it's fine, but I hear so often that TA letters hold so little clout. Will try to get the professor to cosign it, but he's on a leave of absence this semester and may have left campus.
3. French instructor from spring of sophomore year - didn't participate as much, but I wrote well and did well in the class. I haven't talked to her since. Would try to contact her ASAP and possibly set up a lunch/dinner where we could talk and get reacquainted, bring her old papers to jog her memory, and such. Pre-med office thinks I should go with TA?
I'm leaning more toward option 3, but I would like to hear from you guys.
I'm anticipating strong science LORs and a fantastic one from my research advisor, who's known me for 3 years, but it's just this one that's making me nervous. I had hoped to take a seminar now, but I ended up having a way busier schedule than I thought I would. Definitely should have planned that better!
I guess what I'm asking is, what matters more: the fact that the letter is more recent or that it's written by a prof? Or should I even go with the freshman professor since the content was pretty good?
I'm in a dilemma. I'm a second semester senior planning on applying to med school this summer, and my non-science LOR options are kind of weak. I took all of my small, non-science classes as a freshman and sophomore, so it's been a while. Who do you think is the best here?
1. French instructor from fall of freshman year - wrote me a terrific letter for a summer study abroad program, but it's obviously been a long time since then. My pre-med advisory office says absolutely not due to the length of time passed...
2. History course TA from fall of senior year - she's a 1st year grad student, but she graded all of my papers and exams, and I was also a regular participant during discussion. Pre-med office says it's fine, but I hear so often that TA letters hold so little clout. Will try to get the professor to cosign it, but he's on a leave of absence this semester and may have left campus.
3. French instructor from spring of sophomore year - didn't participate as much, but I wrote well and did well in the class. I haven't talked to her since. Would try to contact her ASAP and possibly set up a lunch/dinner where we could talk and get reacquainted, bring her old papers to jog her memory, and such. Pre-med office thinks I should go with TA?
I'm leaning more toward option 3, but I would like to hear from you guys.
I'm anticipating strong science LORs and a fantastic one from my research advisor, who's known me for 3 years, but it's just this one that's making me nervous. I had hoped to take a seminar now, but I ended up having a way busier schedule than I thought I would. Definitely should have planned that better!
I guess what I'm asking is, what matters more: the fact that the letter is more recent or that it's written by a prof? Or should I even go with the freshman professor since the content was pretty good?
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