Committee letter or separate LORs?

TheShaker · Feb 5, 2012

I'm not sure if this belongs in the right place and I have looked at other people asking the same question but I am hoping I can get an answer for my problem specifically.

I know many schools request a committee letter from my school unless I have a good explanation for not getting one. It is too late for me to get a committee letter now since the application due date has passed and I am planning to just send separate LORs. My only explanation for not using the committee letter is that their application requires a LOR from a health care professional and that is something that I do not have. Is this a good enough explanation? Thank you in advance. 👍

flodhi1 · Feb 5, 2012

TheShaker said:
I'm not sure if this belongs in the right place and I have looked at other people asking the same question but I am hoping I can get an answer for my problem specifically.

I know many schools request a committee letter from my school unless I have a good explanation for not getting one. It is too late for me to get a committee letter now since the application due date has passed and I am planning to just send separate LORs. My only explanation for not using the committee letter is that their application requires a LOR from a health care professional and that is something that I do not have. Is this a good enough explanation? Thank you in advance. 👍

You're going to have to call individual schools anonymously and just ask. No one on SDN can give you a proper answer it all depends on the school and is very subjective.

Catalystik · Feb 6, 2012

Some schools won't accept any explanation. If a committee latter is customarily provided by one's school, it can be looked upon as a red flag if you don't get one.

octupus · Feb 6, 2012

Have you tried contacting the committee and explaining your situation? My committee's deadline was February, but I was over a full month late but they were very nice about it and gave me a week to submit the application and 3 weeks to submit my letters.My lateness had absolutely no impact on the ranking of my committee letter.

TheShaker · Feb 6, 2012

Catalystik said:
Some schools won't accept any explanation. If a committee latter is customarily provided by one's school, it can be looked upon as a red flag if you don't get one.

Well I've looked around the schools for information about their LOR requirements and some of them seem okay with it and some don't.

For example, some schools say something along the lines of: "All applications must include letters of recommendation (Pre-medical Advisory Committee evaluation or three academic recommendations)." I feel like they are okay with either of them.

Some schools say something more like: "A letter of recommendation from the Premedical Advisory Committee or the official Premedical Advisor is required if your undergraduate school has such a Committee or Advisor." I feel like it's the committee letter or nothing at all.

Am I right in assuming this or will they still heckle me about it?

Catalystik · Feb 6, 2012

As you're in a nonnegotiable position at your school, and being sure is essential to deciding on whether to proceed with your application plans to certain schools, I think you'll need to call and give the details of your situation to admissions offices to get the best information. There's no point in wasting application dollars unnecessarily.

The problem is, they won't heckle you if you're wrong, they'll just ignore you.

TheShaker · Feb 6, 2012

Catalystik said:
As you're in a nonnegotiable position at your school, and being sure is essential to deciding on whether to proceed with your application plans to certain schools, I think you'll need to call and give the details of your situation to admissions offices to get the best information. There's no point in wasting application dollars unnecessarily.

The problem is, they won't heckle you if you're wrong, they'll just ignore you.

I see. Well I guess I will call up a bunch of schools and make sure that I can get through before applying. Thank you very much for your help.

Catalystik · Feb 7, 2012

Please let us know what you find out.

Catalystik · Feb 25, 2013

Here is the list that TheShaker generated and posted elsewhere, in case anyone is doing a Search for this information: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=12787005&postcount=1

Committee letter or separate LORs?

TheShaker

Full Member

flodhi1

Membership Revoked

Catalystik

A Gimlet Eye

octupus

inside a lobster suit!

TheShaker

Full Member

Catalystik

A Gimlet Eye

TheShaker

Full Member

Catalystik

A Gimlet Eye

Catalystik

A Gimlet Eye

Similar threads