1 superb LOR vs. 4 very good LORs

[nets445]

I know it's ideal to get 4-5 very good letters of recommendation but in my case, that is not possible because I don't really go to office hours and interact with my professors that much. I am planning to get my 3 academic letters from professors that taught me in small classes that I received A's in. I took these classes a year ago so I realize that they will not be able to write a very substantial LOR. However, I am certain my site supervisor for my community service club that I helped create and have been involved in for 3 years so far will be able to write me a very personable and substantial LOR.

So my question is, how much of a difference is 1 superb LOR + 3 regular LORs compared to 4 very good LORs. In other words, as long as I have that one "wow" letter, am I good to go in terms of letters of recommendation?

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[red doctober]

Lukewarm LORs are never good.

 

[phunky]

According to LizzyM, very few LORs actually make a difference, so I'd say the superb one would be better. A lukewarm rec won't hurt you, but it certainly won't help.

 

[MedPR]

I know it's ideal to get 4-5 very good letters of recommendation but in my case, that is not possible because I don't really go to office hours and interact with my professors that much. I am planning to get my 3 academic letters from professors that taught me in small classes that I received A's in. I took these classes a year ago so I realize that they will not be able to write a very substantial LOR. However, I am certain my site supervisor for my community service club that I helped create and have been involved in for 3 years so far will be able to write me a very personable and substantial LOR.

So my question is, how much of a difference is 1 superb LOR + 3 regular LORs compared to 4 very good LORs. In other words, as long as I have that one "wow" letter, am I good to go in terms of letters of recommendation?

4 very good LORs. 1 super awesome LOR plus 3 "regular" LORs would make me (if I were an adcom) wonder why you only had 1 really awesome one while the rest were just ok. The super awesome one would lose value to me.

 

[nets445]

4 very good LORs. 1 super awesome LOR plus 3 "regular" LORs would make me (if I were an adcom) wonder why you only had 1 really awesome one while the rest were just ok. The super awesome one would lose value to me.

But would adcoms be expecting 4 or so very good LORs?

I find it hard to believe most applicants would have 4 very well written LORs. At least for me, in the classes I've gotten an A in, I never needed to go to the professor's office hours or set up an appointment. Most of my questions would get addressed during review sessions or TA help sessions. On the other hand, for the classes I got a B/B+ in, I do go to office hours a little and the professor probably knows my name but I think it may not be wise to get a letter from a professor who gave me a B.

 

[MedPR]

But would adcoms be expecting 4 or so very good LORs?

I find it hard to believe most applicants would have 4 very well written LORs. At least for me, in the classes I've gotten an A in, I never needed to go to the professor's office hours or set up an appointment. Most of my questions would get addressed during review sessions or TA help sessions. On the other hand, for the classes I got a B/B+ in, I do go to office hours a little and the professor probably knows my name but I think it may not be wise to get a letter from a professor who gave me a B.

I don't know how many they are expecting, but if you read 3 luke-warm LORs about someone and then read one stellar one, wouldn't you wonder about the disparity? If you're buying something off of Amazon, which would you prefer? The product with four 8/10 reviews, or the product with one 10/10 and three 6/10?

 

[nets445]

I don't know how many they are expecting, but if you read 3 luke-warm LORs about someone and then read one stellar one, wouldn't you wonder about the disparity? If you're buying something off of Amazon, which would you prefer? The product with four 8/10 reviews, or the product with one 10/10 and three 6/10?

Hmm. You have a great point.

 

[IslandStyle808]

But would adcoms be expecting 4 or so very good LORs?

I find it hard to believe most applicants would have 4 very well written LORs. At least for me, in the classes I've gotten an A in, I never needed to go to the professor's office hours or set up an appointment. Most of my questions would get addressed during review sessions or TA help sessions. On the other hand, for the classes I got a B/B+ in, I do go to office hours a little and the professor probably knows my name but I think it may not be wise to get a letter from a professor who gave me a B.

This is a problem I see a lot with people on SDN is that they feel getting As is the only necessary thing and if this can be done alone, then there is no point talking to the professor. My suggestion is to make probing questions on the lecture notes and ask the professors after class about them. They will see your face on a regular basis and you won't need set up an official appointment after class so much.

As for the professors that gave your Bs, I don't see a problem with having a few of them there. I got a LOR from a professor I did research underneath and got a B+ in her class. I know that you are thinking this is because I did research under them. Well, I also got one LOR from a science professors that I knew me really well but got a B in the class. I think it is fine to throw one LOR from professor that you had a B under (if they know you well that is). There will be those adcoms wondering about what happened but if explained well in the letter that you went from a C exam to A exam at the end it will show another dynamic of you (how you handle pressure).

I really think the professor that gave you the B and his/her LOR will outweigh the professor who gave you an A and their LOR (looking at your scenario that is). This is because the professor knows you both academically and personally.

 

[TriagePreMed]

How do you kids even come up with these crazy scenarios? Just get the best letters you can and move on. It's as simple as that, unless you're some crazy that can get both scenarios and would go with 1 superb and 3 very good.

 

[Rally]

I know it's ideal to get 4-5 very good letters of recommendation but in my case, that is not possible because I don't really go to office hours and interact with my professors that much. I am planning to get my 3 academic letters from professors that taught me in small classes that I received A's in. I took these classes a year ago so I realize that they will not be able to write a very substantial LOR. However, I am certain my site supervisor for my community service club that I helped create and have been involved in for 3 years so far will be able to write me a very personable and substantial LOR.

So my question is, how much of a difference is 1 superb LOR + 3 regular LORs compared to 4 very good LORs. In other words, as long as I have that one "wow" letter, am I good to go in terms of letters of recommendation?

I'll give you 100 Shrute bucks for 67 Stanley nickels...how can you make a conversion rate between superb/ very good LOR?

 

[Medstart108]

I know it's ideal to get 4-5 very good letters of recommendation but in my case, that is not possible because I don't really go to office hours and interact with my professors that much. I am planning to get my 3 academic letters from professors that taught me in small classes that I received A's in. I took these classes a year ago so I realize that they will not be able to write a very substantial LOR. However, I am certain my site supervisor for my community service club that I helped create and have been involved in for 3 years so far will be able to write me a very personable and substantial LOR.

So my question is, how much of a difference is 1 superb LOR + 3 regular LORs compared to 4 very good LORs. In other words, as long as I have that one "wow" letter, am I good to go in terms of letters of recommendation?

Just take the 1 superb LOR + 3 regular LORs. Whatever we tell you won't make a difference. You don't have 4 very good LORs right now. You have 1 superb and 3 regular. You take what you can get. If i told you that 4 very good LORs is a million times better than 1 superb and 3 regular it wouldn't make any difference to your application.

 

[mimelim]

Letters where you got a A in a class and asked for a letter are weak letters.

Letter strength:

1) How well the writers know you.
2) What the letter writer can say about you and talk about the qualities that make you a good bet for a school.
3) Who the writer is.

One out of three is worth it if you are short letters. Two out of three is a good letter. Three out of three is a strong letter. Letters written by professors that your relationship revolves around one class are going to be poor letters.

 

[Aerus]

I'm sort of confused. Do you have a choice to make?

If you do, why not get the one superb rec and the 4 really good ones and not use the 3 okay ones? It's not like the one superb letter of rec writer won't write you one if you already have 4 other good ones.

If you don't have a choice and you're just speaking hypothetically, then just get the best letters of rec that you can get. That's all you can do.

 

[circulus vitios]

How do you kids even come up with these crazy scenarios? Just get the best letters you can and move on. It's as simple as that, unless you're some crazy that can get both scenarios and would go with 1 superb and 3 very good.

No lor from professor, send out lor with 4, but is it for 1 like 4 when you no superb it to be for professor who know, for 4 instead? or half is 1 for 2 lor?

UMM HOW i word this... ok u take 1 lor superb for 4 if premed, so divide 2 u dont superb, u get 1 but for premed it no 3, so 2 would be for med school if u werent premed ?