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Started by deleted947805
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If your school has a committee letter and you don’t submit it , it may raise a red flag to ADCOMS. Many schools expect you to submit a committee letter if your school has that option. This requirement is even listed on the websites of schools. I understand that premed advising can be poor but sometimes you just have to play the game. And when you are a med student or resident how are you going to act?
 
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It has been said that if your school has a committee letter and you don’t use it, ADCOMS might think you are hiding something in your application. Many schools have a long history of writing great letters and because of this history ADCOMS know what to expect and what to look for or know when something seems off in the letter. The letters are like a leveler among all of these over the top glowing letters. Spend some time reviewing the websites of the schools you are applying to and see if they specifically mention anything about committee letters. Do you really think one guy on the committee has that much power over his peers, that he could insist the letter sink your application? That seems counter productive to the reputation of the school. Have you talked to this person? Is he the chair of the committee or just a member?

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Let's not get pompous. There are two sides to every story and every conversation, and I'm sure there are things you could both improve on.

As you've already been told, lacking a letter is a huge red flag. Also, its highly unlikely that he would have the power and pettiness to sink your career.

*Removed Quote per OP's request.*
 
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chaim123 said:
Let's not get pompous. There are two sides to every story and every conversation, and I'm sure there are things you could both improve on.

As you've already been told, lacking a letter is a huge red flag. Also, its highly unlikely that he would have the power and pettiness to sink your career.
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Well, I am the kind of person who tries to understand the other person’s perspective, and when I say that I act as a normal student, I’m not being pompous. But, since y’all said that the committee letter is a huge detrimental factor, and since @Goro told me to apologize, I will apologize for not following the campus rule when it comes to applying for volunteer opportunities. I’ll craft my apology in a way he wants to hear, and hopefully mend my relationship with him. But, I have nothing to apologize for, it’s just the guy is petty and wants me to credit him for my accomplishments.

He is one of the two chairmen of the advising committee and trust me, he is extremely petty. I’ve heard how he acts towards students he personally doesn’t like no matter how excellent they are.

Thanks for the advice, I’ll do as you said.


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My understanding is that in situations where an applicant does not submit a committee letter when school' expected one, that they will ask for an explanation.

The OP has an explanation in that he has a bad relationship (potentially) with the co-chair of the committee. If he can get another letter writer to verify this, I think that will go a long way towards assuaging any admissions committee fears about what is going on with the OP.
 
OP are you really a freshman? If so you have several semesters left to repair your relationship with the person. I thought from your first post you were looking to start the process for LORs in the next few weeks. If you are a freshman stop worrying and figure out how to become this persons favorite student.
 
candbgirl said:
OP are you really a freshman? If so you have several semesters left to repair your relationship with the person. I thought from your first post you were looking to start the process for LORs in the next few weeks. If you are a freshman stop worrying and figure out how to become this persons favorite student.
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Yes, and you’re right...this is not worth my concern at this time, but I will apologize since I do believe that it will direct me in a direction of having a good relationship with him.

Thanks. 🙂


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My premed committee chair told my buddy and I to apply to dental school, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I got a scholarship from a top 20 school and a free ride from Uncle Sam and have been faculty at 2 top 10 medical schools. My buddy got a full tuition scholarship to Penn. She was a dunce and only liked the people that played the game her way. She actively discouraged many potential medical school applicants, steering them to other careers.
Do you think we were going to let her write any letters for us? Pass. That was 25 years ago. YMMV.
 
IlDestriero said:
My premed committee chair told my buddy and I to apply to dental school, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I got a scholarship from a top 20 school and a free ride from Uncle Sam and have been faculty at 2 top 10 medical schools. My buddy got a full tuition scholarship to Penn. She was a dunce and only liked the people that played the game her way. She actively discouraged many potential medical school applicants, steering them to other careers.
Do you think we were going to let her write any letters for us? Pass. That was 25 years ago. YMMV.
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I had a very similar experience and career. Got a C+ in P Chem, my major. Went to Prof, on pre med comittee, and said I was applying to med school and that grade wouldn't help me. He said it was a good grade, 4th highest in class of 24 chem majors. Told me not to waste my time applying to med school. Needless to say, I didn't ask for a letter from him, and still got pre med comittee recommendation. Gotta run your own race. Never give up, never surrender.
 
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Platinumabi said:
It is frustrating how ADCOMS value the letter of recs from these types of petty and unskilled premed “advising” people. There’s a lot of favoritism going on in my campus and it’s frustrating. I hope ADCOMS were more understanding. Smh


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I don't know how your university works, but some have a committee of people made up of professors that pre-med students will generally have who all give support in writing the letters. Look into the process before making assumptions. Also, as others have stated, you have at least 3 years if not more to build your record and be a competitive candidate. Don't freak out over something so trivial.
 
It's great to hear from the attending physicians in this thread regarding their experiences with pre-med committee letters and LOR's. Thank you for contributing.
 
chaim123 said:
I don't know how your university works, but some have a committee of people made up of professors that pre-med students will generally have who all give support in writing the letters. Look into the process before making assumptions. Also, as others have stated, you have at least 3 years if not more to build your record and be a competitive candidate. Don't freak out over something so trivial.
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My college only has two committees. [emoji20]


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I've read so many posts about people discussing how their committee letter went wrong. Some where technical errors (e.x. committee mixed up letters from different students) whereas other members have had problems like the one OP has.

I think a lot of premed advisors do their best and have the best intentions. But I've always found the concept of committee letters and med schools requiring them to be a bit bizarre because it concentrates too much power into a small number of hands? :shrug:
 
ClamShell said:
I've read so many posts about people discussing how their committee letter went wrong. Some where technical errors (e.x. committee mixed up letters from different students) whereas other members have had problems like the one OP has.

I think a lot of premed advisors do their best and have the best intentions. But I've always found the concept of committee letters and med schools requiring them to be a bit bizarre because it concentrates too much power into a small number of hands? :shrug:
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This


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What exactly has he done or said that leads you to believe that he doesn’t like you?

You need to go thru the Committee.

In the meantime, try to mend fences. Go to his office and ask him for some advice...like which med schools he thinks you should apply to. Ask for advice that he thinks you’re respecting. He won’t know in the end where you apply so.....
 
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