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I vote send only the 3 strong, unless others are needed to meet specific school requirements.
Don't waste our time with more letters that aren't going to help your cause. Three academics who have taught you, two science, one non-science. Substitute a person who supervised your scientific research for one of the science letters. If you are non-trad and have worked or served in the military, a letter from a supervisor or commanding officer is helpful. A few schools want a letter from a physician. Don't waste our time with volunteer coordinators, neighbors, etc.
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Email your PI to request a meeting or call, and ask the med students if they can provide comments to your PI on your behalf. PI letters will typically include comments from direct supervisors in their evaluation. You always have the option of not using this letter if the reception you receive appears lukewarm.
For those who have significant and accomplished research experiences, not having a letter from the PI might raise some questions.
If you've published and can't get a letter from the senior author on the paper, it will raise some eyebrows.
carboxylicpremed
Full Member
I have a few pubs (dry lab) but the PI was from 4 years ago and almost entirely gave me tasks over email or 10 minute meetings. As it was all work on the computer (data, research, writing etc), I don't have med students to discuss either. She was happy with my work and I was very prompt with everything, but I don't know how much more she can even say considering the lack of interaction and how long it's been.
Will not having her letter be questionable when my pubs are easily searchable and she will verify if contacted? Or should I still ask her to write one?
Here's the scoop. When you've done research with someone, the adcoms at the top schools will expect that the person you worked for (generally the PI but at the least a post-doc with whom you work with shoulder to shoulder) will write you a letter of recommendation. You should have a letter, at the very least, from the most recent reseach experience.
Dry lab research is something of a different beast but the person you worked with should be able to say that you were a prompt, clear communicator, that you took responsibility, that you were nimble in your thinking, that you were meticulous, that you were trustworthy and consciencious, etc.
Dry lab research is something of a different beast but the person you worked with should be able to say that you were a prompt, clear communicator, that you took responsibility, that you were nimble in your thinking, that you were meticulous, that you were trustworthy and consciencious, etc.
Send the 3 strong letters only and don't look back.
OK letters are never OK.
What would you want to see if you were in the AdCom position?
Do you request LOR if the research was done during HS but paper was published while in college?
