2 Quick LOR questions for MD/DO Schools.

[SpaceHamsterBoo]

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1. How many do I need in total?
2. What people should I ask LORs from? In other words, can I use all letters from physicians? Or do i need a specific amount of letters from class professors? Do they have to be non science? etc.


Also, I'm having a tough time getting an LOR from MY CLASS professors...I didn't build rapport with them.
However, I have a D.O. Letter in hand and a letter from my PI who I did research with for credit, over the summer for a stipend and as volunteer work spanning 3 semesters. Can I count this as a science letter?

 

[adrian710]

1) As many as you can get (I have collected 5, but when I apply I may just use only 3, schools vary on LoR requirements)

2) Collect letters from doctors and a couple science prof's (I suggest at least 3 in total, one from a doctor, and 2 from prof's)

As for your last question, no, a science letter needs to come from a science teacher who taught you a course. A research LoR is always good to get though as well.

 

[mathnerd88]

1. How many do I need in total?
2. What people should I ask LORs from? In other words, can I use all letters from physicians? Or do i need a specific amount of letters from class professors? Do they have to be non science? etc.


Also, I'm having a tough time getting an LOR from MY CLASS professors...I didn't build rapport with them.
However, I have a D.O. Letter in hand and a letter from my PI who I did research with for credit, over the summer for a stipend and as volunteer work spanning 3 semesters. Can I count this as a science letter?

General rule of thumb is:
Either
1) A Health Committee Letter
OR:
2) 2 LoR from Science Professors AND 1 LoR from non-Sci Professor. These professors have to had issued you a grade.

In addition to these, you should have at least 1 LoR from a DO or MD.

 

[crazyboi1993]

I had 5 letters... I skipped the whole premed- committee, I had all my letters in, and they wanted to interview, me and the interview had a long waiting list, 3+ months, and i was like AINT no one got time for that... I had 2 science letters, 1 non-science, 1 MD, and 1 DO...

Got a total of 8 interviews (BCOM, ACOM, CUSOM, NYIT-COM, TOURO-M, WVSOM, LECOM-B, LECOM SH)
Went to 6, accepted at 5, and waitlisted at 1

 

[SkyBlueMonkies]

To piggyback, is it a problem if your three academic letters are all from science sources? I am a non-trad and will have three science letters from recent professors; I am trying to get a borderline non-science (public health, which I know typically falls under sciences for AACOMAS) from undergrad, but am not certain it will happen. I will have work, supervisor, and physician (MD & DO) letters as well.

 

[DrMikeP]

Pick some schools you want to apply to and look up what they require! Most want about the same thing academically, but some require a DO or MD and some either DO or MD.

You should when easily possible get your info straight from the schools or amcas/ acomas website, as that will be most accurate.

 

[brotherbanjo]

I second what Dr Mike said. I would suggest looking up the specific requirements for the schools you wish to apply to before you make your list of LOR authors. Many of the schools will have slightly different requirements, and it is helpful to know that in advance.

 

[Dreamstoo]

I had 6 letters, my former premed advisor said anything over 6 is too much for MD/DO.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

I've been told it's absolutely lethal if you apply whether MD or DO with no committee letter even if your school has one? I only ask because truthfully, I don't think this person who's writing my committee letter is going to write me a good one. All my letters from professor and boss etc have been great and I don't want the committee letter to hurt me.

 

[SlugMD]

I've been told it's absolutely lethal if you apply whether MD or DO with no committee letter even if your school has one? I only ask because truthfully, I don't think this person who's writing my committee letter is going to write me a good one. All my letters from professor and boss etc have been great and I don't want the committee letter to hurt me.

That's false, many thousands of people get in to medical school (MD and DO) every year without a committee letter.

I called all 24 schools I am applying to this next cycle and all said that it isn't required. Some universities don't have committees or they do but is a hassle to get a letter. Especially for those who are non-trad or don't meet their committees requirements and/or deadlines. I only heard from a few that "prefer" committee letters but my school didn't have one so they said I'm fine.

 

[Goro]

Keep in mind that MD schools do not place emphasis on MD LORs.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

That's false, many thousands of people get in to medical school (MD and DO) every year without a committee letter.

I called all 24 schools I am applying to this next cycle and all said that it isn't required. Some universities don't have committees or they do but is a hassle to get a letter. Especially for those who are non-trad or don't meet their committees requirements and/or deadlines. I only heard from a few that "prefer" committee letters but my school didn't have one so they said I'm fine.

UGH!!! I am ready to bitch slap my pre-med advisor!!! Again, false info given to me!! Thanks for clarification. She literally said I have no chance if I don't get a letter from the committee.

This is the same one who told me to do a a post bacc with a 3.5 gpa and 510 MCAT...I walk out with stress ulcer after talking to these people.

 

[DrMikeP]

UGH!!! I am ready to bitch slap my pre-med advisor!!! Again, false info given to me!! Thanks for clarification. She literally said I have no chance if I don't get a letter from the committee.

Yup, some are awesome but many know almost nothing about getting into med or any professional school. It's kind of like their bosses know nothing about the qualifications to hire a premed advisor. Many at best have a 4yr degree in whatever and once read one sheet outlining std requirements. Most also don't just advise premeds but all students.

The one piece of advice I wish I would have had though was that many schools require official university letterhead and original not electronic signature. But didn't discover that my writer didn't include such until later when a few med schools asked for it.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[mathnerd88]

UGH!!! I am ready to bitch slap my pre-med advisor!!! Again, false info given to me!! Thanks for clarification. She literally said I have no chance if I don't get a letter from the committee.

This is the same one who told me to do a a post bacc with a 3.5 gpa and 510 MCAT...I walk out with stress ulcer after talking to these people.

With those stats you'll definitely get into DO school, even the most established ones with good EC's.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

With those stats you'll definitely get into DO school, even the most established ones with good EC's.

I literally don't care where I end up. Seriously, MD or DO I'll take it. I just want to be accepted somewhere the first time around. I just want to be a doctor lol.

 

[DrMikeP]

I literally don't care where I end up. Seriously, MD or DO I'll take it. I just want to be accepted somewhere the first time around. I just want to be a doctor lol.

That's the attitude! So many post about not being sure, not wanting this or that school, etc. It would be an interesting study to see if MCAT or attitude toward becoming a physician is a better predictor of med school success.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[crazyboi1993]

I've been told it's absolutely lethal if you apply whether MD or DO with no committee letter even if your school has one? I only ask because truthfully, I don't think this person who's writing my committee letter is going to write me a good one. All my letters from professor and boss etc have been great and I don't want the committee letter to hurt me.

I had 5 letters... I skipped the whole premed- committee, I had all my letters in, and they wanted to interview, me and the interview had a long waiting list, 3+ months, and i was like AINT no one got time for that... I had 2 science letters, 1 non-science, 1 MD, and 1 DO... . still got 5 acceptances 😉

 

[brotherbanjo]

I've been told it's absolutely lethal if you apply whether MD or DO with no committee letter even if your school has one? I only ask because truthfully, I don't think this person who's writing my committee letter is going to write me a good one. All my letters from professor and boss etc have been great and I don't want the committee letter to hurt me.

I've recorded two acceptances this year from DO schools with no committee letter. I had one DO, one MD, two professors, and the nurse manager from my employment as a CNA.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

I had 5 letters... I skipped the whole premed- committee, I had all my letters in, and they wanted to interview, me and the interview had a long waiting list, 3+ months, and i was like AINT no one got time for that... I had 2 science letters, 1 non-science, 1 MD, and 1 DO... . still got 5 acceptances 😉

I've recorded two acceptances this year from DO schools with no committee letter. I had one DO, one MD, two professors, and the nurse manager from my employment as a CNA.

So it's safe to say you guys sent more than 3 letters but not exceeding the requirement of the school right? So far I have 8 letters to choose from. They were going toward my committee but I feel like the committee will sabotage me cause I didn't follow their recommendation. Paranoia I know lol

 

[DrMikeP]

So it's safe to say you guys sent more than 3 letters but not exceeding the requirement of the school right? So far I have 8 letters to choose from. They were going toward my committee but I feel like the committee will sabotage me cause I didn't follow their recommendation. Paranoia I know lol

Look on the aacomas site and see how many letters are allowed (~5) and how they are sent to all schools. You need to send what the schools want that you to apply to. Without a committee letter you will fast fill up the slots with what is requested. If you look at what is wanted and allowed then your questions will be answered!

 

[AsianPersuasion]

Look on the aacomas site and see how many letters are allowed (5) and how they are sent to all schools. You need to send what the schools want that you to apply to. Without a committee letter you will fast fill up the slots with what is requested. If you look at what is wanted and allowed then your questions will be answered!

I just quickly looked through the DO PDF and it seems majority wants 2-3. The scenario is a committee or 2 science and MD/DO. I didn't see ones that had a requirement or stated a limit anywhere about 5 letters. I know MSAR tells a minimum and maximum. I'd hate to get rejected cause I can't follow simple directions and requirements

 

[DrMikeP]

AACOMAS if I remember correctly limits it to 5 or maybe 6 it has been a while. A couple of schools on my list (w/o the committee letter) requested 2 science and 1 non-science professor, don't remember which though. So I sent 3 faculty, 1 MD, and 1 DO and they go to every school when you submit. So if it's more than what one school wants they'll likely assume it is to meet some other school's requirement.

You aren't going to likely at all get rejected at a DO school for sending the max amount of letters through AACOMAS, since you can't pick and choose. You might get rejected if you don't send the min required or if they don't meet the school's standards. Now if you send 8+ through various means then it might make them question why you felt the need to be annoying.

There are bigger things to worry about, so just make sure you at least send what the schools you apply to want and let it go. 🙂

 

[brotherbanjo]

So it's safe to say you guys sent more than 3 letters but not exceeding the requirement of the school right? So far I have 8 letters to choose from. They were going toward my committee but I feel like the committee will sabotage me cause I didn't follow their recommendation. Paranoia I know lol

I second the post above! Check the individual school requirements, and if you see a few letters that would qualify for all schools, then post those one to AACOMAS. If there are some schools that need specific requirements different from other schools, you can contact those schools to see if you can submit the them additionally after your primary application has been sent (i.e. via email)

 

[adrian710]

My letters are in Interfolio at present. How can I get them into AACOMAS evaluation section?

 

[DrMikeP]

My letters are in Interfolio at present. How can I get them into AACOMAS evaluation section?

I think they have to be sent to AACOMAS by the letter writers, but there might be a way so I'd call or email and ask. They are actually quite responsive.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

Thanks, everyone. Do you know if AACOMAS application system roll over to next year? I want to start filling out my app.