8 Letters of rec??

[longhorn]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys,
Is 8 letters of rec.(5 from people I have worked/researched/volunteered under) and 3 faculty at school making up my so called " pre-med committee". Most schools I am appyling to say send whatever. I don't want to come across as trying to fluff my application. The five I am getting from outside school are goin' to be really good(One guy from France I interned under, One guy who is head of one of the NIH divisions, and my volunteer co-ordinator who loves me). The three from school are so-so. What do you guys think, wise decision?? PS All the letters are talking about different experiences. Thanks

 

[Tweetie_bird]

I think that's way to much...just IMO.

Also, don't schools usually say, "require 3 LORs but no more than 6" or something like that. This seems to be like an unspoken rule--no more than 2x than what schools usually ask for.

 

[longhorn]

Yea, I know 8 is way too much, but its just that i am forced to give 3 from school for this premed committee nonsense. Maybe I can send them and mention it in the spot that asks if you have anything to add. I do attend the a very large school and gettin to know teachers is really hard.

 

[mosaic]

First time poster, long time reader 🙂
I actually think it should be ok, as long as your schools don't have a lower limit. My premed advisor used to say around 6 or so. 8 isn't too far off from that... If you think that those 5 personal/work ones will really help - go ahead!

 

[genieinabottle]

I had a premed commitee letter that was comprised of a professor I did research under, two professors, and 3 physicians I shadowed. Also the professor that compiled the premed committee letter was a professor of mine. So that's 1 letter that was compiled out of 6, and I included it all. I don't think it would hurt. Especially if you think that some of them are not that strong. It will show a range of opinions about you.

 

[The Mysterious Stranger]

You sound as if you have great ECs! I go to UT also and I just wanted to offer you a different opinion. The HPO limits the # of LORs because the medical schools asked them to. The ADCOM's are reviewing many applications at a time and reading 8 LORs could prove exhausting. I wouldn't want to annoy the ADCOM. Plus, if you provide 8 LORs there's a chance they will either skim through all of them, not giving as much attention to each letter as they would the student who provides 3, or not read all of them. Also, by providing 8 LORs you might look like you're trying to hide something. Just a thought...

 

[Warren P. Cheswick]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by longhorn:
•Yea, I know 8 is way too much, but its just that i am forced to give 3 from school for this premed committee nonsense. Maybe I can send them and mention it in the spot that asks if you have anything to add. I do attend the a very large school and gettin to know teachers is really hard.•••••Longhorn, I go to an even bigger school, and the teacher here aren't hard to get to know (tex A&M). The excuse of I go to a huge school is pisspoor at best. I mean how hard is it to walk up to your profs and get to know them. I didn't ahve any difficulty.

 

[silvercholla]

Don't feel too bad... I have 25 letters (I worded my request wrong) Anyway luckily I am going to improve my app by taking courses. But the point I was getting to before I started rambling was that why don't you just talk to your advisor and see what he/she thinks. They usually know what to do and are on the money most of the time. Good Luck.

 

[longhorn]

Is A&M really bigger than UT??? I guess I should clarify my self a little better. I know my teachers, but I have not worked with them personally(except for one who is my lab mentor). I said the letters from school will be average because all they can say is I was at the top of the class and am a good person to know yadda yadda yadda. However, my other recs. are from people who are very familiar with my work, academic as well as professionally. As for the UT HPO office, I talked to someone and they said it was a red flag to send too many letters out. Can someone explain that logic, cause I didn't buy what thelady was telling me.? You get penalized for knowing lots of people? If anything letters further reinstate what was done on the job. Thanks.

 

[lola]

25 letters?? you know 25 profs or employers who can wholeheartedly recommend you for med school? geesh! how on earth did you get 25 people?

 

[relatively prime]

Ok, WPC's latest post in the lounge officially makes him a troll.

I think 8 letters is a bit much. I agree with tweetie that 6 should be the max.

For anyone having trouble getting to know profs... just go up to any prof you had for a class that you did well in and have him/her interview you. Let him/her read your personal statement and try to get in a few quick chats here and there. I too go to a big school so I know it's not easy sometimes to get to know a professor. Fortunately you don't need to know a prof THAT well to get a great EC.

 

[The Mysterious Stranger]

Longhorn--A&M isn't bigger than UT. Whether good or bad, UT is the biggest in the nation student wise. I'll try to explain the logic of the HPO. The point of LORs is to learn of your personality and atributes from the perspective of others who know you---not to reinforce every wonderful activity you have pursued. You should be able to accomplish this with 3-5 letters. If you are a phenomenal candidate for med school can each of those 8 letters actually contribute something different? My bet is although the context is different (volunteer, work..), the description of you (reliable, hard-working...) will be repetitive. 8 looks as if you're compensating or trying to hide a flaw. Plus, it will only be a hassle to the person reviewing your file. As I mentioned earlier, the medical schools asked the HPO to limit the number of letters students send. You should take this as a hint that schools don't want an excessive amount of letters. I understand your situation though. My brother applied to law school this year and got into 7 of the top 10 schools. He sent in 5 LORs, and then if he got waitlisted or put on hold he sent in another 2 LORs. You might want to send in 6 now and after your interview or if you get waitlisted send in the other 2 as a supplement to your file. I wish ya luck...

 

[silvercholla]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by lola:
•25 letters?? you know 25 profs or employers who can wholeheartedly recommend you for med school? geesh! how on earth did you get 25 people?•••••I traveled a lot and I just sent out a mass email asking for letters. Well by time I realized how many I would get it was too late. Oh well c'est la chicken pattie (that one was for you tweetie hehehehehe) 😀