All LOR's questions

[brynn7]

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So I need to find 5 people to write me letters of recommendation. What really sucks is that my advisor (for my biology major and my premed minor and my professor for like 3 classes I have taken) is the head of the premed committee. So the person that knows me best is writing the composite letter so cannot write one of the 5.

So I have one biology prof that I will ask (2 classes) and my physics teacher (2 semesters and one semester lab) and I have a psychology minor so I will ask a psych prof that I took 2 courses from...Soooo that's 3 so far.

The director of volunteer services at the hospital that I have been volunteering at for the past 4 years said that she would organize a composite letter with input from everyone that has worked with me over the years with quotes.

So I need one more....I really really want my friend's dad to write it (he is a physician). I obviously know him very well. I have spent A LOT of time talking to him about medicine, school, and life. I even mentioned him in my personal statement as a significant influence. Is it okay that he isnt a professor or someone that I actually shadowed in an office setting? Should I go to the office with him a couple times to make it more legit? Or... should I ask someone that I shadowed that only knows that I like to watch surgery amd want to be a doctor? Obviously I really want the friend's father to write it! He knows me and I believe would be able to attest in a more meaningful way to my potential as a doctor.

And if anyone else has questions comments or concerns about your LOR's, post em! This is a very stressful thing for me and probably is for others too. We are very motivated, self-assured people, and up until this point we have been solely responsible for the words written in our applications. Now we are asked to let others take over.

I hope everyone is doing well with the whole application process!

 

[Bubchik]

Why do u need 5? Check with each school they will give you the minimum (and max) they want. It can range from 2 to 6. Personally, I have a total of 7, but used only 4 for some schools and 5 for others. And sure your Dad can write you a letter,but do you really need it? It seems like you have enough as it is.

 

[brynn7]

Why do u need 5? Check with each school they will give you the minimum (and max) they want. It can range from 2 to 6. Personally, I have a total of 7, but used only 4 for some schools and 5 for others. And sure your Dad can write you a letter,but do you really need it? It seems like you have enough as it is.

not MY dad! my friend's dad! my premed committee requires 5 to make a composite and then they send all of them along with their analysis.

 

[randallB]

It's my understanding that people writing LOR's should be someone that you had a professional relationship with, such as having a class with them, working for them, volunteering etc. A friend's Dad would probably write you an excellent recommendation, but when asked as to the nature of your relationship with him, it would be best if there was some professional nature to it. Since he's a physician, it would be helpful if you did some shadowing with him to give some context to the letter. Otherwise, he's just your friend's dad that knows you should be a doctor. I hope he's able to write for you!


~R

 

[blz]

not MY dad! my friend's dad! my premed committee requires 5 to make a composite and then they send all of them along with their analysis.

they can't "require" anything. they only say 5 so you have the opportunity to get the best lor possible. my premed committee also biitched about having 5 letters. 4 letters got to them and they didnt' want anymore. they said they were very satisfied with what they had. btw, i did send two more letters just in case. but, i dont think any premed committee has the right to keep you out of med school when they're supposed to help you.

 

[smallqt]

they can't "require" anything. they only say 5 so you have the opportunity to get the best lor possible. my premed committee also biitched about having 5 letters. 4 letters got to them and they didnt' want anymore. they said they were very satisfied with what they had. btw, i did send two more letters just in case. but, i dont think any premed committee has the right to keep you out of med school when they're supposed to help you.

blz~ I saw on ur profile in another post that you go to Rutgers, are you having as much trouble with the HPO here as I am??

 

[Rugger81]

they can't "require" anything. they only say 5 so you have the opportunity to get the best lor possible. my premed committee also biitched about having 5 letters. 4 letters got to them and they didnt' want anymore. they said they were very satisfied with what they had. btw, i did send two more letters just in case. but, i dont think any premed committee has the right to keep you out of med school when they're supposed to help you.

no, they can't legally require you to do anything. but these people are writing one of the most important recommendations you will ever require, don't you think it's in your best interest to follow their guidelines? maybe they let it slack at your school, but others aren't so lenient. my school wanted 3 letters, one non-science, one science, and one from your major. i was a chem major and i thought my chem letter would count for both the science letter and the major letter. it didn't. i had to get a fourth. no exceptions. it was annoying, but i certainly wasn't going to make a stink about it, since i wanted them to write me an awesome letter.

to the OP, get any letters you can, but if you want some advice, you really should get a letter from a non-science prof if possible. psych might count, but an english prof, or history, or something would look a lot better. remember, adcoms look for well-roundedness as well as dedication to medicine and science ability.

good luck