Another committee question..not quite

[deleted782438]

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Hi.

Used the search engine for "committee letter" and read the relevant ones but doesnt seem the answer is out there.

My school offers a letter, it's due in jan 31, and I know whats needed on my end. However.. due to the jan31 deadline it seems that I may be better off not using their services.

Im currently doing a gapyear research program. Very unlikely any formal publication procedures will happen before jan31 (hopefully around march). Have been shadowing an OMFS but due to our schedules I currently have only ~15hours with him. Seems to early and short notice to ask for a LOR by jan31 (i do plan to shadow him as long as im here in the area)
Planning to take DAT around early spring. Signed up for spring semester classes at a nearby university to take graduate courses. (gGPA)

Im at a loss whether the committee letter can really talk about me accurately for next cycle when most of my work/accomplishments will only show early/mid spring.

Downside to doing the prehealth committee letter process is making the advisors seem as if I do not have a firm grasp on whats needed as a predent applicant. Asking for LOR on such a short notice. Having the committee tell me I need to take another year to improve myself (meaning ill be ready to apply with their letter 2018-19 cycle)

Pros are it can go well they write a strong letter based on what I plan to do.

I honestly dont see how anyone can write a letter based on what I plan to do so far.

Also my prehealth advisor went on leave.

Gpa 3.45
Sgpa 3.5
Was prev phd. Tons of research hours.

Should I just apply to dental this upcoming cycle (depending on dat) without committee and during the year ask for committee??

 

[Toothout]

You can't apply without LORs. If you apply and later submit the Committee letters your app is going to be late. It doesn't matter when you submit. What matters is when your app is considered complete.

However, no because your school has a committee you have to get a committee letter. My school has one and I used individual letters because I also thought that the committee didn't know me well enough (now they do).

Some debtal schools say "if your school has a committee, you need to submit a committee letter" the school that I got accepted to is on of those that say that, and they never asked me about why I used individual letters.

Edit: *dental. Or is it really not debtal? 😆

 

[Faux]

You should be getting your letters regardless, wether you have the DAT done or not. Once DAT is done, talk to committee. If they still insist on applying a year later, move on without them and apply. I'd even move on without them if I knew they weren't going to be done by end of July. And you can't submit a committee later later on.


And the bulk of your shadowing hours needs to be done with a general dentist. I think a LOR needs to be done by them too, but not 100% sure on that.

 

[Likkriue]

Many people just go the science professor route and do just fine. You don't necessarily need a committee letter.

However I don't think its too late to try and get the committee letter. I would meet with them as soon as you can. Stress that you need the letters in as soon as possible by July-August at the latest.

 

[Incis0r]

Some debtal schools say

Good pun.

Edit: drats- just saw your edit correcting it to dental.