Applying without a non-science letter of rec?

[Mutt]

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What am I looking at in terms of consequences for this?
I have some stellar letters of rec from science teachers, but not a single non-science. The reason doesn't matter, but it's because I always thought letters from professors that you are friends with were more worthwhile. Didn't happen for me with the non-science professors....

 

[jjmack]

I'd try to get one if I were you.

 

[kenmc3]

The only people who can tell you it is ok or not are the people on the ADCOMs. Some schools will prob not care, especially if the other letters are quality. But some schools might, especially the ones that specifically state they want a non-science letter. When they ask for you to send them specific letters, they expect it to be followed... They also want to make sure that you are a well-rounded student and that you have taken classes and established meaningful relationships with non-science faculty. I personally used a professor in the Psychology department which taught a neuroscience class - and I didn’t have any problems.

 

[Haybrant]

are you applying md/phd? if so, i dont think it as big a deal; but if you are applying straight md it's important to show roundedness. Non-sci LOR's asses a different side of a student than sci letters do. It's important to show the adcom that you are cognizant that medicine is about more than basic sciences and a non-sci lor can help you do this.

 

[Mutt]

So....basically I'm screwed, to some degree anyway.....?

 

[kenmc3]

Your best bet is to call the schools you want to apply to and ask them. This way you can't go wrong. Some will say it is ok. Others might say they will poop on your application if there isn't a non-science LOR 😉. It can't hurt to try calling.

 

[ishaninatte]

I was in the same situation only the opposite was true for me, I had no LoR from a science professor. I never mentioned it to the adcoms or anything and neither did they at the interview and whatnot. I was always under the impression that adcoms were just looking for 3-4 sound LoRs from folks that know you well and have at least some kind of authority somewhere.

I could go on about how putting such requirements on the LoR forces premeds to go out of their ways to ingratiate themselves with the often overworked and cynical-of-ingratiating-premeds-type professors, which is especially problematic at larger institutions, but I suppose it's the game we have to play now and in the future. But yea, I chose people that I happened to form relationships naturally. Everything worked out, but I can't say for certain if this would be true when applying at any institution.

 

[crazyvladif]

So....basically I'm screwed, to some degree anyway.....?

I didn't have a non-science LOR, and was accepted at schools that requested "two-science, one non-science" or some other combination. So long as you email them and ask before sending in your secondary, they'll probably waive the requirement.

 

[beep]

i applied with letters from one prof with an md who taught parisitology, one chemistry prof, and a geosciences prof (science but nor bcmp--i called this non-science). i didn't discuss it with any adcoms and i got into some schools that require the 2 science / 1 nonscience. then again, i was also rejected from some schools like that... because of my letters? i'll probably never know.

 

[Mutt]

I appreciate the feedback-from-experience.

crazyvladif, do you suggest calling and asking that the requirement be waived?
ishaninatte and beep seem to have slipped through by keeping their mouths shut - is that the way to go, you guys?