Are letter of recommendations looked at differently coming from private schools

[t3705]

---

Members do not see this ad.

compared to public schools?

If a student goes to a school with 20,000 undergrads and large classes, the ability to make connections with professors might be more limited than a student that goes to a school with 5,000 fellow undergrads.


Is this taken into account?

And I have noticed something called a LizzyM score...which helps students get an idea where they might get interviewed.

A 3.3 gpa and a 37 Mcat score is a higher LizzyM score than a 3.6 gpa and a 31 MCAT score.

So is it true that the 3.3gpa--37 mcat scorer is more likely to gather interviews..all else being equal (if that is at all possible)?

 

[NickNaylor]

With respect to the letters, I don't see how that would possibly be taken into account. A crappy letter is a crappy letter. Do your best to make relationships with professors in whatever capacity you can.

With respect to the LizzyM score, keep in mind that's simply a tool designed to give you an idea of what schools you would be competitive at based ONLY on your GPA and MCAT score. It is not meant to be a predictive tool. There have been multiple debates on whether a stellar MCAT can make up for a poor GPA and vice versa. From your example, I think the 3.6/31 applicant would be the stronger applicant, but that's just my opinion. Everyone will have their own opinion.

 

[mmmcdowe]

compared to public schools?

If a student goes to a school with 20,000 undergrads and large classes, the ability to make connections with professors might be more limited than a student that goes to a school with 5,000 fellow undergrads.


Is this taken into account?

And I have noticed something called a LizzyM score...which helps students get an idea where they might get interviewed.

A 3.3 gpa and a 37 Mcat score is a higher LizzyM score than a 3.6 gpa and a 31 MCAT score.

So is it true that the 3.3gpa--37 mcat scorer is more likely to gather interviews..all else being equal (if that is at all possible)?

Really? I went to a school with 65000 kids. I got routinely complimented on the strength of my letters. Bottom line, if you want to know a professor well enough to get a good letter you have to go through the effort of getting to know them.

 

[t3705]

Just wondering......mmmcdowe...

Thanks ColeOnThe Roll.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Just wondering......mmmcdowe...

Thanks ColeOnThe Roll.

I'm not trying to be rude, sorry if it came off that way. 🙂

 

[BBender716]

Really? I went to a school with 65000 kids. I got routinely complimented on the strength of my letters. Bottom line, if you want to know a professor well enough to get a good letter you have to go through the effort of getting to know them.

Same here with regards to the letter. Went to a school with 30,000+ undergraduates and developed very close bonds with a couple of my professors both during and well after the class ended. I think that may even make the letters more compelling.

Which sounds stronger:

"Out of the 20 students in my class, Student X has demonstrated [positive qualities] etc."

"Out of the 450 students in my class, Student X has demonstrated [positive qualities] etc."

Not getting into the Private vs. Public, just showing the other side of the coin for those who really extend themselves to get to know their professors.

 

[apumic]

compared to public schools?

If a student goes to a school with 20,000 undergrads and large classes, the ability to make connections with professors might be more limited than a student that goes to a school with 5,000 fellow undergrads.


Is this taken into account?

And I have noticed something called a LizzyM score...which helps students get an idea where they might get interviewed.

A 3.3 gpa and a 37 Mcat score is a higher LizzyM score than a 3.6 gpa and a 31 MCAT score.

So is it true that the 3.3gpa--37 mcat scorer is more likely to gather interviews..all else being equal (if that is at all possible)?

I went to a private school for UG and a public for my prereqs (PB). The private was honestly more difficult academically; however, in terms of getting to know profs, I've found both to be fairly equal. You have to put your best foot forward and step out a bit whether it's a class of 15 or 150. Also, even at state schools, upper div courses are still often only 10-20 people in size. Sure, having 8 in some of my non-required 400-level courses at the private school was nice but the profs didn't necessarily notice any one of us any more than the next compared with having 200 people in the class. Most of my state u profs have actually tried to learn all 150 of our names anyway (that may not be the norm at every school, but at some schools it certainly is).