Are LOR game-changers?

[ohdohopeful]

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Haven't heard back from a few schools regarding interview invites. I just sent one LOR and plan on sending a few more in hopes of getting interview invitation? Will these letters help me out?

And just how important are LOR for interview invitations?

 

[LChristmas]

Most do not sway an adcom one way or the other. It is unlikely to be a game changer.

 

[ohdohopeful]

So should I just not send any of them and keep for next cycle when I reapply?

I'm just curious why you think 3-4 additional letters will not help

 

[LChristmas]

So should I just not send any of them and keep for next cycle when I reapply?

I'm just curious why you think 3-4 additional letters will not help

LORs are not near the top of the list of things they consider. The adcoms who frequent SDN are consistent in saying that the vast majority have no tangible effect on the overall application because most are generic. Not to mention that it's pretty late in the game and most interview slots are filled.

There is no downside to sending them though. They are a good excuse to send an update and remind them that you're still interested in attending, but I think that's where the benefits end. You can send them again next cycle if needed.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Most will not be a game changer. However strong LORs, specifically a strong LOR from a DO can improve your application enormously. Not so much as to forgive a 23 or a 3.0, but enough to take a borderline applicant, say a 3.4/25 and put them into a mid tier or range school.

 

[deleted390966]

LORs are the most annoying part of the application, and they don't provide much insights into an applicant. I think they shouldn't be a requirement.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

LORs are the most annoying part of the application, and they don't provide much insights into an applicant. I think they shouldn't be a requirement.

They are an annoying part of the application. However they provide some of the only concrete evidence that even half of your application is even remotely indicative of what you are and what you have done as an applicant.

Simply put many people lie on their applications. Adcoms in many cases will try to probe for this and are constantly on the look out for it. If you have a LOR from a significant volunteering commitment then not only does your Adcom not need to doubt your experience, they can spend more time asking more 'point winning' questions that already inherently are in your favor than someone who they are unsure about.

 

[deejaymd]

I feel like most ADCOMs just scan over them at the most. However, I did have one interviewer specifically tell me that he was impressed with my letters. He said that most people come in with the same old "this student is great, they should be a doctor, blah blah blah" but that my writers had a personal connection with me and they were impressed by it. I don't think ADCOMs go out of their way to say things like that to applicants, but who knows!

 

[Goro]

Do you really think that the Dean of Admissions is going to jump out of his chair and scream out to his secretary:
Jane, we gotta invite this kid! He sent us one more LOR!!!".......?


The answer is no. Ditto for your question.
Haven't heard back from a few schools regarding interview invites. I just sent one LOR and plan on sending a few more in hopes of getting interview invitation? Will these letters help me out?


They let us know how other people see you and can they vouch for your character, work ethic and intellect. But I have yet to see a LOR save a borderline candidate, unless it was from a DO. I've seen LORs from US Senators and Nobel Laureates, and they do not help borderline candidates.

A bad LOR can sink your medical career, though.

If you want an invite, youneed to improve your app.
And just how important are LOR for interview invitations?

 

[senzen]

A bad LOR can sink your medical career, though.

Scariest thing I've ever read… But I think you've said that they're truly rare as you see one an app cycle.

No idea why people write bad LORS. That really upsets me.

 

[Goro]

It may be that the behaviors that trigger the bad LOR are so rare in and of themselves that the writer is compelled to mention them.

I would simply say " I don't think I could write you a good one".

But in the case of a really nasty woman I used to know, who we nicknamed "La Serpiente" [The Snake]..... her, I would gladly trash in a LOR if she asked me for one.

Scariest thing I've ever read… But I think you've said that they're truly rare as you see one an app cycle.

No idea why people write bad LORS. That really upsets me.

 

[senzen]

Yes!!! I intend on asking all my writers if they can write me a strong LOR for medical school. Hopefully they know that means only positive things!

LOL wait was she a student of yours?! @Goro

 

[senzen]

Another question, I feel like sometimes a professor will write mostly positive things and will feel like it's no big deal to mention things like "Oh she was late a few times" or "she's really quiet when it comes to group work." Are those seen as red flags?

What are other things that are seen as alarming and can potentially ruin an application?

 

[Goro]

La Serpiente? Gawd no. She was a grad student in the lab I did my post-doc in.

LOL wait was she a student of yours?!

 

[deleted390966]

They are an annoying part of the application. However they provide some of the only concrete evidence that even half of your application is even remotely indicative of what you are and what you have done as an applicant.
Simply put many people lie on their applications. Adcoms in many cases will try to probe for this and are constantly on the look out for it. If you have a LOR from a significant volunteering commitment then not only does your Adcom not need to doubt your experience, they can spend more time asking more 'point winning' questions that already inherently are in your favor than someone who they are unsure about.

I'm having big trouble comprehending the notion of letters of recommendation, when University education is intentionally impersonal with profs.
It feels to me, like adcoms consider undergrad grades/works completely meaningless.
I also happen to know that nowhere in the world requires LORs except the US and the UK.
It's a completely exceptional thing here, that a prof. even recognizes you, let alone likes you. Sometimes it happens but like 1 out of 10 maybe at best.

 

[deejaymd]

I'm having big trouble comprehending the notion of letters of recommendation, when University education is intentionally impersonal with profs.
It feels to me, like adcoms consider undergrad grades/works completely meaningless..

Ad coms consider undergrad grades meaningless? How so? Doesn't a relationship with a prof also depend on the university in terms of how impersonal it is and how exceptional the student is?

 

[darkeon]

What if I may ask to clarify makes a candidate borderline competitive?

 

[MedNation907]

Most of my professors knew me by name, only a few I would say I had a 'close' relationship with...meaning well enough to write me a good LOR without me spoon-feeding my strengths/qualities. But for what it's worth the quality of my LORs came up frequently at my interviews. Who know's if it played into their final decision on me as a candidate but interviewers took the time to comment on how good they were. As some have previously suggested, other than simply fulfilling their requirements, it could shed some truth on good qualities they see in your application.

I can't see LORs being a huge factor in offering interviews though.

As for them being annoying? I'd think simply being alive and remotely active in your 4 years of UG, asking someone to write an LOR is pretty easy. "Hey, would you write me an LOR for medical school?" "Yeah sure" "Okay thanks" done lol That's literally how each LOR went for me. Was it that big of an issue for others?

 

[TeddyBoomBoom]

I respectfully disagree with some of the above posters.

It really depends on the letters.

At one of my interviews, I was directly told that my letters played a large part.

If these letters are from physicians with whom you've worked for years, or university deans/chairs that *really* know you, and end something like: "I believe TeddyBoomBoom will become the type of physician to whom I would entrust the care of my family," then yeah... they can be game changers.

If it's more like: "so-and-so did well in my class," then probably not so much.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[deejaymd]

I respectfully disagree with some of the above posters.

It really depends on the letters.

At one of my interviews, I was directly told that my letters played a large part.

If these letters are from physicians with whom you've worked for years, or university deans/chairs that *really* know you, and end something like: "I believe TeddyBoomBoom will become the type of physician to whom I would entrust the care of my family," then yeah... they can be game changers.

If it's more like: "so-and-so did well in my class," then probably not so much.

Just my 2 cents!

Completely agree. I saw my one letter writer, my physics professor, every single day. He even knew my food allergies and when he brought cookies to class, he'd have some for me. He was a great guy and someone I considered to be a very close mentor and friend!