Asked about an absent LOR?

[Ariadne]

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I've come across multiple posts/threads lately citing the risk of not submitting LORs from significant ECs, mainly research.

I'm wondering how many people have had direct experience with this (i.e. ask in an interview why they did not have a LOR from XYZ experience), and how it played out?

I'm personally curious because I had been planning on submitting mostly faculty LORs, but now I'm wondering if I should substitute one for a LOR from my clinical volunteer position instead (a fairly prominent activity on my application with weekly involvement for 2+ years). The faculty LORs support the weakest part of my application (low GPAs) but the volunteering LOR would show greater diversity...

Thoughts?

 

[fizzle]

I've come across multiple posts/threads lately citing the risk of not submitting LORs from significant ECs, mainly research.

I'm wondering how many people have had direct experience with this (i.e. ask in an interview why they did not have a LOR from XYZ experience), and how it played out?

I'm personally curious because I had been planning on submitting mostly faculty LORs, but now I'm wondering if I should substitute one for a LOR from my clinical volunteer position instead (a fairly prominent activity on my application with weekly involvement for 2+ years). The faculty LORs support the weakest part of my application (low GPAs) but the volunteering LOR would show greater diversity...

Thoughts?

Why not submit both?

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I've been wondering about this, too. I'm not trying to hijack your thread (I promise 🙂), but is it worthwhile for me to get a LOR from the volunteer coordinator at the hospital I did 240 hours volunteer work? I didn't work with her directly, but she would be able to say things like "TooMuchResearch trained x volunteers" and "The staff in TooMuchResearch's department often reported that he would stay hours past the end of his scheduled shift when they needed extra help."

Again, sorry for the hijack ...

Edit: I should add that my volunteer service there ended about a year ago.

 

[Ariadne]

Why not submit both?

Well, one can only submit so many letters, especially to schools with a maximum limit.

I don't have the option of using a composite letter, so right now I'm already sitting on 6 individual LORs: 4 science (will only use 2-3 at most schools), 1 non-science, and one job/research.

 

[Ariadne]

I've been wondering about this, too. I'm not trying to hijack your thread (I promise 🙂), but is it worthwhile for me to get a LOR from the volunteer coordinator at the hospital I did 240 hours volunteer work? I didn't work with her directly, but she would be able to say things like "TooMuchResearch trained x volunteers" and "The staff in TooMuchResearch's department often reported that he would stay hours past the end of his scheduled shift when they needed extra help."

Again, sorry for the hijack ...

Edit: I should add that my volunteer service there ended about a year ago.

No problem, it's essentially the same question as my letter would say similar things (although I'm still currently volunteering)...