Can I let someone else read my LORs and tell me which ones are best?

[yourdudeness]

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Am I permitted to send my letters of recommendation to a third party, e.g., a parent, premed adviser, etc., to evaluate which ones are strongest? For example, I have two clinical experiences and received letters from both, but I would only like to send the stronger of the two. Can I have someone evaluate their relative strengths for me in order to determine which one to send?

I posted this question in the official 2012-2013 letters thread, but it's been a week and a couple of bumps with no response. Asking here because I am under time constraints and need to know. 🙂

 

[blomar]

this is unethical if you have waived your rights to look at the letters. use some common sense

 

[darkjedi]

Am I permitted to send my letters of recommendation to a third party, e.g., a parent, premed adviser, etc., to evaluate which ones are strongest? For example, I have two clinical experiences and received letters from both, but I would only like to send the stronger of the two. Can I have someone evaluate their relative strengths for me in order to determine which one to send?

I posted this question in the official 2012-2013 letters thread, but it's been a week and a couple of bumps with no response. Asking here because I am under time constraints and need to know. 🙂

No, while the letter writer is certainly within his rights to show you the letter even if you waived the right to view the letter, you are really only supposed to submit them to your premed adviser, who will include all your LORs in a committee packet. Alternatively you can send them directly to the school as well. But there shouldn't be a middleman that can 'pick and choose' which letters should be submitted.

 

[basedbear]

There shouldn't be, but most people do it anyway.

 

[moneytree]

No. Just no.

What's preventing your "third party" from giving you the LoRs? Use your brain bro.

 

[Genecks]

Does the pre-med advisor act as a middle-man in this situation?
This is the first I've read of this situation.
I suspect a pre-med advisor would be able to filter out nonsense or negative letters.

 

[Irish Football]

At my school our pre-med adviser picks which letters to include, so if your school has a similar policy and if you trust your pre-med adviser then that would be your best bet.

 

[davidbm95]

No. Just no.

What's preventing your "third party" from giving you the LoRs? Use your brain bro.

Chill "bro" he's asking a question. Why would you be permitted to have them evaluate your lor. You can do it but it's not authorized..

 

[darkjedi]

.