Can the dean of admissions provide me a LOR?

[SG3]

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Hey, so i had a question. A few summers back I did an internship at a medical school in my area. I did research there that summer, then at the end all the interns presented their research and I was awarded first prize. Then later the dean of admissions asked me to represent the school at a reserach conference on their behalf (so in other words i was chosen to present for that medical school). Through that I got to know the dean of admissions a little better. I was wondering if it is possible to get a letter of recommendation from her now when i apply to that medical school? Would she be allowed to do that? I wasn't sure. Thanks

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Hey, so i had a question. A few summers back I did an internship at a medical school in my area. I did research there that summer, then at the end all the interns presented their research and I was awarded first prize. Then later the dean of admissions asked me to represent the school at a reserach conference on their behalf (so in other words i was chosen to present for that medical school). Through that I got to know the dean of admissions a little better. I was wondering if it is possible to get a letter of recommendation from her now when i apply to that medical school? Would she be allowed to do that? I wasn't sure. Thanks

Not sure but it definitely doesn't hurt to ask. It'd be a nice letter for sure.

 

[SFO-IST]

I would actually not go this route. Here's why: The dean did not get to know you as well as your PI knows you. He will be able to write a stronger letter. You present the dean of admissions as someone who will write a letter for the school that she is already dean of. It seems unnecessary, you can be certain that s/he will just mention to the committee that you are a stellar candidate, etc. This will likely cary more weight.

The only way I can see her letter making a difference would be for her to write the letter for other schools, which would then seem to be self defeating for you, since you presumably wish to convey to her that you are interested in your specific school.

If you're still interested in having her write a letter, I would talk to her about the issues above but think long and hard about how you will present the request before meeting with her.

 

[WuMedic]

There is generally no rule against it (med Adcom members here at my undergrad write letters for premeds all the time even to our institution's med school), but like SFO said, make sure you are having him/her write it for the right reasons, and not just because the title is impressive.

Mine was a no brainer since the particular ADCOM member who wrote for me was also my premed advisor for the past 4 years and knew me very well, but think long and hard about whether she can write you a good letter past the last few words under her name at the bottom of the page.

 

[fahimaz7]

Yes they can, but it would be stupid to ask them to do it. Once they write that letter, they have to voluntarily remove themselves from any vote on your application, since they are no longer in a neutral position.

 

[SG3]

I would actually not go this route. Here's why: The dean did not get to know you as well as your PI knows you. He will be able to write a stronger letter. You present the dean of admissions as someone who will write a letter for the school that she is already dean of. It seems unnecessary, you can be certain that s/he will just mention to the committee that you are a stellar candidate, etc. This will likely cary more weight.

The only way I can see her letter making a difference would be for her to write the letter for other schools, which would then seem to be self defeating for you, since you presumably wish to convey to her that you are interested in your specific school.

If you're still interested in having her write a letter, I would talk to her about the issues above but think long and hard about how you will present the request before meeting with her.

Yeah but who knows if shell say something to the committee about me. Like what I'd I don't make it that far into the process, bc it's not like she reviews every application on her own. I heard they first just look at your gpa and mcats then if those are good enough then they'll look at your EC activities..

 

[SG3]

And plus even if she doesn't know me that well, she's writing it to her own school which ovbiously if they see her name they'll know her by first hand experience and be like oh, and maybe go talk to her

 

[bookfreak89]

Wouldn't there be a conflict of interest on the dean's part? I am not sure if she's even allowed to write LORs.

I had a friend who had the director of admissions of a med school write an LOR for her when she applied to medical school. The director told my friend that she could not interview her due to conflict of interest. I am not sure whether she had absolutely no say/vote on my friend's application, but she ended up being rejected.

 

[SG3]

Rejected! Yikes!

 

[patel2]

I had a friend who had the director of admissions of a med school write an LOR for her when she applied to medical school. The director told my friend that she could not interview her due to conflict of interest. I am not sure whether she had absolutely no say/vote on my friend's application, but she ended up being rejected.

Damnnnn!