Chances & school selection--LOR issues

[sash12]

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I’ll be a first-time applicant in 2012. I went to a state school and am a PA resident.

Here are my stats: 3.81 cGPA, 3.70 BCPM, 33R MCAT (12V, 10P, 11B)

Research:
-Extensive honors project in my non-science major—1 poster presentation and a possible publication (but I'm not holding my breath)
-Also did a second extensive independent research project in my major
-Worked as clinical research assistant (250 hours)

Volunteering:
-300 hours in hospital setting…program was very focused on volunteer-patient interaction
-60 hours as youth mentor
-Currently serving a year with AmeriCorps

ECs:
-Physiology TA
-Tutored chem for 3 semesters
-Active member of 2 clubs

Honors/Awards:
-Phi Beta Kappa
-Merit scholarship from my university
-Research fellowship from my university
-Dean’s List every semester

Shadowing:
~80 hours

I’d say that the weakest part of my app is 2 of my science LORs. My school has a committee that requires 3 science LORs. One of my science LORs will be personal and very strong, but the other 2 are going to be generic. When I say generic, I mean straight up “I had sash12 for class and this individual earned an A. Here's a description of the course. This was sash12's rank in the course: ____. The course was difficult. Signed, Prof ______.” I know these LORs are not ideal by any means, but I honestly do not have any other options. I can’t take any more science courses at my university because I’ve graduated, they’re too costly to take on a per-credit basis, and I’m currently serving with AmeriCorps so they’d conflict with my schedule. My non-science recs will be personal and very strong. I should probably also note that my committee sends a packet comprised of the composite letter and all other LORs.

What I’d like to know is:
1. By how much will these 2 impersonal science LORs kill my chances?
2. Where should I apply? I’d really like to know which schools you think are reaches for me, and which are more reasonable. Do you think I have a shot at any of the following schools: Case, University of Rochester, Wake Forest, Emory?

Thanks for reading all of this. Seriously.

 

[sector9]

I’ll be a first-time applicant in 2012. I went to a state school and am a PA resident.

Here are my stats: 3.81 cGPA, 3.70 BCPM, 33R MCAT (12V, 10P, 11B)

Research:
-Extensive honors project in my non-science major—1 poster presentation and a possible publication (but I'm not holding my breath)
-Also did a second extensive independent research project in my major
-Worked as clinical research assistant (250 hours)

Volunteering:
-300 hours in hospital setting…program was very focused on volunteer-patient interaction
-60 hours as youth mentor
-Currently serving a year with AmeriCorps

ECs:
-Physiology TA
-Tutored chem for 3 semesters
-Active member of 2 clubs

Honors/Awards:
-Phi Beta Kappa
-Merit scholarship from my university
-Research fellowship from my university
-Dean’s List every semester

Shadowing:
~80 hours

I’d say that the weakest part of my app is 2 of my science LORs. My school has a committee that requires 3 science LORs. One of my science LORs will be personal and very strong, but the other 2 are going to be generic. When I say generic, I mean straight up “I had sash12 for class and this individual earned an A. Here's a description of the course. This was sash12's rank in the course: ____. The course was difficult. Signed, Prof ______.” I know these LORs are not ideal by any means, but I honestly do not have any other options. I can’t take any more science courses at my university because I’ve graduated, they’re too costly to take on a per-credit basis, and I’m currently serving with AmeriCorps so they’d conflict with my schedule. My non-science recs will be personal and very strong. I should probably also note that my committee sends a packet comprised of the composite letter and all other LORs.

What I’d like to know is:
1. By how much will these 2 impersonal science LORs kill my chances?
2. Where should I apply? I’d really like to know which schools you think are reaches for me, and which are more reasonable. Do you think I have a shot at any of the following schools: Case, University of Rochester, Wake Forest, Emory?

Thanks for reading all of this. Seriously.

Your EC's sound very nice and your stats are great as well.

What about any leadership?

1. I don't think so, but I'll wait for Catalystik to weigh in.
2. I think you will have a good shot at all of those schools you have listed

 

[sash12]

Thanks so much for responding. As far as leadership is concerned, I do feel like some of the things I've done with AmeriCorps could fall under that category, but it's something I could definitely improve on my app.

If anyone else wants to weigh in on the recommendation issues, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[Catalystik]

I’d say that the weakest part of my app is 2 of my science LORs. My school has a committee that requires 3 science LORs. One of my science LORs will be personal and very strong, but the other 2 are going to be generic. When I say generic, I mean straight up “I had sash12 for class and this individual earned an A. Here's a description of the course. This was sash12's rank in the course: ____. The course was difficult. Signed, Prof ______.”

What I’d like to know is:
1. By how much will these 2 impersonal science LORs kill my chances?

1. I don't think so, but I'll wait for Catalystik to weigh in.

1. I think those two generic science letters would hurt you more if you didn't have a committee letter which is likely to select "walks-on-water quotable lines more heavily from the excellent letter (if they're doing their job right) and use the other two minimally, if at all.

Obviously, if two candidates are identical and one has three terrific letters, the latter would have an advantage over someone who could only convice one person that they're a worthwhile med school candidate.

Won't the committee letter include comments from your PI and any nonscience faculty or other persons as well, though? These would further dilute any negative effects of the two generic letters.

I'd make it a a point to strategize that your letter writer from AmeriCorps is highly likely to to also write a fantastic letter to help even the playing field as much as possible. This experience has the potential to be a major postitive benefit to your application, as it will generally be considered a major strength to have participated in such a program.

 

[sash12]

I'll be sending five to six letters to my school's committee-3 science recs, 2-3 non-science/other recs. Excepting the 2 generic science letters, all of my letters will be strong and detailed. Hopefully the committee will be willing to look past those two science lors in light of my other recs. In addition to sending the committee letter, my school also sends every letter of recommendation to med schools. Thus, if med schools read beyond the committee letter, they'll see those 2 generic lors...but hopefully the effects of those letters will be diluted by the others, as you suggested.

I'm definitely going to obtain a letter from my AmeriCorps supervisor. Shameless plug to anyone reading who wants to take time off but doesn't know what to do: check out AmeriCorps.

Thanks for responding, Catalystik! Your input was really helpful.

 

[flodhi1]

The LORs will definitely hurt you but since you have so many good aspects of your application not by much. I can tell you that 3 schools out of the 5 schools I interviewed literally quoted statements made in my LORs from my professors. All of the statements were strong aspects of my application. So, I would say LORs can be very important depending on the school.