Committee Letter Vs. Individual LOR

[rapsteady1]

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Did a search here but didn't really find a consensus answer... plus most threads were +4 years old.

I've noticed a lot of schools PREFER committee letters (if offered by the school-it even seems like a requirement) over regular LORs.

By not having a committee letter, would this be a red flag on one's app?

My school offers a committee LOR, but am debating whether I should go through with it. I have strong letters from:
- PI from SURP program at Wayne St. SOM
- PI from Western Michigan
- G Chem professor
- Physics professor
- Bioethics professor

Thoughts anyone?

 

[vagitarian001]

I don't think having individual letters over a committee letter is a red flag at all. Some undergraduate schools don't even have a committee. I didn't have a committee letter because I felt it would delay my application 2 months, and I did fine this cycle. At all the interviews I went to, no one questioned why I didn't have a committee letter. Just make sure you have 3 letters from science prof., 1 letter from a non-science prof and a DO letter.

 

[rapsteady1]

I don't think having individual letters over a committee letter is a red flag at all. Some undergraduate schools don't even have a committee. I didn't have a committee letter because I felt it would delay my application 2 months, and I did fine this cycle. At all the interviews I went to, no one questioned why I didn't have a committee letter. Just make sure you have 3 letters from science prof., 1 letter from a non-science prof and a DO letter.

This. I spoke to the health professions advisor and she ultimately said that they write the letters mid-late June. And by the time everything is sent in/reviewed by AMCAS/AACOMAS it'll be mid july-even possible early august, which in my book is late. I honestly don't see why DOs prefer the committee letter.

 

[Hot Wheels]

I skipping the committee at my school because I honestly believe the letter will only hurt my application. Our committee is known for sending letters out late in the cycle, like October late. Plus I could tell that the committee chair didn't think I had a chance in hell from my meetings with her. She always acted like I was wasting her time and she was annoyed by me or something. I just don't think I'd get a good letter from her.

 

[stlrams22]

Just use LORs from individual professors. Don't wait on some rude committee using their bureaucratic urgency to get you a letter. It is really pathetic for schools to take so long.

 

[stlrams22]

I skipping the committee at my school because I honestly believe the letter will only hurt my application. Our committee is known for sending letters out late in the cycle, like October late. Plus I could tell that the committee chair didn't think I had a chance in hell from my meetings with her. She always acted like I was wasting her time and she was annoyed by me or something. I just don't think I'd get a good letter from her.

From what I read on here it seems like most committees are composed of medical school rejects who really enjoy telling students they won't make it.

 

[MJS4878]

If you have never met with the committee then yea just skip it.

But if you have any kind of relationship then I would go for it. I had a mock interview with the director of the committee. Going into it he immediately advised me to hold off a year and get my grades up, but by the end I had proved to him that I was ready to apply this cycle because I had a plan, which he was on board with.

I told him how essential applying early would be for me so I pushed him a little to have the committee letter written in time and he did.

The other thing is that the committee letter isn't like a normal LOR. It is briefly, but after that it is essentially a summarization of all of your LOR's. For example, the writer will point out how the physician I shadowed mentioned my compassion and the orgo professor mentioned my eagerness to learn... etc. this is why often times it is referred to as a committee packet because it is sent with all of your LOR's and basically just makes it easier for med schools to look through.

 

[rapsteady1]

If you have never met with the committee then yea just skip it.

But if you have any kind of relationship then I would go for it. I had a mock interview with the director of the committee. Going into it he immediately advised me to hold off a year and get my grades up, but by the end I had proved to him that I was ready to apply this cycle because I had a plan, which he was on board with.

I told him how essential applying early would be for me so I pushed him a little to have the committee letter written in time and he did.

The other thing is that the committee letter isn't like a normal LOR. It is briefly, but after that it is essentially a summarization of all of your LOR's. For example, the writer will point out how the physician I shadowed mentioned my compassion and the orgo professor mentioned my eagerness to learn... etc. this is why often times it is referred to as a committee packet because it is sent with all of your LOR's and basically just makes it easier for med schools to look through.

Interesting you say this. In addition to what you and Hot Wheels said, I am now having doubts whether to use a committee letter. My relationship with one of the members from the committee hasn't been always on the up and up - we've actually argued, REAL argue, at times and bumped heads. But in the scheme of things, we generally work things out and become ok with each other.

Would professors/committee members actually write a negative LOR on your behalf?

That's just beyond operating in bad faith - it would just be better to not write a letter at all than to do that.

 

[MJS4878]

Interesting you say this. In addition to what you and Hot Wheels said, I am now having doubts whether to use a committee letter. My relationship with one of the members from the committee hasn't been always on the up and up - we've actually argued, REAL argue, at times and bumped heads. But in the scheme of things, we generally work things out and become ok with each other.

Would professors/committee members actually write a negative LOR on your behalf?

That's just beyond operating in bad faith - it would just be better to not write a letter at all than to do that.

Yea as horrible as it sounds the director has told me that he has indeed written poor LOR's before. He didn't necessarily rip the person apart in the letter, but he didn't write a letter expressing his confidence in the persons ability. So definitely be cautious and make sure you and the committee are on the same page.

 

[addieu345]

This thread has been very helpful, but I have a question that is along the lines of this that I hope someone could answer: @MJS4878 @vagitarian001

My school's pre-health committee is also notorious for writing committee letters really late, and from what I've read on this forum applying early is crucial. So could I send my individual letters first via Interfolio, and then update my application whenever my committee gets it done? (This upcoming cycle will be my first time applying). Thank you!

 

[MJS4878]

This thread has been very helpful, but I have a question that is along the lines of this that I hope someone could answer: @MJS4878 @vagitarian001

My school's pre-health committee is also notorious for writing committee letters really late, and from what I've read on this forum applying early is crucial. So could I send my individual letters first via Interfolio, and then update my application whenever my committee gets it done? (This upcoming cycle will be my first time applying). Thank you!

I think that would kind of defeat the purpose of getting a committee letter, but maybe someone else can chime in

 

[1badz]

All of my friends, including myself, avoided our pre-health committee. We just gathered individual letters and can proudly say we all got into med school (some DO, some MD). Don't know how important or preferred they are, but we were fine. Our committee basically told us all that medical school is a pipe dream for us. The day I received my first acceptance letter, I personally went to the committee director and made sure to let him know that I got in no thanks to him. That felt great.

 

[DreamingDoc]

Some schools require it, but most will allow you to substitute with letters from science professors. My committee actually refused to write me a letter due to my undergrad background, and said it would be better if I pursued other options because I probably wouldn't be accepted. When I received my acceptance I made sure to let them know and thanked them for their advice 🙂

Also some committees don't write their letters until the end of the summer/ early fall. Keep this in mind if you are trying to be complete early.

 

[rapsteady1]

Thank you for everyone's response. Truly is appreciated.

It seems we have an overwhelming consensus of not using committee letters...

In a polite way, I have set a meeting with my advisor, who also is part of the committee, and am going to see if they have any concerns/doubts about my capabilities going into medicine.

They've already expressed doubts about my low stats (cGPA 3.4 and sGPA 3.3 MCAT- taking April - and yes, I'm a URM & postbacc career changer) - but seemed to be offset by doing research at various med schools and getting strong LORs... At this point in the game, if the only thing holding me back from getting in is their letter, I WANT/NEED to know... this is in my best interest not theirs.

 

[DRteacher]

I applied with individual letters from professors and doctors that I shadowed and did not have any problems. No one mentioned my lack of a committee letter. Just make sure you have the correct numbers and types of letters they want (for example two science profs, one non-science prof, one DO/MD).

 

[slightlygifted]

I never understood why adcoms would want committee letters. To save like 2 minutes from only having to read 1 letter instead of like 4? I mean I think a letter from a professor who I have worked with for years, another one from a volunteer coordinator who I have worked with for years, etc. are all more useful than some pre-health advisers writing thousands of generic letters in 1 sitting.

 

[kinzav]

I went to a big state school with a robust committee letter program. It was painful and time consuming, but I went through when I was at the university. I ended up backing out because I didn't feel comfortable with my application, but they had the letter packet ready if I needed. 2 years later I felt ready to apply, and I didn't go through the committee because of long distance (though there were alternatives to going back to the campus). I think it hurt when I applied to their medical school program, and the other medical schools in the state who knew their committee's great reputation for comprehensive looks at each student (something like 90% of the students they recommend get into medical school) but the majority of schools I applied to probably didn't think twice. I'd say it's 70% stats and 30% LOR's and personal statement, and having a committee letter vs a group of individual letters is probably a really, really small part of that 30%.

 

[rapsteady1]

I never understood why adcoms would want committee letters. To save like 2 minutes from only having to read 1 letter instead of like 4? I mean I think a letter from a professor who I have worked with for years, another one from a volunteer coordinator who I have worked with for years, etc. are all more useful than some pre-health advisers writing thousands of generic letters in 1 sitting.

exactly my thoughts as well. I feel that regular LORs are more genuine and "realistic" as the person writing on your behalf actually knows you and can vouch your work/ethics/etc.... Committee letters just "reinforce" what you've already done... So why not just go to the source, right?

 

[rapsteady1]

I went to a big state school with a robust committee letter program. It was painful and time consuming, but I went through when I was at the university. I ended up backing out because I didn't feel comfortable with my application, but they had the letter packet ready if I needed. 2 years later I felt ready to apply, and I didn't go through the committee because of long distance (though there were alternatives to going back to the campus). I think it hurt when I applied to their medical school program, and the other medical schools in the state who knew their committee's great reputation for comprehensive looks at each student (something like 90% of the students they recommend get into medical school) but the majority of schools I applied to probably didn't think twice. I'd say it's 70% stats and 30% LOR's and personal statement, and having a committee letter vs a group of individual letters is probably a really, really small part of that 30%.

Do you have good relationships with any/all the committee members?
BTW, how do you determine if your school's committee letter program is "known?"

 

[GUH]

I applied to a whole ton of DO schools with only individual letters and none of them seemed to mind.

 

[kinzav]

Do you have good relationships with any/all the committee members?
BTW, how do you determine if your school's committee letter program is "known?"

I didn't have a bad relationship with anyone on the committee. I attended an orientation with the premed committee, I set up appointments to talk about steps I should take to improve my application, I did the mock interview they wanted, I sent them letters they wanted, they encouraged me to apply but were open that my chances were not great. Their job is to provide further discrimination of applicants, and they do it, and if you don't realize that then they might come off snooty and mean, but if you do, you can play the game and get some things done.

As far as being known, I base it on the name recognition of your school in general. My school probably had upwards of 500 applicants every year, and they all probably applied to the 5 medical schools in my state, including the one connected to the school. If a medical school familiar with the undergraduate institution gets 400 applicants with committee letters and a couple without, it signals that maybe these students had not planned ahead (the committee process starts in October prior to the application cycle and ends in January) or did not feel they would get a recommendation from the committee. And again, the committee boasted about their statistics. Not everyone who went through the process got a recommendation from the committee, and of those who did get a letter, I think it was 90 or 95% got accepted into a program. Those are good numbers.

 

[happypremed1]

I didn't have a bad relationship with anyone on the committee. I attended an orientation with the premed committee, I set up appointments to talk about steps I should take to improve my application, I did the mock interview they wanted, I sent them letters they wanted, they encouraged me to apply but were open that my chances were not great. Their job is to provide further discrimination of applicants, and they do it, and if you don't realize that then they might come off snooty and mean, but if you do, you can play the game and get some things done.

As far as being known, I base it on the name recognition of your school in general. My school probably had upwards of 500 applicants every year, and they all probably applied to the 5 medical schools in my state, including the one connected to the school. If a medical school familiar with the undergraduate institution gets 400 applicants with committee letters and a couple without, it signals that maybe these students had not planned ahead (the committee process starts in October prior to the application cycle and ends in January) or did not feel they would get a recommendation from the committee. And again, the committee boasted about their statistics. Not everyone who went through the process got a recommendation from the committee, and of those who did get a letter, I think it was 90 or 95% got accepted into a program. Those are good numbers.

If you think you'll get a good letter and it'll be sent in a reasonable time frame, then by all means go for it. The committee letter will strengthen your application.
However, if you sense a lack of enthusiasm and support from the writer, i'd say you stay away from it. A lackluster letter will really ding your applications. The last thing you want is a letter that recites all your shortcomings.

When I applied to DO schools this cycle, the dean at my undergrad said I had no chance of making it due to a 6 on the verbal. He insisted that I should apply to Caribbean schools. I disagreed and canceled the committee letter. And the end result from this cycle? 7 interviews and none of my DO interviews asked me about the lack of that damn letter.

 

[Stephanopolous]

My undergraduate university requires you to have organic chemistry II finished prior to meeting with the committee. They only meet in the spring. There's no guarantee they'll grant you a letter. That, coupled with a poor interaction I had with a member of the committee (she told me I should pursue a different career) has me holding off on a committee letter.

It will delay my application by a year if I wait for a committee letter. My letters so far have come from doctors and professors I've come to know very well. They all let me read their letters and they are excellent.

At the end of the day I would rather have quality letters from people who actually know me then a standard type of letter from a committee. I know I can't be picky but id also prefer a school that appreciates this as well.

 

[TurkTurkleton92]

I'd love Goro's input on this, as I'm sure he deals with this all the time.