Committee LOR vs. Individual LOR

[NonTradHopeful]

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Hey guys,

Do dental schools prefer committee letters or do they like individual letters from professors. My worry is that committee letters might "water down" the individual letters b/c they are only a summary of many letters combined.

Also, does AADSAS let you upload both the committee letter as well as the individual letters from your professors?...or do you have to choose one or the other?

Any help/insight about this process would be appreciated.

 

[SLOBrule]

I've heard that committee letters are preferred by dental schools. I had no choice but to submit individual letters because I went to a large state school and didn't have enough professors that knew me well enough to write a letter to the committee.

If you can obtain one I would suggest you do so, however, if you believe an individual letter will better explain your academic performance and character get one.

AADSAS will only allow you to submit one committee letter or 4 individual ones. GOOD LUCK!

 

[dantemac]

Don't get your info off of Student Doctor. Every school which you are applying to, go to their website and see which they prefer. The general rule is schools prefer a committee letter, but they may have other requirements as well such as a letter from a dentist (Tufts, ASDOH), pastor (LLU), etc etc. Do your research before applying!

 

[NonTradHopeful]

I've heard that committee letters are preferred by dental schools. I had no choice but to submit individual letters because I went to a large state school and didn't have enough professors that knew me well enough to write a letter to the committee.

If you can obtain one I would suggest you do so, however, if you believe an individual letter will better explain your academic performance and character get one.

AADSAS will only allow you to submit one committee letter or 4 individual ones. GOOD LUCK!

So, if I submit the committee letter, AADSAS will not let me submit the 4 individual ones?

Also, what about the 1 dentist letter and 1 reference letter. Does AADSAS let you submit those if you have a committee letter (i.e. are those two counted separately from the committee letter)?

 

[SLOBrule]

So, if I submit the committee letter, AADSAS will not let me submit the 4 individual ones?

Also, what about the 1 dentist letter and 1 reference letter. Does AADSAS let you submit those if you have a committee letter (i.e. are those two counted separately from the committee letter)?

Correction, you are allowed to add one additional letter besides your committee one. But it would be very wise to research the schools requirements for LORs prior to applying. Call to check with each school you are interested in applying to.

 

[dantemac]

If you submit a committee letter, you can add ONE additional letter with it. My one additional letter was a dentist since a lot of schools needed that.

HOWEVER, ask your committee how it works. Some committees (like mine) sent their composite letter about me and also my 5 individual letters required by the committee. So, the dental schools still get to see all 5 letters + the committee letter written about you. Investigate and see if your committee works the same way.

 

[NonTradHopeful]

If you submit a committee letter, you can add ONE additional letter with it. My one additional letter was a dentist since a lot of schools needed that.

HOWEVER, ask your committee how it works. Some committees (like mine) sent their composite letter about me and also my 5 individual letters required by the committee. So, the dental schools still get to see all 5 letters + the committee letter written about you. Investigate and see if your committee works the same way.

Ok, so it seems like, if you go the committee route, you get to upload a total of two letters:

1. Committee letter
2. Letter from dentist or other reference.

If additional letters are required by the dental school, you send it to them separately. Do I have this correct?

 

[dantemac]

Yes, you have it correct!

 

[katwoman1688]

Be careful too, some schools committee letters make your application in later than you want it late aug-sept. I know that happened at my undergrad just based on how the process worked and it hurt my friends application - which is why i went the route of not using it! Its definitely more of a requirement for medical school - I called and asked a few schools and they told me that its more important to have your letters in on time.

 

[Pistorius]

So, if I submit the committee letter, AADSAS will not let me submit the 4 individual ones?

Also, what about the 1 dentist letter and 1 reference letter. Does AADSAS let you submit those if you have a committee letter (i.e. are those two counted separately from the committee letter)?

I submitted 4 individual letters from professors. Tufts required a letter from a dentist and i was written to and told to tell the dentist to mail the letter in.
The other schools i applied to didn't require a letter from a dentist so i didn't bother with them.

 

[qhorse]

Be careful too, some schools committee letters make your application in later than you want it late aug-sept. I know that happened at my undergrad just based on how the process worked and it hurt my friends application - which is why i went the route of not using it! Its definitely more of a requirement for medical school - I called and asked a few schools and they told me that its more important to have your letters in on time.

So true...I submitted my app late July, and wasn't complete until the end of Aug/early Sept. Really sucked :-/