Committee Packet vs letters

[brsboarder]

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So, I'm wondering what everyone did. Which looks better. I had a committee packet. Had a 30 min interview with my pre-med advisor and they used my recommendation letters to compile it. So, what did everyone else do?

 

[Lshapley]

Committee packet. I feel for those who had to do the individual letters. Seems like a lot of extra work and also some Interfolio troubles this year to boot.

 

[deuce924]

University offers review committee to compile LOR's along with resume to write letter. It was easy and took some of the stress out of applying.

 

[scowdeva]

My school wouldnt do a committee letter...I really wish they would have. It would have been a whole lot less complicated for me, and the schools seem to prefer it (all the apps say they would like a committee letter, then go on to explain how to send other letters if you cant provide a committee letter).

 

[ADeadLois]

It depends on quality, not quantity or manner of delivery. Although certainly much easier logistically, there is no inherent advantage from an admissions standpoint in having a committee letter.

 

[brsboarder]

did your committee know you? how did they write their letter? Mine seemed like a lot of work. First, talk to professors about recommendations, then schedule an interview with pre-med advisor and have an interview etc

 

[LEdaddy]

Committee letter at my school was like a mini med school app. You had to compile LORs, write a short essay, list all your ECs, calculate GPA, and submit a photo. They had a ranking system which they revealed to you after the committee met.

 

[deuce924]

Committee letter at my school was like a mini med school app. You had to compile LORs, write a short essay, list all your ECs, calculate GPA, and submit a photo. They had a ranking system which they revealed to you after the committee met.

That's how mine was minus the ranking system. You never interviewed with the committee they judged you based on your LOR's, mini-app, essay, transcript, and resume.

 

[mindquick]

my school doesn't have a prem-med committee

 

[BigRedPremed]

I sent 3 individual LOR's, a list of EC's with descriptions, and a loooooong personal statement (my committee didn't have length restrictions). Then I did a 1 hour interview from which my committee will write a rec letter. That letter along with the 3 others were sent out as a packet to schools either via mail or electronically.

 

[Dulcina]

Committee letter at my school was like a mini med school app. You had to compile LORs, write a short essay, list all your ECs, calculate GPA, and submit a photo. They had a ranking system which they revealed to you after the committee met.

yup, this is how mine was, without the ranking.

I don't have a choice... they *always* write a committee letter for all applicants. so.... this may be a dumb question... but if you have 3 letters that comprise the committee letter, do you need more LORs to supplement it? or is just the 1 committee letter good enough?

 

[riceman04]

yup, this is how mine was, without the ranking.

I don't have a choice... they *always* write a committee letter for all applicants. so.... this may be a dumb question... but if you have 3 letters that comprise the committee letter, do you need more LORs to supplement it? or is just the 1 committee letter good enough?

That's not dumb question.

 

[Dulcina]

That's not dumb question.

haha thanks. I can never tell if i'm asking a really obvious question, since i dont know the application process very well

 

[meowkat444]

want to add to this, because i went to a school with a committee letter. i did not have a committee letter because i'm a nontrad and my alma mater requires an in-person interview, which was not feasible as i live 4,000 miles away now. HOWEVER, medical schools have repeatedly hassled me about not having the committee letter.

if your school does them, get it. you do in fact risk hurting your application otherwise. they will wonder if you are hiding something. if your school doesn't do them, then you're not penalized for not having them.

 

[mindquick]

if our school does not have a pre-med commitee to do commitee letters, are we in a disadvantage?

 

[Dulcina]

yeah, i unfortunately have to fly the 4000 miles to do my stupid interview =/

i was initially bitter, but now hearing the comments about it, i'm glad i'll have one.

and again... do you need additional LORs to compliment the committee letter? (and do the schools see the 3 letters that comprise the committee letter?)

thx!