Difference between Research Recommendation?

[Timwfu]

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I was just wondering which recommendation would be considered stronger in medical school admissions.

For instance, if an applicant has researched with 2 professors:
Student earned name on conference publications and an abstract from Professor X but the student had to switch labs (due to location during school year) and switched to Professor Y's lab and researched with him for a considerable longer time without any publications. However, Professor Y was more accessible and knows the student more than Professor X.

Would a recommendation from Professor Y be stronger since he knows the applicant more rather than a recommendation from Professor X even though the student has earned the publication in Professor X's lab?

 

[gettheleadout]

Yes, the recommendation from Professor Y would be stronger.

 

[Double Trouble]

Yes, the recommendation from Professor Y would be stronger.

Y, as long as you know for sure he will give the most positive review of you. I've heard of students who have known the prof for a long time but still get bad recs.

 

[gettheleadout]

Y, as long as you know for sure he will give the most positive review of you. I've heard of students who have known the prof for a long time but still get bad recs.

Well yeah, this is assuming you have a good, longer relationship with Professor Y.

 

[candav]

Optimally, you'd get a letter from both. I'd find it a bit strange that you were involved enough to warrant a publication in the first lab, but didn't know the PI well enough to get a letter from him/her.

 

[varsityblue]

Prof. Y.

 

[Danlee07]

I think you'd have to decide for yourself.

If you took part in the paper writing, then the professor will have a good idea of your research capabilities including time management, creativity, and intellectual capability. The second professor could know you better than the first as a person in regard to character, maturity, etc. Unless you've had a bad ending to the first one, then I'd use both.

If you have to choose only one, then choose a recommendation that will give you the best impression from your application. For example, choose recommendations that talk about your character and your potential if you're trying to show that you're upwardly trending.

 

[Timwfu]

Optimally, you'd get a letter from both. I'd find it a bit strange that you were involved enough to warrant a publication in the first lab, but didn't know the PI well enough to get a letter from him/her.

It's not that the first PI did not know me well; I would be able to ask a letter from him but I wanted to know if a letter from the second PI would be stronger.

I think you'd have to decide for yourself.

If you took part in the paper writing, then the professor will have a good idea of your research capabilities including time management, creativity, and intellectual capability. The second professor could know you better than the first as a person in regard to character, maturity, etc. Unless you've had a bad ending to the first one, then I'd use both.

If you have to choose only one, then choose a recommendation that will give you the best impression from your application. For example, choose recommendations that talk about your character and your potential if you're trying to show that you're upwardly trending.

This is the clearest response I was looking for. I believe these two professors each understand a different aspect of me and although both professors would be able to write a solid recommendation, I believe Professor Y may be able to focus more on character traits and potential whereas Professor X may discuss research capabilities. I was just curious which had a bigger impact, writing from the stance of character traits or research capabilities.

It seems that writing from a personal standpoint, personal drive and motivation, through Professor Y may be more stronger to AdComs.