Disadvantage if only 1 sci LOR?

[PopeKnope23]

I know some schools require 2 science letters (I've been researching all the schools I'm interested in, and luckily not TOO many of them require 2 science), but I was wondering if I will still be looked at unfavorably at schools that have no requirements. I will have 2 VERY strong non-sci letters (I got to know my honors professors very well, and studied abroad with one of them) and a pretty solid sci letter from my ochem prof. Will they be concerned that I lack biology letters? I also refuse to ask my physics prof because he is one of the worst instructors ever and I wouldn't trust him writing anything, let alone a letter for medical school. Thoughts?

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[PopeKnope23]

Despite the fact that many schools are loosening their letter requirements, most adcom members will still be expecting 2 science letters. Of course, Getting a committee letter avoids any individual letter requirement by med school

So do you think I should still ask my physics professor even though I feel like it'll be a gamble? I will have him again this semester for physics II.

 

[PopeKnope23]

Why cant you get a bio letter?

Out of the 4 bio classes I've taken so far, one was online I never met. I take the blame for not getting to know my other profs. I very seldom visited their office hours and didn't have them for lab. I will put in extra effort to get to know my physiology prof this coming semester, but I don't know if she will know me enough after only 2 months of class.

Another question: I know my premed advisor very well, and she's a bio prof, though I haven't had her as an instructor. Would this help my case?

 

[chappikachu]

Out of the 4 bio classes I've taken so far, one was online I never met. I take the blame for not getting to know my other profs. I very seldom visited their office hours and didn't have them for lab. I will put in extra effort to get to know my physiology prof this coming semester, but I don't know if she will know me enough after only 2 months of class.

Another question: I know my premed advisor very well, and she's a bio prof, though I haven't had her as an instructor. Would this help my case?

I asked my bio advisor for one of my science LORs. She never actually taught me, but was the supervisor of a bio lab I took (the grad TA taught) and I eventually worked with her as an undergraduate TA for the same lab.

Not sure if it’d work in your case though, since your premed advisor would also be writing the committee letter (assuming your school offers to write them)?


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[PopeKnope23]

I asked my bio advisor for one of my science LORs. She never actually taught me, but was the supervisor of a bio lab I took (the grad TA taught) and I eventually worked with her as an undergraduate TA for the same lab.

Not sure if it’d work in your case though, since your premed advisor would also be writing the committee letter (assuming your school offers to write them)?


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My school unfortunately does not offer committee letters, so all of mine will be individual :/

 

[chappikachu]

My school unfortunately does not offer committee letters, so all of mine will be individual :/

Bummer. I agree with gonnif: certainly doesn’t hurt to ask your premed advisor what she thinks about your situation!


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[Robin-jay]

Bummer. I agree with gonnif: certainly doesn’t hurt to ask your premed advisor what she thinks about your situation!


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It only hurts if you take their advice!

jk...but seriously, take their advice with a grain of salt.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

A letter from your pre-med advisor would be an advisor letter, not a professor letter. I am fairly certain science letters are supposed to attest to your academic competency, so a letter from them would not count. Take that with a grain of salt.

Also, here's something really interesting. Apparently, a committee letter is not the same as an advisor letter. My pre-med advisor told me that to clear up the misconception because she would happily write me an advisor letter to be included in my committee packet if I ask her. All this time I thought the advisor is responsible for writing the committee letter, but I guess not.

 

[ciestar]

An advisor from your pre-med advisor would be an advisor letter, not a professor letter. I am fairly certain science letters are supposed to attest to your academic competency, so a letter from them would not count. Take that with a grain of salt.

Also, here's something really interesting. Apparently, a committee letter is not the same as an advisor letter. My pre-med advisor told me that to clear up the misconception because she would happily write me an advisor letter to be included in my committee packet if I ask her. All this time I thought the advisor is responsible for writing the committee letter, but I guess not.

Nope. School’s generally have a committee just for this.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Nope. School’s generally have a committee just for this.

It does make you curious . If an advisor letter is not the same as a committee letter, how do they differ? I guess I'll never know since I can't see my letters. Maybe it's just my school.

 

[aldol16]

Medical school is all about being able to handle the scientific rigor of medicine - that's why science is what's tested on the MCAT, why BCPM GPA is so important, and why science LORs are also very important. It's great that you have strong non-science LORs because those can speak to your interests outside of medicine and provide a perspective of what you can contribute to the school, but the problem is that all that stuff is extra - you need the strong science foundation first. Is there no other science professor you've had in your entire education that you could ask for a letter?

 

[ciestar]

It does make you curious . If an advisor letter is not the same as a committee letter, how do they differ? I guess I'll never know since I can't see my letters. Maybe it's just my school.

My committee letter interviewed me prior to writing letter. They compose letter based on that and (im assuming) the other LORs I received.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

My committee letter interviewed me prior to writing letter. They compose letter based on that and (im assuming) the other LORs I received.

Mine doesn't. They do have a very lengthy and detailed application instead and they vote to see if you should get one. They also hire letter writers to make the committee letter sing, flow, and glow. Also, even though the committee letter gets around the individual letters, my school's committee still highly recommends the typical 2 science and 1 non-science letters. Evidently, some committees require that as well. So as an observation, not having these 3 letters, even if you have a committee letter may put you at a disadvantage. I am not conclusive on this so please don't roast me. I am making a simple observation.

 

[ciestar]

Mine doesn't. They do have a very lengthy and detailed application instead and they vote to see if you should get one. They also hire letter writers to make the committee letter sing, flow, and glow. Also, even though the committee letter gets around the individual letters, my school's committee still highly recommends the typical 2 science and 1 non-science letters. Evidently, some committees require that as well. So as an observation, not having these 3 letters, even if you have a committee letter may put you at a disadvantage. I am not conclusive on this so please don't roast me. I am making a simple observation.

Wouldn’t do that, no worries. Every school operates differently.

My school’s committee required 2 science and 1 non-science letter, and you could have up to three of each. My committee also wanted a letter from my employer since I am non-trad so they could further evaluate me that way.

 

[PopeKnope23]

Medical school is all about being able to handle the scientific rigor of medicine - that's why science is what's tested on the MCAT, why BCPM GPA is so important, and why science LORs are also very important. It's great that you have strong non-science LORs because those can speak to your interests outside of medicine and provide a perspective of what you can contribute to the school, but the problem is that all that stuff is extra - you need the strong science foundation first. Is there no other science professor you've had in your entire education that you could ask for a letter?

See, this is what sucks. I've only had 3 semesters of college in total (I'm graduating in 3 years) and my idiotic freshman self wasn't thinking about getting to know my profs unless it happened naturally, like with my honors profs. Like I said, I could ask my physics prof, as I finished the semester with like a 98% in the class, but that would be a last resort. It looks like only one sci letter is not okay, so I'll just ask him I guess.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

See, this is what sucks. I've only had 3 semesters of college in total (I'm graduating in 3 years) and my idiotic freshman self wasn't thinking about getting to know my profs unless it happened naturally, like with my honors profs. Like I said, I could ask my physics prof, as I finished the semester with like a 98% in the class, but that would be a last resort. It looks like only one sci letter is not okay, so I'll just ask him I guess.

If you exhausted all your options, a generic science letter, even from a lower division professor would be your best course of action when you consider your options: not doing it would disqualify you from schools that require 2 science professors and require you to research the letter requirements of each school while doing it gives you at least a fighting chance and it saves you time of researching the individual letter requirements of each school. So your choices are a fighting chance or no chance at all with schools that require the typical 2 science 1 non-science letter.

 

[PopeKnope23]

If you exhausted all your options, a generic science letter, even from a lower division professor would be your best course of action when you consider your options: not doing it would disqualify you from schools that require 2 science professors and require you to research the letter requirements of each school while doing it gives you at least a fighting chance and it saves you time of researching the individual letter requirements of each school. So your choices are a fighting chance or no chance at all with schools that require the typical 2 science 1 non-science letter.

That's a good way to think about it. Thank you; I'll see what I can come up with from now til summer!

 

[DameJulie]

The worst case scenario is your application won't be completed until all your LOR comes in