Do I need this letter?

[sammiesings]

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Hey all. I apologize if I'm putting this question in the wrong spot. Also, I bet it's been asked before, but I couldn't find it from a search.

Anyway, reapplicant here with a letter question.

I did things right this year and applied early and prewrote secondaries. However, I'm still waiting on my current PI/supervisor's letter of recommendation.

I have my professor letters, my major volunteer letter and my previous PI's letter.

If I've only worked for this PI for less than a year, and my old PI is a weightier research name (less weighty clinical name) is it okay to apply without his letter? The only thing is I haven't worked for the old PI since early 2014.

I'm not sure when exactly he'll be submitting the letter (best estimate- 2/3 weeks).

Not exactly sure how to assess which way will benefit me more from between being early and having this letter.

Also, as usual, there isn't a ton of advice for us nontrads on medical school websites. Any thoughts here?

 

[lall]

Its really hard to say.

My personal opinion is that it probably doesn't matter that much. However, I'm a med student.

Maybe @gyngyn @Goro @DrMikeP @LizzyM can speak from the other side of the table. But I would argue that those perspectives are still pretty singular (as in related to their school's specific practice).

A) If you're a low stat person, waiting close to a month could make a large difference in your app's success

B) If your other letters are decent, this PI letter might not matter

C) Some schools might be wary of the fact that you don't have a letter from that PI

These are all conjectures.

Like I said, I'm from the school of thought that letters are just "checked off"- as long as you have good ones, you don't need a ton of them. Its up to you in the end though.

 

[gyngyn]

It is not worth delaying an application for.

 

[cabinbuilder]

What the heck is a PI letter?

 

[sammiesings]

What the heck is a PI letter?

lol sorry about that- should have specified that it is a principal investigator (research mentor/supervisor) letter.

 

[sammiesings]

thanks everyone! it looks like a pretty solid "apply early" > "another PI letter"

Hoping adcoms understand that PIs are notoriously busy/difficult to hold to letter timelines. Thanks again!

 

[DrMikeP]

Agree with gyngyn, earlier is better than waiting on the PI letter. If you get it in by secondaries great, if not then you might let schools know when you get it so they update your materials.

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