Do I really *need* a rec letter from a hard science class?

[Chardfoxfire]

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I'm applying this cycle and I need three letters of recommendation. Of the three I really want, none are from any of the heavy science courses I've taken. I go to a huge university and the only relatively small classes I had were definitely not like physics and biochem. I was also never really the one to go to office hours, so I didn't really form relationships with my science professors because those were big classes. I literally went once for physics and that's the only one that may say yes, but there are people I know more in other fields....So yeah how much do you think it would hurt, and do any of you happen to know anyone who got by fine in a similar situation to mine?

The ones I have are my boss from a part time job I've had for a while, my Korean professor, and my medical ethics professor. The iffy one is physics.

 

[To be MD]

Hey Chard,

It doesn't matter how 'heavy' the science class was. The only thing that matters is that the letter is coming from a professor that taught you science. Med schools stress this because you learn a (expletive)-ton of science in medical school.

In your case, it's great that you have a letter from a boss and two nonscience professors, but you need to get that physics letter and one more as well. Most schools require, along with all the other ones you have, 2 letters from science professors.

 

[MrLogan13]

You need letters from science professors. Many schools ask for two.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[nwts]

Many schools list that they explicitly require 1 or 2 science letters. If you turn in a set of letters that does not meet this qualification, you are not following the directions of what they said was required of all applicants. Even if they don't automatically throw your application out, I would think it would be a pretty big mark against you that you failed to do something that they explicitly said was required of everybody.

 

[Chardfoxfire]

Welp, thanks guys. I'll figure something out. Not going to let something like rec letters hold me back, of all things.

 

[Catalystik]

What about engineering and math generally? They can actually be framed either way

OP: If you hadn't considered the option, perhaps it helps you to know that many schools consider Math to be a pure science and that those letters can count toward "Science" faculty letters in most cases.