Do you need diff LORs for masters and med school??

[emgirl]

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Hey yall,

I was wondering what I should do about LORs if I want to do a masters program in my lag year (like Hopkins MHS or Tulan Molec/Cell bio, etc). Basically I would apply to these programs in Feb/March of the year before I matriculate and start AMCAS that June. Since most masters programs require about 3 LORs, could I just use ones I'm getting for med school, or do they need to be completely re-written by the writers since those letters will prob emphasize why I would be a good candidate for med school and not just academic/personal characteristics? I'm just not sure if masters programs are put off by LORs that are clearly written for an applicant to medical school. I'm at a big state school and it is hard enough to get quality LORs from teachers, so I am worried about asking these writers to write 2 separate letters (one masters, one med school)...do you think it's necessary? Thanks, Em

 

[silverdime]

Hey yall,

I was wondering what I should do about LORs if I want to do a masters program in my lag year (like Hopkins MHS or Tulan Molec/Cell bio, etc). Basically I would apply to these programs in Feb/March of the year before I matriculate and start AMCAS that June. Since most masters programs require about 3 LORs, could I just use ones I'm getting for med school, or do they need to be completely re-written by the writers since those letters will prob emphasize why I would be a good candidate for med school and not just academic/personal characteristics? I'm just not sure if masters programs are put off by LORs that are clearly written for an applicant to medical school. I'm at a big state school and it is hard enough to get quality LORs from teachers, so I am worried about asking these writers to write 2 separate letters (one masters, one med school)...do you think it's necessary? Thanks, Em

At my college, letters of recommendation were rarely tailored to particular programs. They're written with the idea that the student might leave school as a future doctor and use the requested letters years later to apply for an English PhD--they discuss academic ability and personality without regard to the program in question.

I was under the impression that most professors write general letters unless specifically asked, and even then probably keep it nonspecific. Many grad school programs look for the same groupings of traits. I think that you'd be fine using the same letters, as long as the letter doesn't start with "Dear Tulane Grad School of Sciences..." Asking for two letters could definitely annoy some professors.

Just to be sure, though, I would ask the recommenders to make sure they were planning on writing a letter that could be used for both.