Does having an alumnus write your LOR help?

[motz]

A DO letter helps over an MD letter. Do DO schools give weight to alumni's letters, or no? If I am aiming for a specific school, would it be worth it to focus on alumni of that school? Should I avoid LORs from foreign graduates?

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[DoctorSynthesis]

A DO letter helps over an MD letter. Do DO schools give weight to alumni's letters, or no? If I am aiming for a specific school, would it be worth it to focus on alumni of that school? Should I avoid LORs from foreign graduates?

It most likely depends on the school but it doesn't hurt.

 

[MedWonk]

Can't hurt unless it's a crappy LOR. Though, in my case, it did me no favors as I got rejected by that school.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Can't hurt unless it's a crappy LOR. Though, in my case, it did me no favors as I got rejected by that school.

It's def not going to get you in! But yea I mean you might as well. FYI you prolly should have posted that here: i'm sure it was answered already also http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...mmendation-questions-thread-2013-2014.989580/

 

[Goro]

It does!

A DO letter helps over an MD letter. Do DO schools give weight to alumni's letters?

Yes...can't hurt.
If I am aiming for a specific school, would it be worth it to focus on alumni of that school?

No; I've seen plenty.
Should I avoid LORs from foreign graduates?

 

[bball4]

Can't hurt unless it's a crappy LOR. Though, in my case, it did me no favors as I got rejected by that school.

Hey MedWonk,

Just went through your MDApps and you've got some great looking stats. Was wondering why you were rejected outright prior to interviews by some of the DO schools like PCOM? Were there any red flags?

 

[MedWonk]

Hey MedWonk,

Just went through your MDApps and you've got some great looking stats. Was wondering why you were rejected outright prior to interviews by some of the DO schools like PCOM? Were there any red flags?

No, it was UNECOM, which was why I was a little disappointed to get no love. I always figure DO schools have regional bias, so I was pleasantly surprised by the II from CCOM, not surprised to have one from NYCOM, and disappointed with the rejection from UNECOM especially with the alumnus/DO/professional reference and also being born and raised in New England. Plus being the type of candidate they seem to look for. But, I got into my state school, so I'm happy.

I had an F in a study abroad course (decided to watch the WC instead of attending 8AM class), and a couple Cs in classes I took to fulfill general education requirements. Otherwise, my lowest science grade was a B, and my post-bacc GPA was a 3.7. So, I guess I had a bit of a red flag, but that didn't stop a bunch of schools from inviting me, and I was asked about it at only one school. Plus, the course I failed was a Japanese language class, and about a year later passed the highest level of the JLPT, which has a pass rate of about 35% (which I listed on my AMCAS). I don't regret my decision to spend my study abroad like a typical Japanese student would and have fun take priority over classwork. I still ended up with a 3.5 in the study abroad program, anyway.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

It undoubtedly makes you look good, but if you think it'll make up for other deficits, it won't. For argument's sake, it would probably be in a head-to-head competition where 2 people with identical numbers/experiences where only 1 can be invited that the person with the letter would get that edge

 

[csx]

What if it's a so-so LOR from an alumni? Not bad, not good.