does LOR from grad student satisfy as one from "Research advisor?"

[standard101]

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[bigman225]

I would definitely try to get a letter from the PI if at all possible.. the grad students letter might technically qualify but will be of inferior weight

 

[CafeMed]

I agree with bigman. A LOR from a PI will carry a lot more weight. If the PI is too busy with his new position to write the letter, you might see if the PI would be willing to co-sign the letter the grad student writes.

 

[doomknight]

Imagine an adcom reading a letter, and at the end, it read:

James Kennedy,
B.S. 2007, University of Wasilla



I don't think that would carry alot of weight.

 

[standard101]

Thanks.

 

[CafeMed]

Thanks for your advice. It's a lab I joined for 2 months during my freshman year summer, and not my permanent lab. The reason I didn't ask for one from the PI is that I thought he has already left the school so probably wouldn't be too interested. I'm not looking for the letter to help my application, I'm just wondering if such a letter would fulfill the requirement as a LOR from a research adviser even if it's written by a grad student.

I think it would since the grad student was your adviser and they didn't really specify that it had to be the PI.

 

[giacalonenj]

I'm not looking for the letter to help my application, I'm just wondering

If you're not looking for this letter to help your application, then why are you using it? You only want strong LORs that boost your application, not a generic rec that doesn't lend to strength as a candidate for med school.

 

[MVP2026]

I have a similar situation. My PI from grad school dropped off the face of the earth so I asked an MD/PhD from the lab (was a post doc at the time, now has his own lab) for an LOR. Would this be an acceptable source?

I'm also 7 years out of grad school and I am currently managing a department in an energy company. Would my manager also be a good source for an LOR? I manage 20 of his employees and has been giving me good reviews.

Thanks!
Martin.

 

[ponyo]

I have a similar situation. My PI from grad school dropped off the face of the earth so I asked an MD/PhD from the lab (was a post doc at the time, now has his own lab) for an LOR. Would this be an acceptable source?

I'm also 7 years out of grad school and I am currently managing a department in an energy company. Would my manager also be a good source for an LOR? I manage 20 of his employees and has been giving me good reviews.

Thanks!
Martin.

For the first, I think it's okay as long as he's a PI now, esp since he was a postdoc and not just a grad student. (Just out of curiosity what happened to your real PI?)

Second seems fine...

 

[macsta]

I have a similar situation. My PI from grad school dropped off the face of the earth so I asked an MD/PhD from the lab (was a post doc at the time, now has his own lab) for an LOR. Would this be an acceptable source?

I'm also 7 years out of grad school and I am currently managing a department in an energy company. Would my manager also be a good source for an LOR? I manage 20 of his employees and has been giving me good reviews.

Thanks!
Martin.

Traditional students require a minium of one non-science and two science LOR. Non-traditional students obviously have different requirements. I am really not sure what they are. The non-traditional forum might be a better place to ask (I don't want to misinform you).

 

[FIREitUP]

I have a similar situation. My PI from grad school dropped off the face of the earth so I asked an MD/PhD from the lab (was a post doc at the time, now has his own lab) for an LOR. Would this be an acceptable source?

I'm also 7 years out of grad school and I am currently managing a department in an energy company. Would my manager also be a good source for an LOR? I manage 20 of his employees and has been giving me good reviews.

Thanks!
Martin.

Hey Martin,

I wouldnt fret too much about the MD/PHD; it sounds like a good reliable source to have a letter from, as long as he/she knows you well enough to write a good LOR. As for the place you're currently working for, that's also a valid place to get your letters from, as long as they are not discontent with you leaving, which might cause them to write something negative on the LOR (people can be really mean sometimes).

 

[MVP2026]

Thanks everyone. Finding good LOR writers has been my biggest issue due to my distance from school.

Are physicians you shadow also a good LOR source? I'm following a couple over the coming month.

Thanks!
Martin.

 

[macsta]

Thanks everyone. Finding good LOR writers has been my biggest issue due to my distance from school.

Are physicians you shadow also a good LOR source? I'm following a couple over the coming month.

Thanks!
Martin.

I really don't know what is acceptable given your non-tradition status.

Try asking the guys on this thread...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=792114