Does this Help?

[russellang]

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I had an admissions question. The large animal vet I work for and one of my LOR has practices about an hour from my IS vet school. He refers alot of cases to them and is very well thought of at the vet school. He told me yesterday that the vet school asked him if he would allow their vet students to ride with him and I (im assuming to do their large animal rotations). He agreed and this will start in the spring. He said that one of the vet professors is coming out next week to sign an agreement with him.

I was just wondering in general with admissions if they take your LOR's background into consideration. I thought it could not hurt me if they know who he is and that he is affiliated with the school.

Thank you

 

[bbeventer]

Sure can't hurt!

 

[lunajett]

Assuming he really is universally well thought of, then yeah, it shouldn't hurt. But I think more important than WHO writes an LOR is WHAT the writer can say about you. How well does he know you, how strongly can he reccomend you, how good a writer, etc. In your case, sounds like he knows you very well, so that shouldn't be a problem. But I think sometimes people get caught up with having some rock star of the profession write the LOR thinking that will be a golden ticket, when really the writer can't say much more than "I met Joe and he seems like a nice guy who wants to be a vet."

 

[that redhead]

From what I understand, the person writing your letter doesn't hold much weight with evaluators. I spoke with an admissions woman from VA tech who said they get letters from senators, etc, and even people involved at specific universities and that what matters is the content of the letter and now the writer. Of course there's a difference between your mom and the vet who works with your IS school (hypothetically speaking, anyway) but I think its what they have to say about you that actually counts. No, it can't hurt you, but I don't think they're going to place you over another candidate just because Dr. So and So wrote your letter.

 

[bonaparte]

No, it can't hurt you, but I don't think they're going to place you over another candidate just because Dr. So and So wrote your letter.

I can't help but feel it might actually be beneficial if that particular vet can say, "Being familiar with both this specific school and this person, I can say with certainty that they are a good match."

 

[that redhead]

I can't help but feel it might actually be beneficial if that particular vet can say, "Being familiar with both this specific school and this person, I can say with certainty that they are a good match."

Not on this particular admissions committee, so I can't be sure either way. This was just my personal inclination and experience with someone familiar with a specific school's system. Perhaps this school will place preference on an applicant who has worked with an associate veterinarian, and if so, I'm glad they can get that edge.

 

[cubby38]

I had heard that they cant see who it is, just their descriptions. One of my eLORs is one of the 4 general practitioners on the admissions committee for Iowa State; would definitely not be ethical if she were to talk to the others and potentially sway their view.

I never asked her specifically this question but she said there is a lot of identity information hidden from them on purpose; basically see stats and text from us/eLORs. But I do agree that it would help if they mentioned their familiarity with the mannerisms of that specific school and how you would fit in well.

 

[luplodw]

I know that at some schools they DO see who wrote your letter. I was asked about one of my LOR writers in an interview (they knew them)