eLOR question: another prof?

[bluesails]

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Hey all. I was talking to the pre-health advisor at my school about eLOR's the other day. I currently have 3 people I've asked to write eLOR's: one vet, one Bio professor from a Bio class that wasn't a prereq, and my Biochem professor, who is also this pre-health advisor himself.

Anyway, this prof suggested that I throw in another eLOR and get one written by someone who didn't teach me a science class to kind play up the liberal artsy side of my application - I go to a liberal artsy school and I am planning to be an English/Creative Writing minor. The only person I can really think of is my Intro Creative Writing professor who taught me freshman year. I've obviously taken more CW classes but this guy is the only prof I really connected with, and we still keep in touch and catch up every term to talk about how my writing is going.

My question is does it just look bad / desperate to have this third prof as my fourth eLOR when a.) I only have one vet eLOR b.) He hasn't taught me since freshman year though we've kept in touch? My two other profs are professors who know me pretty well outside of class, and while I've talked to this guy once a term or so I haven't talked to him as much as my other eLOR's. Is it worth getting that part of the picture?

 

[adams30]

My question is does it just look bad / desperate to have this third prof as my fourth eLOR when a.) I only have one vet eLOR b.) He hasn't taught me since freshman year though we've kept in touch? My two other profs are professors who know me pretty well outside of class, and while I've talked to this guy once a term or so I haven't talked to him as much as my other eLOR's. Is it worth getting that part of the picture?

I don't think it looks bad to have a third professor write you a letter especially if they know you. I had residence hall director write me a letter because I worked with her often and she knew me well in addition to a couple of vets and science professors. It could show another side of you.

Just make sure that the schools you are applying to don't have any type of limit to the number of eLORs they accept. In VMCAS you can add up to 6 but some schools only want so many.

 

[Bismarck]

Also to note: it might be helpful to have more than the minimum number of writers should one one back out on you at the last minute (your application is incomplete without them).

 

[adams30]

Also to note: it might be helpful to have more than the minimum number of writers should one one back out on you at the last minute (your application is incomplete without them).

That is true. That's exactly why I asked 2 vets and 2 science professors.

 

[hygebeorht]

Also: some schools prefer to see two vets in the mix.

The best advice I have gotten (and given!) is that your eLORs should reflect your weaknesses. My grades and test scores were great and could stand on their own, but my hours and experience were not impressive. I'm trying to remember, but I'm pretty sure I asked three vets and one professor. A friend has crazy experience but her grades are eh. She is getting two professor eLORs this year.

You do definitely want to ask more people to complete them than you need for the app. Nothing is quite as nerve-wracking as waiting for that last eLOR to drop hours before the deadline.

 

[Frozenshades]

Also to note: it might be helpful to have more than the minimum number of writers should one one back out on you at the last minute (your application is incomplete without them).

👍 Would've saved me some stress

Ended up asking a professor only a couple weeks before deadline and a guy I really didn't know very well. So had letters from two PhDs and one from a DVM.