help please! What do you about letters of rec as a non-traditional applicant?

[amygdaloideum]

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My undergrad didn't have a pre-medical committee. I collected 5 letters from professors before I graduated and have science, non-science, research PI letter.

Am I at a big disadvantage because we don't have a committee? Do I need to go back and find a pre-med advisor from my undergrad to write a letter?

Is it mandatory to have a pre-med advisor letter if you have no committee? Does the pre-med advisor letter use up one of your letters? I'd almost rather use a letter from a faculty I know well... help, advice appreciated!

 

[QofQuimica]

From the FAQs Sticky at the top of this forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=523104

 

[amygdaloideum]

From the FAQs Sticky at the top of this forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=523104

Thank you very much, extremely helpful!

 

[MSmentor018]

My undergrad didn't have a pre-medical committee. I collected 5 letters from professors before I graduated and have science, non-science, research PI letter.

Am I at a big disadvantage because we don't have a committee? Do I need to go back and find a pre-med advisor from my undergrad to write a letter?

Is it mandatory to have a pre-med advisor letter if you have no committee? Does the pre-med advisor letter use up one of your letters? I'd almost rather use a letter from a faculty I know well... help, advice appreciated!

nope, I wrote my own reason for not using a pre committee letter. only used 1 professor, 1 work supervisor, 1 MD, 1 DO. give all your writers your CV and other letters to get a grasp on what angle to write it from. get a ton of them then choose the strongest one. I had them write me the letter with a clause at the title stating this was given to me to be freely distributed to schools of my choosing. that saves them from sending out a ton of stuff for you.

 

[Lazarus]

nope, I wrote my own reason for not using a pre committee letter. only used 1 professor, 1 work supervisor, 1 MD, 1 DO. give all your writers your CV and other letters to get a grasp on what angle to write it from. get a ton of them then choose the strongest one. I had them write me the letter with a clause at the title stating this was given to me to be freely distributed to schools of my choosing. that saves them from sending out a ton of stuff for you.

Great suggestion. I have heard vague whispers of some sort of on-line repository that you can load your LoRs into for this purpose. At least from my point of view LoRs are tricky because we come from diverse backgrounds and we usually have an abundance of folks that would be great sources of LoRs (but I suppose the big ones that count are Docs and science profs).

 

[MSmentor018]

Great suggestion. I have heard vague whispers of some sort of on-line repository that you can load your LoRs into for this purpose. At least from my point of view LoRs are tricky because we come from diverse backgrounds and we usually have an abundance of folks that would be great sources of LoRs (but I suppose the big ones that count are Docs and science profs).

I think you're talking about interfolio. I never used this service and don't know much about it. if you check the pre med threads, there's talk of it. I did college the first time back in early 90's....only 1 professor stayed on since, so that became my only letter. LOR's are very tricky and using the right one can make/break you. obviously choose the ones that may have a connection/influence in that school or local area. I truly saw the power of a good LOR after completing a research project on the subject (and my interviews). the "rules" of application are mainly written for trad students. don't get me wrong, you can't alter everything on the app but there are a few things you can change to be in your favor. whatever you do.... absolutely don't listen to pre med advisors!!

 

[amygdaloideum]

I think you're talking about interfolio. I never used this service and don't know much about it. if you check the pre med threads, there's talk of it. I did college the first time back in early 90's....only 1 professor stayed on since, so that became my only letter. LOR's are very tricky and using the right one can make/break you. obviously choose the ones that may have a connection/influence in that school or local area. I truly saw the power of a good LOR after completing a research project on the subject (and my interviews). the "rules" of application are mainly written for trad students. don't get me wrong, you can't alter everything on the app but there are a few things you can change to be in your favor. whatever you do.... absolutely don't listen to pre med advisors!!

Thanks for the pointers!-- Although, I'm not sure I quite understand what you mean by the "rules of the app" and "don't listen to your pre-med adviser?"

Thanks again..

 

[MSmentor018]

Thanks for the pointers!-- Although, I'm not sure I quite understand what you mean by the "rules of the app" and "don't listen to your pre-med adviser?"

Thanks again..

there are general rules of app; you need x number of professor letters, x number of MD letters, certain pre reqs for secondaries...etc. being a non trad, you can change the number of letters and may have more classes to chose from for your secondaries (pre reqs).

pre med advisors are notoriously known to give false advice to non trads!! I really mean off the wall, discouraging, down right wrong advice. I have plenty of posts and there are multiple threads on the subject. they are nothing but a bunch of oxygen thieves!

 

[Lazarus]

" they are nothing but a bunch of oxygen thieves!"

Ha...hilarious. I will make sure to read up on the posts to be informed when someone is trying to blow some hot air up my rectum. Just to clarify: Pre-med as in postbach premed?

Who would you suggest is a credible source to seek out? (obviously besides yourself 😀), would you say admissions folks? Other premed students? Current students? Or is this just a silly questions and the answer is all of the above just take all discussions with a grain of salt.

It does seem being polite and persistent can accomplish you things that would otherwise seem bureaucratically impossible.

 

[MSmentor018]

" they are nothing but a bunch of oxygen thieves!"

Ha...hilarious. I will make sure to read up on the posts to be informed when someone is trying to blow some hot air up my rectum. Just to clarify: Pre-med as in postbach premed?

Who would you suggest is a credible source to seek out? (obviously besides yourself 😀), would you say admissions folks? Other premed students? Current students? Or is this just a silly questions and the answer is all of the above just take all discussions with a grain of salt.

It does seem being polite and persistent can accomplish you things that would otherwise seem bureaucratically impossible.

pre med is lumped together, trads and non trads. that's why those guys can't give proper advice. they have no clue. I have yet to hear of a college that has a "non trad pre med" service. admission folks are good (sometimes) at knowing the policy for their school and probably some general advice. there are plenty of people on here that are credible, esp if you go to the attendings threads down in the residency areas. if you have any doubt about someone, look at their previous postings. but like anything else in life, there are some bad opinions on SDN too. current students are also a great source but remember their just a year ahead of you and rumors do fly quickly with many inaccuracies so take that with a grain of salt. definitley double check any advice that seems a little strange to you. the more you ask around, the more answers you'll get, and some will overlap....that's always a good start! feel free to PM/ask questions