Here's a what if question regarding an LOR

[simondimond]

---

Members do not see this ad.

What if you were able to get an LOR from your congressman for your application to your state school? Would it help in any way compared to an LOR from somebody else?

Would it help to skip the LOR and have the congressman make a call to admissions?

It's just a what if scenario for now.

 

[NickNaylor]

🙄

 

[sector9]

What if you were able to get an LOR from your congressman for your application to your state school? Would it help in any way compared to an LOR from somebody else?

Would it help to skip the LOR and have the congressman make a call to admissions?

It's just a what if scenario for now.

In this hypothetical scenario, do you know this congressman personally? If not, then it's not worth the paper it's printed on

 

[simondimond]

In this hypothetical scenario, do you know this congressman personally? If not, then it's not worth the paper it's printed on

Define personally, I would argue that most people who write an LOR don't know the applicant on a "personal" level. Before I would ask for an LOR, I'm sure that this congressman would know who I am and why I want the LOR.

I'm not talking about calling up his office and saying "Hey, I need an LOR."

 

[EBTrailRunner]

This is from UMMSM's website:

I plan to send letters from the governor, several alumni of the medical school, and physicians whom I have known. Will that help my application? There are few letters that are more disadvantageous than letters from elected officials who do not know you personally. It looks like you are trying to pull strings and impress the committee with whom you or your parents might know. Letters from physicians you have shadowed have a tendency to be uniformly positive and do not offer the committee any really solid way of distinguishing among applicants. Letters from alumni can be helpful, especially if the alumni is known to members of the admissions committee.

IMO, not a good idea.

 

[dmf2682]

So you're going to befriend a sitting congressman? Don't waste your time. Volunteer or study. You have better uses for your time, like making sure you don't need special influence to get into your school.

 

[sector9]

Define personally, I would argue that most people who write an LOR don't know the applicant on a "personal" level. Before I would ask for an LOR, I'm sure that this congressman would know who I am and why I want the LOR.

I'm not talking about calling up his office and saying "Hey, I need an LOR."

You need to find better letter writers

 

[simondimond]

I work for an organization that the congressman is also involved in. My boss knows him personally and I'm sure we can get a letter on the grounds of "I've known this applicant for a few years at X organization and I think he would be an exceptional applicant to your school."

Also, I'm talking about applying to my state school.

Like I said, I'm not going to his office and saying "I'm headed to med school, and I need you to do me this favor."

I already have other letters and I thought this would help me stand out.

 

[sector9]

I work for an organization that the congressman is also involved in. My boss knows him personally and I'm sure we can get a letter on the grounds of "I've known this applicant for a few years at X organization and I think he would be an exceptional applicant to your school."

Also, I'm talking about applying to my state school.

Like I said, I'm not going to his office and saying "I'm headed to med school, and I need you to do me this favor."

I already have other letters and I thought this would help me stand out.

There may be situations where such a recommendation would be helpful, but I don't think medical school is one of them. It is much better to have someone write a letter who actually knows you and is familiar with your work ethic, personality, and relationships with your peers than from someone who can only write a generic, impersonal letter, even if that letter were to come from someone important.

 

[dmf2682]

I work for an organization that the congressman is also involved in. My boss knows him personally and I'm sure we can get a letter on the grounds of "I've known this applicant for a few years at X organization and I think he would be an exceptional applicant to your school."

Also, I'm talking about applying to my state school.

Like I said, I'm not going to his office and saying "I'm headed to med school, and I need you to do me this favor."

I already have other letters and I thought this would help me stand out.

You asked for opinions and got several. No need to be indignant about it.

 

[mauberley]

There may be situations where such a recommendation would be helpful, but I don't think medical school is one of them. It is much better to have someone write a letter who actually knows you and is familiar with your work ethic, personality, and relationships with your peers than from someone who can only write a generic, impersonal letter, even if that letter were to come from someone important.

+eleventybillion

 

[simondimond]

Being that medical school is competitive, don't you think you have to find a way to stand out?

 

[sector9]

Being that medical school is competitive, don't you think you have to find a way to stand out?

Just go for it. I don't care anymore.

As a final note, do you want to stand out in a negative or positive way? Do you want to stand out as the applicant who thinks that his or her connections should guarantee an acceptance to your state school?

 

[simondimond]

I see no difference in asking a congressman for an LOR and doing research just for the hell of it.

I hope LizzyM stops by to check this thread out.

 

[Musclemass]

I see no difference in asking a congressman for an LOR and doing research just for the hell of it.

The difference is that comments concerning you in a research environment are academic and relevant to the process. Who cares what an elected official thinks, it's not like they're bastions of honest/ethical behavior, they'll say anything

Reread post #5, this isn't that difficult to understand. If you want to improve your app, work harder and up your MCAT/GPA stats.

 

[LizzyM]

If you were employed by the congressman, then a letter would be appropriate.

If you have served in an organization and the congressman has been involved in the organization and knows you by name or by sight, it might be ok to ask for a letter but it won't carry much weight. (Example, you've been in disaster relief with the Red Cross & have met with the congressman on a few occasions and have briefed him on the situation on the ground, etc)

If you know the congressman because you were active in his election (or reelection) campaign or if you did fundraising for him, do not get a letter. A letter like this is just trouble.