How are you handling LORs?

[LiftingMed]

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So I've been out of undergraduate for 4 years, goal was always to apply to medical school, but was never too sure about doing MD/DO/PhD or just MD/DO. I have never applied to medical school yet, but since I always planned on it, I asked professors for letters and they're uploaded on Interfolio. If a school requires 2 science and 1 non-science, would these still be okay? I do have more recent letters from current activities that I will also throw in.

 

[Dr.GlipGLop]

I think those sound ok. They may be a little old... but I am not sure you should get rid of all of them. It is important to have references from your school. Maybe spruce it up with 2 more from current activities, one from a physician you have shadowed, and if you feel you have to much cut out one of the professors.

 

[futuremdforme]

I think some schools specify the date the LOR must be written. If that's the case, you can just ask if they can update their letters (send it back to them if you need). I worked with most of my LOR writers well over 5 years prior to my application, it was not an issue. I used 2 from profs, and my non-science was from either volunteering or work or both depending on the school.

 

[LiftingMed]

I think those sound ok. They may be a little old... but I am not sure you should get rid of all of them. It is important to have references from your school. Maybe spruce it up with 2 more from current activities, one from a physician you have shadowed, and if you feel you have to much cut out one of the professors.

Oh no, I won't get rid of them, just wanted to know if they'd still be okay to use.

I think some schools specify the date the LOR must be written. If that's the case, you can just ask if they can update their letters (send it back to them if you need). I worked with most of my LOR writers well over 5 years prior to my application, it was not an issue. I used 2 from profs, and my non-science was from either volunteering or work or both depending on the school.

Yeah, the issue now is I haven't been in contact with them since, I guess these letters are more to fulfill some schools' requirements of having 2 science and 1 non-science from professors. I'll have to contact schools about old LORs then, as I said, I do have recent ones from current activities, but some schools are strict about wanting the ones from professors.

 

[Dr.GlipGLop]

I think some schools specify the date the LOR must be written. If that's the case, you can just ask if they can update their letters (send it back to them if you need). I worked with most of my LOR writers well over 5 years prior to my application, it was not an issue. I used 2 from profs, and my non-science was from either volunteering or work or both depending on the school.

This is good advice too. You also seam to have a good strategy of contacting the schools/figuring out what they require.

 

[TheGoodDoc83]

This is actually the part of the med school application process I'm dreading. I graduated college in 2006, so I'm a non-trad. I worked in pathology for about 5 to 6 years, dabbled in other career avenues, and became self-employed. Exactly who I'm going to ask for LORs will be a huge conundrum. I intend on going to my local community college down the block to complete my pre-reqs. I've got an ultra competitive undergrad GPA, so it's a matter of just showing these schools that I can still perform well academically and obtain reasonable success on the MCAT.

But when it comes time to get LORs, I might have to get one from a client of mine, a volunteer supervisor at this homeless shelter I'm volunteering for, and perhaps an old supervisor of mine at a job I had about 5 years ago in a lab. That's literally the best I can do. Maybe I can get a community college science professor too. Med schools will just have to understand that I'm in my mid-30s and a non-traditional applicant with more life experience under my belt than the traditional college student who jumps from course to course and doesn't take time to breathe.

 

[LiftingMed]

This is actually the part of the med school application process I'm dreading. I graduated college in 2006, so I'm a non-trad. I worked in pathology for about 5 to 6 years, dabbled in other career avenues, and became self-employed. Exactly who I'm going to ask for LORs will be a huge conundrum. I intend on going to my local community college down the block to complete my pre-reqs. I've got an ultra competitive undergrad GPA, so it's a matter of just showing these schools that I can still perform well academically and obtain reasonable success on the MCAT.

But when it comes time to get LORs, I might have to get one from a client of mine, a volunteer supervisor at this homeless shelter I'm volunteering for, and perhaps an old supervisor of mine at a job I had about 5 years ago in a lab. That's literally the best I can do. Maybe I can get a community college science professor too. Med schools will just have to understand that I'm in my mid-30s and a non-traditional applicant with more life experience under my belt than the traditional college student who jumps from course to course and doesn't take time to breathe.

I'm sure ADCOMs realize it'll be more difficult for non-trads to get LORs, just make sure when you get your letters from your pre-req classes that you have 2 science and 1 non-science letter from professors. Some schools have less strict requirements and the individuals you mentioned would be fine to write you an LOR, just don't ask family and friends.

 

[StarSpangled]

This is actually the part of the med school application process I'm dreading. I graduated college in 2006, so I'm a non-trad. I worked in pathology for about 5 to 6 years, dabbled in other career avenues, and became self-employed. Exactly who I'm going to ask for LORs will be a huge conundrum. I intend on going to my local community college down the block to complete my pre-reqs. I've got an ultra competitive undergrad GPA, so it's a matter of just showing these schools that I can still perform well academically and obtain reasonable success on the MCAT.

But when it comes time to get LORs, I might have to get one from a client of mine, a volunteer supervisor at this homeless shelter I'm volunteering for, and perhaps an old supervisor of mine at a job I had about 5 years ago in a lab. That's literally the best I can do. Maybe I can get a community college science professor too. Med schools will just have to understand that I'm in my mid-30s and a non-traditional applicant with more life experience under my belt than the traditional college student who jumps from course to course and doesn't take time to breathe.

I worried about this too even being fewer years out of undergrad than you, but still quite a few. Although I ended up asking professors I had up to 6 years ago, in the meantime I did notice at least one school (BCOM) had a written exemption to these traditional requirements for those far out of school. You can see it on their website if you’re interested. I haven’t seen it from other schools but I imagine others would be reasonable. I think getting a science prof from CC though may be imperative; just make sure you don’t sign up for a huge class. I just took a class at the local state college and the professor said on the first day the class is too big so he doesn’t write letters for anyone.

 

[TheGoodDoc83]

BCOM is Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, I think? I checked their website. Here is what they say:

Required three (3) letters of recommendation are as follows:

• One (1) letter from a physician (D.O. or M.D.) that details your exposure to patients. Information on contacting an osteopathic physician in your community is available at: www.osteopathic.org or your state osteopathic association.

And one of the following:

• One (1) Pre-medical/health advisory committee letter that includes the names and departments of the committee members.
• Two (2) academic letters written by college hard science professors/researchers.
• • Non-traditional students may submit letters from an immediate supervisor in place of the pre-med advisory committee or science professors. Non-traditional applicants are those who have not been enrolled in any science coursework for three years or more at the time of application submission.

So it seems like that 1 letter from a physician is absolutely required. There has to be a way for non-trads to buy letters lol.

 

[StarSpangled]

BCOM is Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, I think? I checked their website. Here is what they say:

Required three (3) letters of recommendation are as follows:

• One (1) letter from a physician (D.O. or M.D.) that details your exposure to patients. Information on contacting an osteopathic physician in your community is available at: www.osteopathic.org or your state osteopathic association.

And one of the following:

• One (1) Pre-medical/health advisory committee letter that includes the names and departments of the committee members.
• Two (2) academic letters written by college hard science professors/researchers.
• • Non-traditional students may submit letters from an immediate supervisor in place of the pre-med advisory committee or science professors. Non-traditional applicants are those who have not been enrolled in any science coursework for three years or more at the time of application submission.

So it seems like that 1 letter from a physician is absolutely required. There has to be a way for non-trads to buy letters lol.

I cold-called physicians in my area whom I was interested in shadowing. Took a couple tries but found someone I had a lot in common with, told him why I was interested in shadowing him specifically, and he happily agreed. Medical school HQ is launching a shadowing connection service but in the meantime that site has helpful info about asking for LORs. I would agree a physician one is really non-negotiable.

 

[TheGoodDoc83]

I cold-called physicians in my area whom I was interested in shadowing. Took a couple tries but found someone I had a lot in common with, told him why I was interested in shadowing him specifically, and he happily agreed. Medical school HQ is launching a shadowing connection service but in the meantime that site has helpful info about asking for LORs. I would agree a physician one is really non-negotiable.

I also discovered that they have programs where you can do the shadowing internationally, but these cost a few thousand dollars to do (3 to 7K). Is it worth it? It just may be if you have the money and can't get shadowing close to your home. Some of these programs pay for your meals, lodging, and guarantee you a LOR from the physician you shadow under. So really, the only issue is...do you want to pay the money to do that?

I have a friend who's a nurse, and I'll ask him if he knows any doctors that he could put in touch with me for shadowing. I'm looking to do this next year, maybe the summer 2020 or winter 2020-2021 (when I'm 50 to 75% done with my pre-med coursework). If I can't secure shadowing here, then I'll do the international shadowing. Something doesn't sit right with me just cold-calling hospitals and physician offices...I'd feel like one of those salesmen who just knocks on doors 24/7 or an annoying telemarketer.