How do people know they have strong LORs?

[TheoryOfEverything]

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I see a lot of people posting that they have amazing or very strong LORs.

How do applicants know they have great letters?

 

[Grace184]

For me, one of mine showed me the completed letter after she submitted it, the other 2 are professors I know in and out of classroom well and have done research with, published with, attended conferences with, etc and were elated to write recommendations for me.

 

[FutureDrB]

Because I wrote it. 😛 Then the Dr. signed it.

 

[DrPatriot]

Because I wrote it. 😛 Then the Dr. signed it.

^This

 

[Grace184]

Because I wrote it. 😛 Then the Dr. signed it.

That's a big one!

And people on SDN tend to think their professors looooove them when in reality they can't wait for them to get the eff out of their office and stop asking questions

 

[j4pac]

Don't ask people for an LOR...ask for a strong LOR.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Put it on interfolio and send it to yourself and read it.


Lolz.

 

[Gandyy]

Put it on interfolio and send it to yourself and read it.


Lolz.

This is how you get caught in an ethical scandal, and perhaps get any acceptances from a medical school revoked.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

This is how you get caught in an ethical scandal, and perhaps get any acceptances from a medical school revoked.

Prove it. 😉

 

[ortnakas]

By the level of enthusiasm with which the writer agrees to write it for you.

 

[Hustler101]

If they like you a lot and are enthusiastic writers.

 

[GrapesofRath]

The same way tons of people their essays are "pulitzer prize" worthy and works of art when in reality they are the definition of average.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Prove it. 😉

I seriously hope you didn't do that to be honest. It could backfire if it is somehow proven after you receive medical school acceptances.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I seriously hope you didn't do that to be honest. It could backfire if it is somehow proven after you receive medical school acceptances.

I'm simply answering the question that the OP brought to our attention.

This is another option if he/she is that desperate to know what is in his/her LOR.

 

[Gandyy]

I seriously hope you didn't do that to be honest. It could backfire if it is somehow proven after you receive medical school acceptances.

Not only can it backfire, there have been many accounts of people doing this or even sending it to a faculty member that doesnt make sense to send it to.

They get their acceptances revoked.

Its a bad idea.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Unless you know somebody who knows somebody that is on some application committee for some random grad program.

😉

 

[Gandyy]

Unless you know somebody who knows somebody that is on some application committee for some random grad program.

😉

🙄

 

[ConfusedChemist]

They believe they are so fabulous and smart and lovely that thier reference could only possibly say wonderful things about their wonderful selves

 

[asdf123g]

Not only can it backfire, there have been many accounts of people doing this or even sending it to a faculty member that doesnt make sense to send it to.

They get their acceptances revoked.

Its a bad idea.

No offense, but i feel like you may be talking outta your butt on this one. Got any sources for this? excuse the tone. Its not intentional!

 

[Gandyy]

No offense, but i feel like you may be talking outta your butt on this one. Got any sources for this? excuse the tone. Its not intentional!

I have no sources besides the Internet. Just heard of this stuff happening to pre meds. I remember reading some articles on this of cases where this happened. Ill try to find them again and link them

 

[Grace184]

An applicant gives up the right to demand to see the letter; the letter writer can show the letter to the applicant if they choose.

@gonnif what do you think of all this nonsense? Sending it to dummy emails, friends, etc? That would be demanding to see the letter, in a sense, would it not?

 

[Grace184]

@gonnif interesting... I never had the desire to do so bc I know I have good LORs, I just figured there was something in place to prevent this from happening. Hahaha I can't imagine being in Fed lockdown over interfolio letters! But pre med neuroticism exists, and I do believe @Gandy741 has read the articles!

Edit: and gonnif, I read everything you write now in a heavy Brooklyn accent, so the "what are you in for?" Was a nice touch....thanks for that 😉

 

[Gandyy]

@DetectiveAlonzo was clearly joking; he's been around here long enough to know the difference. More importantly about his query, was that he was able to extract yet another very opinionated post from you. You have been giving out a lot of advice on this forum ever since you became particularly active this cycle. Its okay to offer advice that has been qualified by your experience, but don't start reading everything in sight and then begin passing on the opinions of others as fact.

Edit: Actually no point in starting a flame war. Read Gonnif's post above. It pretty much details what might happen if you are unethical with letters.

 

[Grace184]

I was honestly just curious what would happen...I thought he was joking as well. I wanted to hear the "official sanctions" of sending a letter to oneself. I didnt know about the inter workings of interfolio...that was interesting.

 

[Michander125]

Out of all the letters I requested, my professor and two MDs all sent me a copy "for my records" without me even asking for one.

Also I feel when most ask for your CV they are more likely to write a strong letter.

 

[CajunMedic]

An applicant gives up the right to demand to see the letter; the letter writer can show the letter to the applicant if they choose.

The email sending my best one started with that: "You waived your right to see it, but not my right to send it to you...."

Also I feel when most ask for your CV they are more likely to write a strong letter.

I can agree. One of my letter writers asked for my CV and interviewed me for about an hour on specifics.

I went to our admissions office about 3 months into 1st year just to see if they'd let me see my committee letter-NOPE! I got "does it really matter, you're here ain't ya!"

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

Prove it. 😉

If you land an acceptance........

 

[Goro]

They don't.

I see a lot of people posting that they have amazing or very strong LORs.

How do applicants know they have great letters?

 

[beeboops]

I always make sure to ask if they can write me a strong LOR rather than just an LOR. It probably doesn't really do much, but it does allow the prof/doc to question themselves as to whether they could actually do so. I also look for enthusiasm too. I asked an MD that I shadowed, and she was just like, "Okay...", and I kept having to remind her about the letter. I ended up seeing it because she handed it to me to read, and it was overall positive, but I didn't feel that it was very strong or personal. Needless to say, I didn't use it.

I had one professor ask me to meet with him after I asked for an LOR, and we spent an hour talking about my motivations to be a doctor, etc. I also used this letter to apply to an SMP program. I'm now working in the program office and one of my colleagues has access to the letters we used to apply, so I asked him to read it over for me and tell me if it was good or not since I'm reusing the letter for this application cycle. He said it was really great! So, I guess whenever a prof/doc is enthusiastic and/or asks to meet with you, then you know you're probably going to get a good letter. Of course, this isn't a guarantee.

 

[Grace184]

Honest, when students asked if I could write them STONG LORs and said no... Said no, they **** their pants or bitched me it- which forgoes getting a STRONG letter from my colleagues. If you ask me what type of letter I can provide you with: highly recommended, recommended, or or nor not- at which I will not be an ass and send this out, I will tell you what I I think needs improvement to your face.

Come at me at professionally with no demands intact.