How good do LoRs and employer recommendations really have to be to get into...

[Gauss44]

---

Members don't see this ad.

How good do LoRs and employer recommendations really have to be to get into... an MD program in the Northeast or MidAtlantic?

In summary, other application features are on average, around average, for MD matriculates - not super outstanding or subpar.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

There are some good comments on the importance of LORs here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/are-recommendation-letters-even-important.1174545/

It's hard to really quantify HOW good a LOR needs to be. My guess is that most people probably have good but somewhat average letters that won't hurt them but also won't be the deciding factor in their acceptance either. A truly stellar LOR probably comes from someone who has truly stellar ECs.

Just my .02 on good people to get LORs from:
--Science profs who remember you and can speak to your abilities in class (Many schools require 1-2 letters from science profs)
--Supervisors from a clinical, leadership, or volunteer experience (Someone who can attest to your understanding of what it means to be a doctor, qualities you possess that would make you a good doctor, your altruism, your motivations, etc.)
--Work supervisors, if you have them (not everyone will)
--Research supervisors, if you have them (not everyone will)

Ask people who know you, who you have good relationships with, and who can attest to your abilities academically and professionally. Your LORs give adcoms insight into how others (ideally those who know you well) perceive you. If you've been doing well academically and in your ECs, it shouldn't be too hard to find good letter writers.

 

[Lucca]

I think @LizzyM 's staircase analogy might be appropriate here.

I've answered this before but here goes: It does vary by school. Imagine that people are standing on a huge staircase with those who have the highest stats and the most remarkable experiences at the top stair and downward to the least among those who are interviewed. After the interview, the applicants can keep their place on their original stair, go up a step or two or go down a step or many steps. In most cases, the people with the higest stats are still at the top but some are sent to the bottom step and some people move up or down according to their performance.

Basically, if you are already a top-flight applicant, your LORs dont have to be all that impressive to convince the adcom to offer you an interview / admission. If you are in the middle they should be better to enhance the rest of your package and move you up, if you are at the bottom they better be stellar, etc.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

OP, just stumbled upon your similar post in the Nontrads forum. Sounds like you're freaking out re: LORs. It might be easier to help you, if you could tell us a bit about who you're thinking of asking. What are some of your notable ECs? What do you think are your best options for professors? What are your stats?

 

[Meeehai]

You don't need spectacular ones, if that's what you're asking.