how important are rec letters???

[jumboolia]

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Hello,
I am a current 1st year pharmacy student at UF-COP and long story short, I've had a change of heart that I can't deny that i know I want to practice Med. Pharmacy school wasn't something that I entered to with the intent of never practicing, however, it's not something I have a passion to practice and am realizing this with every passing day. I am not going to drop out and pursue MD because I did the 2 +4 program, so I only have an AA, and will have an AA and PHARM D upon graduation. ANYWAYS,
I was concerned about letters of rec...i know this is way down the line, but i'm always planning ahead..anyways, should I be concerning myself with that now...I feel like it's going to be very hard for me to squeeze letters of rec out of my pharmacy professors...like they'll give me the whole, why did you do pharmacy if you want to do med, and the school of pharmacy seems very willing to support students in pursuing LAW, PHD, and MBA degrees upon graduation but I'm sure that they will be offended and insulted if I want ot pursue Med. Furthermore, if I ask for a rec letter I'm afraid they'll decline because they never knew i had intentions to pursue med and can't attest to my dedication in that area...but then I don't want to go to any of their office hours and tell them that my heart is in med because they'd probably..hate me?
My understanding of it is that rec letters primarily consist of 2 from science teachers, 1 non science, 2 character references, nad a peer evaluation..I know that I can get the 2 characters and peer, and hopefully I may be able to go back to an undergrad professors or ask an english professor ( i will be taking an english course over teh summer) for rec letters. Should I just focus on making hte best grades possible right now and worry about letters of rec maybe 6 months or so before applying..or should it be something that I start figuring out now...not sure how important they are but I imagine that since I'd be a non trad pharm d graduate applicant theyd want to know that others see me devoted ot pursuing med.
Any feedback?
Thanks,
julia.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Hello,
I am a current 1st year pharmacy student at UF-COP and long story short, I've had a change of heart that I can't deny that i know I want to practice Med. Pharmacy school wasn't something that I entered to with the intent of never practicing, however, it's not something I have a passion to practice and am realizing this with every passing day. I am not going to drop out and pursue MD because I did the 2 +4 program, so I only have an AA, and will have an AA and PHARM D upon graduation. ANYWAYS,
I was concerned about letters of rec...i know this is way down the line, but i'm always planning ahead..anyways, should I be concerning myself with that now...I feel like it's going to be very hard for me to squeeze letters of rec out of my pharmacy professors...like they'll give me the whole, why did you do pharmacy if you want to do med, and the school of pharmacy seems very willing to support students in pursuing LAW, PHD, and MBA degrees upon graduation but I'm sure that they will be offended and insulted if I want ot pursue Med. Furthermore, if I ask for a rec letter I'm afraid they'll decline because they never knew i had intentions to pursue med and can't attest to my dedication in that area...but then I don't want to go to any of their office hours and tell them that my heart is in med because they'd probably..hate me?
My understanding of it is that rec letters primarily consist of 2 from science teachers, 1 non science, 2 character references, nad a peer evaluation..I know that I can get the 2 characters and peer, and hopefully I may be able to go back to an undergrad professors or ask an english professor ( i will be taking an english course over teh summer) for rec letters. Should I just focus on making hte best grades possible right now and worry about letters of rec maybe 6 months or so before applying..or should it be something that I start figuring out now...not sure how important they are but I imagine that since I'd be a non trad pharm d graduate applicant theyd want to know that others see me devoted ot pursuing med.
Any feedback?
Thanks,
julia.

This really isn't a big deal. Everyone worries about this to a greater or lesser extent, but you'll find that most people will support your decision and give you a decent letter. It won't make or break your application at the 'front end' Employers, physicians you have shadowed, recent science professors etc. all can provide letters that the Admissions Committee will accept. I had been out of undergraduate for 10 years when I applied so I didn't even bother to get letters from those folks and I didn't worry about not having a "pre-med committe letter".

It varies between medical schools but I know that my school does not even consider letters of recommendation until the applicant has been invited to interview and the interviewers' comments have been passed on to the Admissions Committee. Undergraduate grades, MCAT scores, clinical exposure, and perhaps your AMCAS essay are most critical for the first cut (invitation to interview). I hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[relentless11]

Just to add, LORs can also be a way for adcoms to "verify" certain ECs that you have done. For some schools, they don't look at LORs until after interview as ScottishChap said. Others may use GPA/MCAT, ECs, personal statement, and LORs to determine if you get an interview.

From what I can tell, regardless of the method, LORs may approach the importance of the interview...especially LORs from people who have known you for a long time, and interacted with you a great deal. My PI, mentioned that when he applied to med school, his LORs were worth 40% of what got him admitted (40% was interview too...with the balance being GPA/MCAT, etc). Take it as a grain of salt, just try to get the best possible in everything, and pray to whatever god(s) you believe in like the rest of us😉.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hello,
I am a current 1st year pharmacy student at UF-COP and long story short, I've had a change of heart that I can't deny that i know I want to practice Med. Pharmacy school wasn't something that I entered to with the intent of never practicing, however, it's not something I have a passion to practice and am realizing this with every passing day. I am not going to drop out and pursue MD because I did the 2 +4 program, so I only have an AA, and will have an AA and PHARM D upon graduation. ANYWAYS,
I was concerned about letters of rec...i know this is way down the line, but i'm always planning ahead..anyways, should I be concerning myself with that now...I feel like it's going to be very hard for me to squeeze letters of rec out of my pharmacy professors...like they'll give me the whole, why did you do pharmacy if you want to do med, and the school of pharmacy seems very willing to support students in pursuing LAW, PHD, and MBA degrees upon graduation but I'm sure that they will be offended and insulted if I want ot pursue Med. Furthermore, if I ask for a rec letter I'm afraid they'll decline because they never knew i had intentions to pursue med and can't attest to my dedication in that area...but then I don't want to go to any of their office hours and tell them that my heart is in med because they'd probably..hate me?
My understanding of it is that rec letters primarily consist of 2 from science teachers, 1 non science, 2 character references, nad a peer evaluation..I know that I can get the 2 characters and peer, and hopefully I may be able to go back to an undergrad professors or ask an english professor ( i will be taking an english course over teh summer) for rec letters. Should I just focus on making hte best grades possible right now and worry about letters of rec maybe 6 months or so before applying..or should it be something that I start figuring out now...not sure how important they are but I imagine that since I'd be a non trad pharm d graduate applicant theyd want to know that others see me devoted ot pursuing med.
Any feedback?
Thanks,
julia.

I'm not sure most places require, or even highly regard, "character" or "peer" references -- at least none of the places I applied ever did. You will need the requisite science and non-sci letters plus ideally you will also want a letter from a professor/dean/committee at any school other than your undergrad you have attended, and as Scottish Chap indicated will want letters from physicians and others in charge of you in ECs (research, volunteering, shadowing, other volunteerism). And bear in mind that nontrads will often have more than the minimum required letters at places that permit more.