How many/what kinds of rec letters required?

[InNotOf]

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From what people do MSTP secondaries require rec letters? How much crossover is there with MD-only secondaries? (i.e., do MSTP secondaries cancel out MD seondaries?) Is it something like a couple of science faculty, a non-science faculty, PI(s), and whoever supervised you in clinical/volunteer work? I have awhile until I apply, but I'd like to know what to expect. Thank you!

 

[Maebea]

This will vary from program to program. You should expect that MD-PhD committees will require letters from the research supervisors you had in college. The need for clinical letters, character letters, etc. will be program dependent. The MD-PhD program might not require these letters, but the MD admissions committee probably will.

 

[vector07]

I think if you have one or more recs for all of these categories, you will be completely covered:

-(1-2) science professors (from a class you did well in)
-(1) humanities/non-science professor (class you did well in)
-(1-2) physicians with whom you have had significant clinical exposure
-(all) research mentors with whom you've done extensive work. I happened to have 4, received letters from 3 since one was not a long term research project.

Realize also that there are MSTP's that require you to apply separately to the MD program. So some of the letters need to be 'this person would make a great physician', and others need to say 'this person will make a great physician-scientist'. To be safe though, I asked my science prof writers to include a comment or two on my potential for research. SDN gurus, call me out if I missed something here..

 

[jeniffer lopez]

I stressed out quite a bit about this back in July/august of 06 because my school has a limit of 4 letters for all MD applicants, including MD/PhDs, and all the profs I knew were in science. About the research letters, I had one from my undergrad advisor (who also taught me one semester bio) and one for full-time research. I had a couple of summers done at other places, but I called each school to check letter requirements. Whoever said that they needed a letter from everyone (Penn, Harvard, WashU), I just told them in the application that they were short term experiences. Michigan wanted a letter from a humanities teacher, but I called and told them I did not have one and they said it was ok, that it was much better to have a quality letter from a teacher who did know me well. In summary, I ended up submitting 4 letters: 2 from science teachers, two from research supervisors. My school puts a committee letter together that is a compilation of all. Nobody ever mentioned anything about any letter missing, and they actually commented on particular strenghts they had. So, from my experience, submit letters that will put you up there with the cream of the crop, because other people will have them...weather they come from clinical or volunteer or humanities or whatever it is much less relevant.

 

[SpeakLittleB]

i agree. i didn't even bother with finding a non-science or physicians to write. i felt like my science/research profs knew me best, and I stuck with that. md/phds are expected to have a research slant anyway, so it's ok if ur recs are science-heavy.

 

[vector07]

I was rejected at Michigan MSTP, and I did not submit their humanities professor recommendation. Like Jennifer, I called them about this and instead submitted another research letter. My pre-health advisor talked to admissions, and they identified not submitting a humanities letter as one negative point on my app.

So.. I beg to differ.

 

[Mr. Tee]

I was rejected at Michigan MSTP, and I did not submit their humanities professor recommendation. Like Jennifer, I called them about this and instead submitted another research letter. My pre-health advisor talked to admissions, and they identified not submitting a humanities letter as one negative point on my app.

So.. I beg to differ.

I didn't submit a humanities LOR either and I got accepted. All 5 of my letters were from scientists.

 

[vector07]

Counterpoint taken..

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

I think in the long run having excellent things said about you will be much more advantageous than the breakdown of scientist/non-scientist letter writers...

 

[Coclean]

I have taught three graduate level courses during my first graduate program (an MSPH in Epidemiology) and am planning for apps to MD/PhD next year. I really think a valuable letter for me would be from a student that I have taught for three semesters (in addition to including my TA Eval reports, and getting letters from each of the professors I worked for).

However, that said...I have worked over a year in 5 different research labs (with about a handful of publications), have three different degrees (BS Biochemistry, BA Anthropology, MSPH Epidemiology) and work in a clinic. I have a lot of experience and therefore a lot of letters.

I can get letters from all these people, but what is the upward bound likely to be on letters of Rec? Too many seems excessive, but I tend to think diversity is more important that getting a letter from all of my laboratory PIs, and all of the professors I have worked for (both in science and in humanities). If I do this I have 10 letters right there (from professors), with out considering letters from my clinical supervisors, students, or the directors of programs I volunteer with....

Though this might not seem a dilema...its giving me some stress as I start putting together my letter file for next year. How many letters is "standard", how many letters is excessive...and how many letters will make admin commitees think I am a snotty little brat tooting her own horn? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks

 

[solitude]

I have no idea what the "right" answer is, but if I were you I think the best course of action would be to discuss the situation in person with a knowledgable pre-med advisor or committee reader. It sounds like you have a really complicated application, with a bunch of amazing experiences, and that it would be difficult to for anyone here to give you foolproof advice without knowing all of the specifics of your situation.

My inclination would be to keep the number of letters down to say 6 or 7. Nobody wants to read 10 letters, let alone 15 or 20, even if they are all shining. I doubt anyone would read all of them, and you would thus risk that they read one of the comparatively less positive letters. If I were in your situation, I think I would go with about 3 PI's, no students, 2 course instructors, and 1 clinical/other experience.

I have taught three graduate level courses during my first graduate program (an MSPH in Epidemiology) and am planning for apps to MD/PhD next year. I really think a valuable letter for me would be from a student that I have taught for three semesters (in addition to including my TA Eval reports, and getting letters from each of the professors I worked for).

However, that said...I have worked over a year in 5 different research labs (with about a handful of publications), have three different degrees (BS Biochemistry, BA Anthropology, MSPH Epidemiology) and work in a clinic. I have a lot of experience and therefore a lot of letters.

I can get letters from all these people, but what is the upward bound likely to be on letters of Rec? Too many seems excessive, but I tend to think diversity is more important that getting a letter from all of my laboratory PIs, and all of the professors I have worked for (both in science and in humanities). If I do this I have 10 letters right there (from professors), with out considering letters from my clinical supervisors, students, or the directors of programs I volunteer with....

Though this might not seem a dilema...its giving me some stress as I start putting together my letter file for next year. How many letters is "standard", how many letters is excessive...and how many letters will make admin commitees think I am a snotty little brat tooting her own horn? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks