How strict are schools on LoR requirements

[deleted738762]

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A lot of schools have different requirements and it's tough meeting all of them. Obviously you want to seem professional and do what they ask and pay attention to their requirements, but do they offer any leniency with letters because they should realize some schools are larger than others, thus making it more difficult to get letters from certain faculty members in different areas. Has anyone here not followed the LoR requirements for a school and gotten an interview from that school?
Thanks

 

[nowaysurvey]

Hmm, I don't think there's that much of a difference across most schools with requirements pertaining to LORs.
For the most part, the majority of schools I've looked at require at minimum at least two science professors or a committee letter (preferred). A very small handful of schools may require an additional letter from a dentist/employer and Loma Linda is a bit more tedious since they want a letter from a spiritual leader in addition to the two science professors or a committee letter.

I don't think any ADCOM would like to see potential applicants stray from their requisites unless there's good reason to do so, and you should contact the ADCOM and let them know about that.

 

[deleted678432]

I've definitely heard of multiple people on this site having only 2 science LORs + a dentist and getting into big name schools. To be safe, I think it'd be best to just get 3 science LORs and then a dentist LOR... That's what I'm going to shoot for at least. I got to a large university also, but I think that I have 1/2 science and one dentist already locked down.

 

[deleted738762]

I've definitely heard of multiple people on this site having only 2 science LORs + a dentist and getting into big name schools. To be safe, I think it'd be best to just get 3 science LORs and then a dentist LOR... That's what I'm going to shoot for at least. I got to a large university also, but I think that I have 1/2 science and one dentist already locked down.

Think I'm just gonna ask a random science teacher and idc if it's generic. My other letters are very strong but I just need 1 to apply for a particular school.

 

[deleted678432]

Think I'm just gonna ask a random science teacher and idc if it's generic. My other letters are very strong but I just need 1 to apply for a particular school.

Thankfully I have a year still to round up a couple more letters. Dentist and one science will be very strong. Other two science can hopefully be made strong as well.



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[fit2]

I got 2 or 3 science (one of them is my health adviser/ committee head so I'm not sure how that'll play out) and then 1 English professor. Also 1 orthodontist Ive known for like 10 years.
I have heard that some schools like Columbia want 3 science profs. What do you guys think? Is my selection for LOR writers good for any school? Also I haven't seen clear directions as in previous year about who should write the letters which is a little different

 

[jg4318]

I got 2 or 3 science (one of them is my health adviser/ committee head so I'm not sure how that'll play out) and then 1 English professor. Also 1 orthodontist Ive known for like 10 years.
I have heard that some schools like Columbia want 3 science profs. What do you guys think? Is my selection for LOR writers good for any school? Also I haven't seen clear directions as in previous year about who should write the letters which is a little different

If you got a committee, then just get a committee letter and it will meet requirements for all schools

 

[fit2]

If you got a committee, then just get a committee letter and it will meet requirements for all schools

ohhhh...that all makes sense now. thanks! okay so people only worry about individual science profs when they don'y have committee letters. and yes I have committee letter so im all good! thx

 

[californiway21]

ASDOH was extremely strict with their "community service" LoR from a supervisor of an organization. The one I sent in for volunteer work I did for school children was not specific enough for their requirement and they did not accept it. That's the only school I had a problem with for letters.

 

[deleted738762]

I got one dentist, 2 science, and one work supervisor and it worked for almost all the schools.

Definitely call the schools in question because some will allow 1 dentist 1 science 1 nonscience while other schools will allow 1 dentist 1 science and 1 work supervisor. But all schools will require 1 dentist and 1 science st the very least.

And welcome back!

I don't think many schools require a letter from dentist from what I have seen, sure some do. Plus it doesn't make much sense because you're just shadowing the dentist and it's a very superficial interaction.

Welcome back? lol I don't understand.

 

[Kingfish23]

UPenn and Indiana both require ALL letters to have an official letterhead and signature. Every other school I spoke with just requires that they be verified by AADSAS.

 

[670206]

I don't think many schools require a letter from dentist from what I have seen, sure some do. Plus it doesn't make much sense because you're just shadowing the dentist and it's a very superficial interaction.

Yea, I know the 11 schools I'm applying to don't require a dentist LOR. I just have 4 science LORs.

 

[deleted738762]

Yea, I know the 11 schools I'm applying to don't require a dentist LOR. I just have 4 science LORs.

Like the pic and the username. Good luck this cycle.

 

[deleted738762]

UPenn and Indiana both require ALL letters to have an official letterhead and signature. Every other school I spoke with just requires that they be verified by AADSAS.

How does AADSAS go about verifying letters? I always wondered can't some person just create an e-mail and use that e-mail to submit the letter himself.