How to ask ADCOMs about a possible bad LOR after rejection

[kfsa1]

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Hey guys,

I posted a while back about my concern over a possible bad LOR. While I was very skeptical about this letter at the beginning, I still chose to submit it to 23/24 schools this cycle. Fortunately, I have been accepted and I am very grateful for this. The interesting thing is that the only positive news I heard from a school is the one that I did not send this LOR in suspect. I truly thought that I may get more interviews as my stats are not bad (3.6/34, 20 credits of 4.0 post-bacc) and I have a fair amount of clinical experience (2 years of scribing, 1 year of volunteering). I mostly applied to low-tier programs as well and completed my application in late August/early September. Thus far, I have received two rejections (OUWB and Rochester).

I am aware that it may just be that I am not a competitive applicant but I am curious to see if the LOR I felt bad about was indeed negative. How do I go about finding this out? Should I directly ask the schools that rejected me if I had a bad LOR? This is just to satisfy my own curiosity as I would happily attend the school I was accepted to.

Thanks!

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

I don't think you have anything to lose by asking schools you were rejected by-- but maybe just ask generally if they can say why you were rejected to avoid pointing any fingers (ie at the letter writer)?

 

[Columbia09]

Doesn't your school look at your LOR ? I know from mine if it's bad or weak, they'll tell you to get another one.

 

[IlDestriero]

You were accepted. Move on. Be happy.
😀
No good can come from finding out that you had a marginal LOR in your application.
You're going to be a physician, that's all that matters. That's what you have worked for all these years. You only need one acceptance. All the rest (anxiety, fear, doubt, post bac, mcat, lors, etc., etc.) is in the rear view mirror already.
👍

 

[45408]

I have been accepted

Stop right there. You made it.


You probably signed a release saying that you would never be shown/disclosed the information on your LORs, and schools would have to breach that to tell you about it. They shouldn't.

 

[wholeheartedly]

You're in, but if you really want to know the only way I would consider going about asking is just generally ask what your weaknesses were (and if you tell them you've been accepted they'll probably be annoyed at you wasting their time). If you ask about your weakness's, they might say you need stronger LOR's just generally, so you'll have a pretty good idea. The waiver you singed won't get you any more info.

* I could see this being relevant later down the road if it's a research advisor and you're considering applying for something during the summer after M1 and needing that kind of letter. But never get letters from someone you don't have a really good feeling about.

 

[ucsfstudents]

Congrats, you got accepted. I suggest moving on and trying not to make the same mistake in the future. If you don't trust the person, you probably shouldn't trust the letter they write for you. You can always ask for letters and not use them. Lesson learned, I'm sure. I really am disappointed in people who can say yes to writing a letter of recommendation, and then send off a bad letter.

 

[kfsa1]

Thanks for all the replies guys. As many of you said, I should be happy that I was accepted and I truly am (I have been at this for nearly 8 years as a pre-med). I guess I just shuddered at the idea that this guy could've ruined my future had I not decided to omit his letter to my target school (where I was accepted) just in case it was a bad LOR. I don't think I've ever had any negative interactions with him but I guess you never know for certain what the other person is thinking. I'll just be content with the fact that I was accepted and try to help others on SDN to get there as well.

Thanks guys.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Many adcoms are happy to review your application with you AFTER the cycle, but this is a limited resource and so they don't typically do it for people who are accepted elsewhere.

 

[lovesfall]

If it were me, I wouldn't pursue it too far. You're accepted and finding out what the letter says might do you more harm than good. If it's negative, it's going to either make you angry (then what will your next steps be?) or hurt your feelings and undermine your confidence. It definitely sounds like the letter may have been less than helpful. Steer clear of recommendations from that person in the future and congratulations on your acceptance!

 

[HughMyron]

All the rest (anxiety, fear, doubt, post bac, mcat, lors, etc., etc.) is in the rear view mirror already.
👍

Actually, the undergrad debt won't be in the rearview mirror...it will just balloon and balloon with interest!

 

[IlDestriero]

Significant undergraduate debt is a poor choice.