I need some advice

[sweetooth]

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Hi everyone! I have not been around SDN in so long, but I need some help.
So here is my situation. I have a 3.72 science gpa, and a 3.75 overall gpa. I'm a nonscience major (history) and I'm applying for a Fall 06 admission.
I am studying for my DAT now.
I'm having some trouble with my LORs. I have one from a history prof, one from the dentist I worked with, and one from my physics prof. Is that enough? I really don't know! Should I have one from a bio prof as well?
I have the chance to take cell bio this summer and get a LOR from the prof, providing that I do well in the class. I am worried that it will take a lot of time away from my DAT prep. I have'nt taken a science class in a few semesters and I'm a bit out of touch, so I need all the time I have for my DAT prep.
Should I suck it up and take the class for the LOR, or is it ok to skip this?
I'd really prefer not taking it, not out of laziness but just because i NEED to study for the DAT.
Thanks everyone (sorry this post is so scattered)

 

[ajrooney]

Hi everyone! I have not been around SDN in so long, but I need some help.
So here is my situation. I have a 3.72 science gpa, and a 3.75 overall gpa. I'm a nonscience major (history) and I'm applying for a Fall 06 admission.
I am studying for my DAT now.
I'm having some trouble with my LORs. I have one from a history prof, one from the dentist I worked with, and one from my physics prof. Is that enough? I really don't know! Should I have one from a bio prof as well?
I have the chance to take cell bio this summer and get a LOR from the prof, providing that I do well in the class. I am worried that it will take a lot of time away from my DAT prep. I have'nt taken a science class in a few semesters and I'm a bit out of touch, so I need all the time I have for my DAT prep.
Should I suck it up and take the class for the LOR, or is it ok to skip this?
I'd really prefer not taking it, not out of laziness but just because i NEED to study for the DAT.
Thanks everyone (sorry this post is so scattered)

If it would take too much time away from the DAT studying, then it probly isn't worth to chose a LOR over the DAT.
Can't you just go back to one of your other bio profs or science profs? It does feel akward but I went to a prof who taught me 2 years prior and he was happy to give me a reference; this was after two others said no. Just ask every science prof you've taken, you have nothing to lose. Please don't take a class and lose dat study time just to get a LOR! aaah

 

[sweetooth]

If it would take too much time away from the DAT studying, then it probly isn't worth to chose a LOR over the DAT.
Can't you just go back to one of your other bio profs or science profs? It does feel akward but I went to a prof who taught me 2 years prior and he was happy to give me a reference; this was after two others said no. Just ask every science prof you've taken, you have nothing to lose. Please don't take a class and lose dat study time just to get a LOR! aaah

Well I could ask a prof that I had 2 yrs ago too. You're right, it will be awkward! And I got a B in the class, is that still ok?
thanks

 

[Smooth Operater]

yeah, I am thinking of doing that too. I wonder how much weight adcom put on the LOR?

 

[ackbar]

yeah, I am thinking of doing that too. I wonder how much weight adcom put on the LOR?

very very very very very little. I've explained this before, here it is again:

letters where the writer says you're a ***** hurts your chances.
letters from famous people or those with clout from the school gives you a solid boost.

All others? Doesn't mean squat to your cause. 99% of the LORs the Adcoms get are the same generic stuff. All the professors writes pretty much the same glowing, anecdotally demonstrated, personal thoughts of the applicant letters that adcoms have been receiving since the dawn of admissions. The adcoms, swamped with the thousands of thousands of applications, will barely glance at it, much less go over in detail what it says... many cases they won't even read it. Think about it, if you were an adcom and had to sift through thousands of essays, personal statements, LORs, blah blah blah blah blah the entire day, you really goign to give a damn what a biochem professor thinks about some random kid you don't know or care about?

At one interview my interviewer straight up told me that he doesn't read recommendation letters... and at another 2 when an adcom asked me a question that was directly addressed in a letter, I called him on it, and upon which he grudgingly and sheepishly admitted that he just glanced over my letters and "didn't really look at it too closely..."