If school asks for science professor, does this work....

[Mr. H]

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Yo everyone, a doctor I'm shadowing, who is also an assistant prof. volunteered to write me a great letter! I'm super happy, but will I be able to use this? When the school asks for example three professors who know you well, or do they say three teachers who know you well, or could all schools be compltely different on this?

 

[mpp]

Schools can be different on this. Certain medical schools ask specifically for letter from professors that can comment on your academic work. Other schools don't care who write your letters of recommendation. If you are confident that this doctor will write you a strong letter, definitely ask him to write one. But also be sure that you have some professors from which you have taken courses write you letters as well.

 

[Mr. H]

so should I just tag this along with my other professors who I had class with? Certain schools, like Baylor, say only 3 letters, so its tough deciding, I def. think the letter will be written well (he's on the ad. comm. at my school), and he'll have access to my grades, etc..

 

[detm78]

I don't know if this is totally true, so don't take my word from it, but I think it makes sense:

One of my friends told me that if your school has a letter service, go ahead and tell them to send all the letters you want to the school you want. Schools may say they only want 3 letters, but if your letter service sends them more, they probably won't take it out on you, b/c letter services often make mistakes.

I guess if you really want to be safe, you can call the school and ask for permission to send an extra letter, and take down the person's name if they say you can.

Another thing is that often, later in the application process, you can always send an extra letter. I've found that it's often good to send in additional letters to strengthen your file, so the opportunity should present itself.

In any case, give them at minimum, exactly what they asked for. If they want letters from 3 profs who taught you in class, give them those. Add the doctor's letter (the one you're shadowing) if you like, as a supplemental letter.

 

[SMW]

Tulane also wants only 3 letters. But definitely get the letter, because you'll be able to use it for most schools. But you'll also need letters from professors who've taught you -- most commonly schools ask for 2 science and 1 non-science, but some ask for different disciplines and/or numbers. One school, and I don't remember which it was, asked for biology, chemistry, physics and humanites.

 

[Mr. H]

does it have to be a proff. who taught you? What if I'm taking an upper level psych course but its taught by a grad student?

 

[none]

Get two science letters from professors who taught you in an actual course for credit and one letter from a non-science professor who actually taught you in a course for credit. Anything else could also be helpful, but probably won't replace the above at most schools. Certainly a faculty member is immensely preferred, but if you can ONLY get a grad student...you might be able to slide by. Now I'm sure MANY of you will want to use your social science courses as science courses, well to be safe...keep your science letters to BCP or M, although M is a close call.

 

[Mr. H]

but see the weird thing, is that this person is a faculty member. When I look at the timetable, a number shows up next to him, it says lecturer/faculty associate. So I guess its not perfect, but its the only way for me to get a non-science letter. It will probably be also signed by a science professor from the semester before, since the teacher of the psych class was also the TA for my Neuro class.. I'm not quite sure what to do. Either ask him for a rec. letter that is non-science, or get a lettter from a science professor with input from that TA.??

 

[mpp]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by SMW:
•One school, and I don't remember which it was, asked for biology, chemistry, physics and humanites.•••••That was Jefferson.