Immature writing in LOR

[Halcyon32]

I want to ask one of my volunteer supervisors to write me a LOR. However, I'm wondering what affect that the style and grammar of the letter will have on how I'm perceived. Put simply, my supervisor speaks and writes like a 7th grader who is trying to impress others with new vocab words that they recently learned. He will frequently misspell words, use them in the wrong contexts, make very blatant grammar mistakes.

I would typically forego such a letter but the reason I want to get one from her is because
1) He knows me very well and is quite fond of me
2) In the clinical volunteer position which she supervises, I have gone above and beyond and been very proactive to campaign for new, unique initiatives that improve the experience for the entire patient population which I work with. I want this to be highlighted in my app.
3) This volunteer position will be one of my most meaningful experiences on AMCAS so I feel like it will look even better to have the supervisor write me a letter too.

So, is an immature writing style a big detriment to the quality of the letter of the actual quality of the content relating to me is very flattering?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Schwifty]

From what I have gathered talking with admissions people at various schools, letters are mainly perceived as neutral, meaning not much affect on the overall application, but poor grammar in a letter will have a negative impact on the applicant

 

[LizzyM]

Letters from supervisors of volunteer experiences are generally the least helpful and the least informative. I'd suggest not bothering to include her letter in your packet.

 

[Halcyon32]

Letters from supervisors of volunteer experiences are generally the least helpful and the least informative. I'd suggest not bothering to include her letter in your packet.

Does this change if I have been volunteering extensively for a long period of time (2+ years)? And given the involved, proactive role I have?

 

[Phoebus Apollo]

Do you have the option to use a different letter writer (professor, PI) who can talk briefly about your involvement in things outside academics as part of their letter? You could ask someone to mention that if you have a strong personal relationship with anyone who’s taught you or supervised you in another capacity.

E.g. “As I have discussed, Betty has been an outstanding presence in the classroom. But I have taught many fine students, and Betty has impressed me further through her exemplary character/prolonged involvement in serving bacon to hungry kittens... rain or snow, she would rush out of class to get to those kittens!”

 

[LizzyM]

For the most part, schools want to hear from people who can speak of their first hand experience with you as a student, a lab worker, employee, volunteer, etc. They don't want to see a rehash of the syllabus of the course the professor taught, the specific aims of the PI's newly funded grant, or the granular details of the seventy bed hospital where you fetch warm blankets for chilled ER patients.

AAMC has a good handout for letter writers detailing what adcoms want to see. It would be worth your while to look at that and to provide it to your letter writers.

Some adcoms would rather see letters from people who have taught you rather than a volunteer coordinator whom they may not respect as a person who has any idea what a medical school admissions committee is looking for with regard to academic potential and suitability for a career in medicine. This could sound snobby and maybe it is but I've seen adcom members be much more impressed by a letter from a senior faculty member or an athletic coach than from a nurse or volunteer coordinator.

 

[965978]

For the most part, schools want to hear from people who can speak of their first hand experience with you as a student, a lab worker, employee, volunteer, etc. They don't want to see a rehash of the syllabus of the course the professor taught, the specific aims of the PI's newly funded grant, or the granular details of the seventy bed hospital where you fetch warm blankets for chilled ER patients.

AAMC has a good handout for letter writers detailing what adcoms want to see. It would be worth your while to look at that and to provide it to your letter writers.

Some adcoms would rather see letters from people who have taught you rather than a volunteer coordinator whom they may not respect as a person who has any idea what a medical school admissions committee is looking for with regard to academic potential and suitability for a career in medicine. This could sound snobby and maybe it is but I've seen adcom members be much more impressed by a letter from a senior faculty member or an athletic coach than from a nurse or volunteer coordinator.

But a volunteer coordinator could still acknowledge things like communication skills, punctuality, motivation and effort, etc

 

[907914]

For the most part, schools want to hear from people who can speak of their first hand experience with you as a student, a lab worker, employee, volunteer, etc. They don't want to see a rehash of the syllabus of the course the professor taught, the specific aims of the PI's newly funded grant, or the granular details of the seventy bed hospital where you fetch warm blankets for chilled ER patients.

AAMC has a good handout for letter writers detailing what adcoms want to see. It would be worth your while to look at that and to provide it to your letter writers.

Some adcoms would rather see letters from people who have taught you rather than a volunteer coordinator whom they may not respect as a person who has any idea what a medical school admissions committee is looking for with regard to academic potential and suitability for a career in medicine. This could sound snobby and maybe it is but I've seen adcom members be much more impressed by a letter from a senior faculty member or an athletic coach than from a nurse or volunteer coordinator.

How would a letter be perceived coming from someone who was a student alongside, coworker, subordinate and supervisor of an applicant over a multi-year period?

(Joined military at same time, went through same Boot camp, same Lab tech schooling, have been in same unit for 6 years, I have been his squad leader then he became my platoon sergeant).

 

[Phoebus Apollo]

How would a letter be perceived coming from someone who was a student alongside, coworker, subordinate and supervisor of an applicant over a multi-year period?

(Joined military at same time, went through same Boot camp, same Lab tech schooling, have been in same unit for 6 years, I have been his squad leader then he became my platoon sergeant).

Hmm. To me this sounds like an unpredictable power dynamic -- translating to a letter that wouldn't hold much weight for an outside reader.

Some big time applications (like the Peace Corps) DO ask for personal/peer recommendations -- that's essentially what this letter would be. Med schools don't ask for that. So I'd say nahhhh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[LizzyM]

But a volunteer coordinator could still acknowledge things like communication skills, punctuality, motivation and effort, etc

Yes, but generally the adcoms would like to hear the same things from a faculty member.

 

[907914]

Yes, but generally the adcoms would like to hear the same things from a faculty member.

So only for those programs who specifically ask for a non-academic letter would fellow soldier/volunteer coordinator etc be valuable?

So for OP, they can/should still collect the letter, but may only expect to send it to a few of their schools (whereas science faculty letters will go to all schools).

 

[LizzyM]

So only for those programs who specifically ask for a non-academic letter would fellow soldier/volunteer coordinator etc be valuable?

So for OP, they can/should still collect the letter, but may only expect to send it to a few of their schools (whereas science faculty letters will go to all schools).

I guess if a school wants a non-academic letter, you could send something like that but getting a letter from your commanding officer might carry more weight (assuming you are active duty when applying -- I don't know how that works if you no longer enlisted).

You might want to check with the school specific threads and find out who the successful applicants used for their non-academic letters. I wonder if schools are looking for a letter from a physician, employer, or a member of the clergy (thinking Loma Linda).

 

[907914]

I guess if a school wants a non-academic letter, you could send something like that but getting a letter from your commanding officer might carry more weight (assuming you are active duty when applying -- I don't know how that works if you no longer enlisted).

You might want to check with the school specific threads and find out who the successful applicants used for their non-academic letters. I wonder if schools are looking for a letter from a physician, employer, or a member of the clergy (thinking Loma Linda).

Yah, that is why I am using co-soldier rather than higher ups - no longer in.

Righteous, thank you!