In general, what is a good amount of letters of reccomendations?

[yellowcocopuffs]

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How many and from who? (Although I know it varies from school to school).

 

[MilkmanAl]

6 is probably the most you'll ever be able to use. You want them from professors in your major(s), employers, and PI's. Many schools also require a letter from a non-science professor, so pick one of those up, too.

 

[yellowcocopuffs]

So, the best mode of action would be to get several science prof recc letters, one non science, plus research PI reccs and other ec reccs?

Do the schools usually tell you which reccs they want when they ask for secondaries?

 

[AH3]

I got 5 letters, but only used 3-4 of them most of the time. Here's the breakdown for me:

1- adviser/Biochem professor
2- PI/Organic professor
3- Ethics professor (non-science letter)
4- Employer
5- PI/Exercise physiology professor

Most schools will tell you how many/what type to send. Definitely get 2 science and 1 non-science. After that, I'd get any PI or employer letters that you think will be strong. If you don't get along with your boss, for example, I wouldn't ask for a letter. Some research-heavy schools may expect a letter from your PI though (I don't know too much since I applied to mostly clinically-oriented schools), so I'd get one to be safe.

 

[yellowcocopuffs]

Is one from a psychology professor considered a nonscience?

 

[MilkmanAl]

So, the best mode of action would be to get several science prof recc letters, one non science, plus research PI reccs and other ec reccs?

Eh, sort of. I doubt many people will argue that it's basically essential for you to have at least one science letter, one non-science letter, and one letter from each PI you've done any substantial amount of work for. You would also likely want one from any employer you've worked for over an extended amount of time. Letters from volunteer supervisors, doctors you've shadowed, friends, and anyone else are generally less useful except in rare cases, so fill up on the ones above before getting anything else.

Is one from a psychology professor considered a nonscience?

Yes.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

i had 2 science (1 of those was my PI and my advisor), 2 docs (1 MD, 1 DO), and 1 non-science from a professor I had 3 classes with and did some community outreach with.

 

[chrisoc13]

I did 4 total letters. Two science (one of which is also my PI), one non-science, and one from my volunteer director. It has worked for all but one school now.

 

[spiderpete]

Have ready well in advance the max that the schools to which you are applying will allow, assuming the LORs are all great. Maybe as few as three, as many as 6?

I had 8+committee: 3 science profs, 1 research PI/mentor, 1 shadowed doc, 1 community volunteer director, 1 med volunteer supervisor, 1 employer. Committee letter was written from these. They made me choose 5 (unseen), but sent off all with my packet if I requested.

For me it was decades since I'd seen a non science prof, so all my strongest teachers were from science. One advisor told me on the clinical rec to find the person who knows you best, "who saw you deal with gettin puked on." I went with the ED fast track nurse who always gave me interesting work instead of one of the docs.

gl