Interview Invites and LORs

[inverseMolar]

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Dear fellow pre-dents,
I hope that my post does not come across as insensitive or unthoughtful but I have a serious concern. I am wondering if anyone would know if dental schools usually review LORs before sending out interview invitations. I know it's rare that somebody will get a poor LOR but sometimes, it does happen. I have 3.7 GPA, 23TS/22AA/20PAT, some research and ECs, so I am content in this aspect. I am not trolling or anything, I just need some feedback. There was a certain letter writer that didn't seem so friendly, but finally, that person offered me a letter after I updated s/he on my DAT scores.

Ok, here is the key though. A certain state school has put me file in a "secondary file", which means that my file will need to be reviewed and I was not invited for pre-Dec interviews so this feels like a rejection already.

So, when I finally called this school to inquire, they mentioned that other applicants were better qualified, and mentioned that there was something in a letter which she could not reveal to me. So this is why I am asking. Appreciate your thoughts.

UPDATE: I just want to add that I have some interview invites here and there from schools (again, I apologize if I come across as inconsiderate with my post). Hence, this is the reason for my worries. I have some invites, but should I even bother going?

If I do have a poor LOR, why the invites then? Do they just look at the LOR right before the interview or after the interview? I don't know, I'm very stressed out and worried.

 

[Tirekicker]

Sorry dude. I'm in a similar boat. It sucks. Best of luck!

 

[dmdluffy]

I think they read LORs before offering invites and if some writer wrote a scathing review of you, it could definitely hurt your chances. One of the perks of a committee letter is they can filter and toss out any negative letters that can hurt you.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Dear fellow pre-dents,
I hope that my post does not come across as insensitive or unthoughtful but I have a serious concern. I am wondering if anyone would know if dental schools usually review LORs before sending out interview invitations. I know it's rare that somebody will get a poor LOR but sometimes, it does happen. I have 3.7 GPA, 23TS/22AA/20PAT, some research and ECs, so I am content in this aspect. I am not trolling or anything, I just need some feedback. There was a certain letter writer that didn't seem so friendly, but finally, that person offered me a letter after I updated s/he on my DAT scores.

Ok, here is the key though. A certain state school has put me file in a "secondary file", which means that my file will need to be reviewed and I was not invited for pre-Dec interviews so this feels like a rejection already.

So, when I finally called this school to inquire, they mentioned that other applicants were better qualified, and mentioned that there was something in a letter which she could not reveal to me. So this is why I am asking. Appreciate your thoughts.

Even if schools send you an invite before reading the LORs... they will read it at some point before they make the final decision so you won't bypass anything if that was your plan... And no matter how well you perform on your interview, if there is a smear on your file... it can only work against you.

I've had multiple interviewers comment on my LORs so I know that at least some of them but probably most of them will review your LORs beforehand.


Morale of the story? Do not ask an unwilling or hesitant looking writer to be one of your 3 LORs. Make them count!

 

[vitaminH2O]

Morale of the story? Do not ask an unwilling or hesitant looking writer to be one of your 3 LORs. Make them count!

Couldn't agree more. Unfortunately for some people it is a lesson learned a harder way. For things you care about so much, don't give things/people that can hurt you any chances. Best of luck to you

 

[NguyenDDS]

I believe LORs are read before interviews. I'm sorry you have to go through this... My friend went through the same thing in the previous cycles. After getting rejections in one of the previous application cycles... one of my friends used Interfolio and sent himself this one LOR that a professor wrote for him. My friend didn't know this professor well, but he took his chances since he didn't really know any professors that well. This is exactly what the professor wrote:

"To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing on behalf of [friend's name]. He asked me to write a recommendation letter and here it is.

Sincerely,
Professor [name]"

 

[inverseMolar]

UPDATE: I just want to add that I have some interview invites here and there from schools (again, I apologize if I come across as inconsiderate with my post). Hence, this is the reason for my worries. I have some invites, but should I even bother going?

If I do have a poor LOR, why the invites then? Do they just look at the LOR right before the interview or after the interview? I don't know, I'm very stressed out and worried.

Also, if I get a poor LOR from a prof or dentist, will I be put on some kind of blacklist from applying to that school in the future?

 

[Floralia]

I believe LORs are read before interviews. I'm sorry you have to go through this... My friend went through the same thing in the previous cycles. After getting rejections in one of the previous application cycles... one of my friends used Interfolio and sent himself this one LOR that a professor wrote for him. My friend didn't know this professor well, but he took his chances since he didn't really know any professors that well. This is exactly what the professor wrote:

"To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing on behalf of [friend's name]. He asked me to write a recommendation letter and here it is.

Sincerely,
Professor [name]"

This is so heartbreaking to read. I feel so sorry for your friend. and i'm not feeling any better for myself either. I'm in a similar situation. I really don't know what this professor wrote for me. I'm so tempting to approach him and ask about the letter of recommendation that he wrote for my application because I'm not getting interviews outside of my state and none of the schools would tell me.
In my opinion, professors who are not willing to write a letter should just say "I don't think I can write you a good letter", instead of agreeing to write then destroy someone's life. and I'm sure the professor knows better what a good/bad letter is.

 

[inverseMolar]

Sorry to hear about your friend. I hope he is doing better this time around. I know who I will get my letters from next cycle though. Hope no one else has to go through this as the application itself is already nerve wrecking enough.

I believe LORs are read before interviews. I'm sorry you have to go through this... My friend went through the same thing in the previous cycles. After getting rejections in one of the previous application cycles... one of my friends used Interfolio and sent himself this one LOR that a professor wrote for him. My friend didn't know this professor well, but he took his chances since he didn't really know any professors that well. This is exactly what the professor wrote:

"To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing on behalf of [friend's name]. He asked me to write a recommendation letter and here it is.

Sincerely,
Professor [name]"

 

[duckdds]

I believe LORs are read before interviews. I'm sorry you have to go through this... My friend went through the same thing in the previous cycles. After getting rejections in one of the previous application cycles... one of my friends used Interfolio and sent himself this one LOR that a professor wrote for him. My friend didn't know this professor well, but he took his chances since he didn't really know any professors that well. This is exactly what the professor wrote:

"To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing on behalf of [friend's name]. He asked me to write a recommendation letter and here it is.

Sincerely,
Professor [name]"

How was he able to read the professor's LoR?
What a terrible letter, not sure how dental schools will look at someone who has 1 bad LoR if everything else is fine. If the professor was that lazy, he should've just copied and pasted some generic letter found online.

UPDATE: I just want to add that I have some interview invites here and there from schools (again, I apologize if I come across as inconsiderate with my post). Hence, this is the reason for my worries. I have some invites, but should I even bother going?

If I do have a poor LOR, why the invites then? Do they just look at the LOR right before the interview or after the interview? I don't know, I'm very stressed out and worried.

Also, if I get a poor LOR from a prof or dentist, will I be put on some kind of blacklist from applying to that school in the future?

If you have interviews already then you're fine. I would be concerned if you haven't received anything but you did.
I think you are over-thinking this situation, go to the interviews because I don't see anything wrong with your app. Say you got a nasty letter, then you wouldn't have received an interview because schools do read (or skim) letters.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

UPDATE: I just want to add that I have some interview invites here and there from schools (again, I apologize if I come across as inconsiderate with my post). Hence, this is the reason for my worries. I have some invites, but should I even bother going?

If I do have a poor LOR, why the invites then? Do they just look at the LOR right before the interview or after the interview? I don't know, I'm very stressed out and worried.

Also, if I get a poor LOR from a prof or dentist, will I be put on some kind of blacklist from applying to that school in the future?

Well if you already have interviews then maybe its not as bad as you think it is.

Couldn't have been bad as NguyenDDS's friend.

Couldn't agree more. Unfortunately for some people it is a lesson learned a harder way. For things you care about so much, don't give things/people that can hurt you any chances. Best of luck to you

Yeah... maybe this point needs to be EMPHASIZED more. I think a lot of people have the mentality of just scrounging up 3 letters just to fulfill the requirement, while little do they know that having good letters can really help their chances.

 

[NguyenDDS]

How was he able to read the professor's LoR?
What a terrible letter, not sure how dental schools will look at someone who has 1 bad LoR if everything else is fine. If the professor was that lazy, he should've just copied and pasted some generic letter found online.

He said he used Interfolio to store the LORs, and then sent the LOR to himself through their delivery system.

 

[Demps]

Wow I feel bad for your friend Ngyuen just wow...

OP though, I don't think it is as bad as you think. Like JOoaky said, you got interviews still. And I'm sure they read your LORs forehand, so I think you don't have to worry.

I'm start to think whether any of my professors wrote a bad letter... Hope not.

 

[dantemac]

Still attend your interviews. I know cases where the interviewer will give you a chance to explain marks in a recommendation later, good or bad. Or, they may overlook bad remarks if they enjoy the session with you. It's not the end all be all.

 

[ta11geese3]

Why would you not go? Consider especially that your app isn't complete and that schools will NOT review your app until everything is in, and that includes LoRs.

If they've invited you for an interview they obviously think you are qualified to be considered a spot at their school.

I'm sure adcoms understand that gettings recs is tough, and that some are willing to look past a poor LoR if they believe the rest of your app is strong enough.

 

[iralex801]

I believe LORs are read before interviews. I'm sorry you have to go through this... My friend went through the same thing in the previous cycles. After getting rejections in one of the previous application cycles... one of my friends used Interfolio and sent himself this one LOR that a professor wrote for him. My friend didn't know this professor well, but he took his chances since he didn't really know any professors that well. This is exactly what the professor wrote:

"To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing on behalf of [friend's name]. He asked me to write a recommendation letter and here it is.

Sincerely,
Professor [name]"

I really felt bad for your friend when I read this. I don't understand why some people in this world are so damn cruel. Did the professor not have the heart to turn you friend down face to face, but when it becomes anonymous he isn't afraid to ruin someone's future? I wish professors would just say they don't believe they can write you a good letter if they don't want to. SMH, I'm pissed reading this. I just wish everyone was real.

 

[euphaire]

Wow, worst letter I've ever seen.

This is ridiculous. I asked 4 profs for letters. As an extra precaution I did ask them "Are you willing to write me a GOOD/STRONG letter?" and all of them said "I only write strong letters - otherwise I won't write it". They know how much money and time we're investing here so they won't deliberately screw people over. It seems that that prof is just a rare exception.

 

[Ghostface17]

Wow, worst letter I've ever seen.

This is ridiculous. I asked 4 profs for letters. As an extra precaution I did ask them "Are you willing to write me a GOOD/STRONG letter?" and all of them said "I only write strong letters - otherwise I won't write it". They know how much money and time we're investing here so they won't deliberately screw people over. It seems that that prof is just a rare exception.

Same for me. I mentioned when I talked/emailed my professors/bosses if they could write me a strong LOR.