Is 6 recs required for med school?

[fastfingers]

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i heard that I need at least 6 recs. Is that a requirement? I have 2 science prof recs, but one of them might not come through due to w/e reason that is beyond me. Can I still apply with just 1 rec from science prof?

 

[KLycos]

i heard that I need at least 6 recs. Is that a requirement? I have 2 science prof recs, but one of them might not come through due to w/e reason that is beyond me. Can I still apply with just 1 rec from science prof?

4 year member and 299 posts and you don't know how to google this stuff? I hope this isn't a troll post and you actually benefit from me typing this overt obviousness to you. Where did you get 6 from, 6 is like over the top and usually the ABSOLUTE MAX. Having 6 letters might actually hurt you to be honest. You don't want to have any lackluster letters, so make sure you get 3 good ones. Each school is different, and most require a committee letter if your undergraduate institution does that. If your undergrad doesn't, the usual requirement is 2 science letters and 1 non-science letter with an almost universal 3 letter total requirement. I know this cause I browsed the admission websites for most of the schools I'm applying too and using the lizzy m spreadsheet~

 

[LeoGer]

i heard that I need at least 6 recs. Is that a requirement? I have 2 science prof recs, but one of them might not come through due to w/e reason that is beyond me. Can I still apply with just 1 rec from science prof?

They've raised the minimum to 13. It sucks.

(If you're applying this cycle and haven't looked at any school's requirements, you're making lots of mistakes.)

 

[KLycos]

(If you're applying this cycle and haven't looked at any school's requirements, you're making lots of mistakes.)

The troll is strong with this OP but hopefully the thread in itself is useful for new readers and undergrads

 

[fastfingers]

lol sorry. mcat in 3 days so a little stressed and have tons of info about the apps all confused. plus one writer still hasn't uploaded my rec.

not trying to troll, more like stressed on time so too lazy to google.

 

[fastfingers]

hmm the confusion came cuz i thought i heard 3 letters were required but my undergrad requires that we have 6.

 

[EsseQuamVideri]

"Is 6 recs required for med school?"

Whether or not English is your first language, make sure to pay attention to verb conjugations on your AMCAS!

Good luck and hang in there

 

[sector9]

This thread is brought to us by the same OP who started the thread asking if it would be wise to fine tune his PS after submission (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=829514) so it is obvious that he starts plenty of threads without reading the AMCAS instruction manual or any school websites

The only school that requires 6 letters that I know of is Utah

 

[pfaction]

I didn't know, I thought most people hit their 10 letter max and sent them in. Thanks for making this topic, OP. I now know most people send 3-4, 5 max in.

 

[mvenus929]

For anyone reading this thread that is actually interested in the answer, a general rule of thumb:

2 Science recs
1 non-science rec

1 of the above should be from a professor in your major.

If you've done something outstanding on your application (worked extensively with a non-profit, done a project overseas, started an organization, etc), get a letter from your supervisor, mentor, whatever.

If you've done research, get a letter from your PI (but this does not count as a science letter unless they've taught you in a separate science class)

If you've worked full-time, or for a long period at one job, a letter from your supervisor.

So, minimum of three, I wouldn't send more than 6-7. Some schools have more specific requirements, so be sure to check the requirements before you apply.

 

[pfaction]

My school puts all of our LOR's into a single letter, if it's from our school. So all my schools will be 1, I can get another from the MD I'm shadowing, one from my Pharmacist that I work with.

So as for mvenus' post, how would that work? I can get a professor from my major to write one but it'll just go into the single letter LOR. The letter from my PI will go into that single letter LOR as well (he taught me before I worked with him).

As for non-science, maybe someone I volunteered with.

--edit

To follow up on that combination LOR, I have:
At least 3 professors from school, all science
1 non-science professor
1 MD/PhD
DEAN OF ADMISSIONS

writing me LORs.

And it will all just get combined into one generalized letter. I am going to fight bone and teeth for Dean's LOR to be separate.

 

[sector9]

My school puts all of our LOR's into a single letter, if it's from our school. So all my schools will be 1, I can get another from the MD I'm shadowing, one from my Pharmacist that I work with.

So as for mvenus' post, how would that work? I can get a professor from my major to write one but it'll just go into the single letter LOR. The letter from my PI will go into that single letter LOR as well (he taught me before I worked with him).

As for non-science, maybe someone I volunteered with.

--edit

To follow up on that combination LOR, I have:
At least 3 professors from school, all science
1 non-science professor
1 MD/PhD
DEAN OF ADMISSIONS

writing me LORs.

And it will all just get combined into one generalized letter. I am going to fight bone and teeth for Dean's LOR to be separate.

It sounds like they create a committee letter for you. The other option is a letter packet where they would leave all of the letters exactly as the writers had them. See the description in the instruction manual below

Committee Letter: A letter authored by a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor and intended to represent your institution's evaluation of you. A committee letter may or may not include additional letters written in support of your application.
Letter Packet: A packet or set of letters assembled and distributed by your institution, often by the institution's career center. A Letter Packet may include a cover sheet from your pre-health committee or advisor; however, in contrast to a Committee Letter, a Letter Packet does not include an evaluative letter from your pre-health committee or advisor.

A committee letter is almost always replaceable with the separate letters so you should be great

Most people recommend not getting a letter from a MD you shadow unless the doctor knows you really well

 

[pfaction]

If you check your PMs, I think I'll get to know my MD quite well. For that month, at least. And then, it's on to another hospital...another MD 🙂

And that's GREAT news for me, because assuming they put names in the committee letter, it'll have the amount of letters submitted! Coolio! Thanks AGAIN!

 

[LeoGer]

"Is 6 recs required for med school?"

Whether or not English is your first language, make sure to pay attention to verb conjugations on your AMCAS!

Good luck and hang in there

What is you complaining about? Big meanie.

 

[235788]

4 year member and 299 posts and you don't know how to google this stuff? I hope this isn't a troll post and you actually benefit from me typing this overt obviousness to you. Where did you get 6 from, 6 is like over the top and usually the ABSOLUTE MAX. Having 6 letters might actually hurt you to be honest. You don't want to have any lackluster letters, so make sure you get 3 good ones. Each school is different, and most require a committee letter if your undergraduate institution does that. If your undergrad doesn't, the usual requirement is 2 science letters and 1 non-science letter with an almost universal 3 letter total requirement. I know this cause I browsed the admission websites for most of the schools I'm applying too and using the lizzy m spreadsheet~

easy on him. He just wants to learn!! Read the school requirements, some are a bit goofy (jefferson IMO)

 

[fastfingers]

haha, sorry about these questions. I'm freaking out cause my science prof still hasn't written the letter yet and I want to submit by the 20th.

Sorry if this next question is obvious, but when you submit your application, do you have to send the letter of recommendation immediately or do you send them usually shortly after by contacting your undergrad. Can I submit my app without my recs completely ready and then get them all ready within 2 weeks?

 

[LeoGer]

haha, sorry about these questions. I'm freaking out cause my science prof still hasn't written the letter yet and I want to submit by the 20th.

Sorry if this next question is obvious, but when you submit your application, do you have to send the letter of recommendation immediately or do you send them usually shortly after by contacting your undergrad. Can I submit my app without my recs completely ready and then get them all ready within 2 weeks?

After all of the above replies complaining about how you don't read instructions, you ask a question that is readily available on SDN, AMCAS and med school's websites? You're priceless.

Answer: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/

EDIT: I feel bad. Yes, you can submit without your letters of recommendation.

 

[sector9]

After all of the above replies complaining about how you don't read instructions, you ask a question that is readily available on SDN, AMCAS and med school's websites? You're priceless.

Answer: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/

EDIT: I feel bad. Yes, you can submit without your letters of recommendation.

ROFL you are too nice... haha