Is it the end of the world to not have a non-science LOR?

[NotADoctor1]

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Basically just the thread title. I have a few semesters left, and it doesn't look like I'll be taking any other non-science courses. I don't have a non-science LOR yet, and I was wondering if this would screw me over. I'd like to avoid taking unnecessary non-science courses for the sake of a letter if that's not something I need to do.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are not submitting a committee letter, or if your committee requires a non-science letter, you had better have a non-science letter or your application will be incomplete. Haven't you taken some English, philosophy, social science, art history or foreign language classes? It is idea to have someone who can speak to your communication skills in writing and in class discussion.

 

[KnightDoc]

If you are not submitting a committee letter, or if your committee requires a non-science letter, you had better have a non-science letter or your application will be incomplete. Haven't you taken some English, philosophy, social science, art history or foreign language classes? It is idea to have someone who can speak to your communication skills in writing and in class discussion.

THIS^^^^^^. Basically, the schools want people who are well rounded, and the LOR is a tiny data point toward that end.

Your plans to take no non-science classes in your last few semesters in school indicates this might actually be an issue for you. If it were me, I'd embrace it as nudging me in a direction I probably need to go to have a competitive application, for reasons beyond merely obtaining a single LOR, and not resent it for forcing me into "taking unnecessary non-science courses for the sake of a letter." JMHO as a current cycle applicant.

 

[viralhiker]

I did not have any non-science LORs and my cycle went just fine. However, I was a few years out from undergrad and had PI and grad school letters that maybe made up for that “requirement”.

 

[NotADoctor1]

THIS^^^^^^. Basically, the schools want people who are well rounded, and the LOR is a tiny data point toward that end.

Your plans to take no non-science classes in your last few semesters in school indicates this might actually be an issue for you. If it were me, I'd embrace it as nudging me in a direction I probably need to go to have a competitive application, for reasons beyond merely obtaining a single LOR, and not resent it for forcing me into "taking unnecessary non-science courses for the sake of a letter." JMHO as a current cycle applicant.

If you are not submitting a committee letter, or if your committee requires a non-science letter, you had better have a non-science letter or your application will be incomplete. Haven't you taken some English, philosophy, social science, art history or foreign language classes? It is idea to have someone who can speak to your communication skills in writing and in class discussion.

This is very helpful, thank you. Would a professor in the psychology department with whom I've taken physiological psychology and neuroanatomy (both in the psych department) be non-science enough? These courses are technically under the umbrella of social science, but they seem a little gray to me

 

[KnightDoc]

This is very helpful, thank you. Would a professor in the psychology department with whom I've taken physiological psychology and neuroanatomy (both in the psych department) be non-science enough? These courses are technically under the umbrella of social science, but they seem a little gray to me

Maybe, but that's not the point! Why not take another look at @LizzyM's post and see if there aren't any classes in any humanities department that you might find interesting? If not, your application might not be determined to be as compelling as some others at schools that really care about this, even if your psych professor's letter fulfills the requirement. For the record, while psych is not BCPM, it is still a science! 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

Agree. Did you ever take a course in performing or studio arts, art history, philosophy, theology, religious studies, history, political science, English, a foreign language, sociology, even physical education.. Ideally, it was a course with a small enough class size that you could stand out. You go to office hours, you participate in class discussion, you write memorable papers. That's the way you get a nice letter. I've even seen letters from orchestra leaders and athletic coaches who have faculty appointments.

 

[NotADoctor1]

Okay, yes I totally see where the two of you are coming from. I've taken some English/history/philosophy courses in the past, and I felt like I participated well in discussions and wrote good papers. Honestly, though, it feels like those courses were so long ago (or during the Zoom University period) that I'm not sure the professors would remember me well enough to write a non-generic letter. I'll reach out to a couple of them and see what they think, and I'll also look into interesting, small, discussion-based humanities courses I can take later on. (although I'm not crazy about the idea of taking a larger class load than is absolutely necessary)

 

[LizzyM]

Okay, yes I totally see where the two of you are coming from. I've taken some English/history/philosophy courses in the past, and I felt like I participated well in discussions and wrote good papers. Honestly, though, it feels like those courses were so long ago (or during the Zoom University period) that I'm not sure the professors would remember me well enough to write a non-generic letter. I'll reach out to a couple of them and see what they think, and I'll also look into interesting, small, discussion-based humanities courses I can take later on. (although I'm not crazy about the idea of taking a larger class load than is absolutely necessary)

The key is to send the AMCAS tip sheet on letter writing plus a paper or two that you wrote for the class as a way to jog the professor's memory. And I say this as someone who has been teaching grad students for 25+ years.

 

[Spectar]

Basically just the thread title. I have a few semesters left, and it doesn't look like I'll be taking any other non-science courses. I don't have a non-science LOR yet, and I was wondering if this would screw me over. I'd like to avoid taking unnecessary non-science courses for the sake of a letter if that's not something I need to do.

Yes, take an extra class if you have to. Ask around your campus to see if there are any chill professors. Some humanities professors are so relaxed that they will let you write your own letter and submit it for you.