Leniency of certain schools to LOR requirements

[hellowalnut]

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Hi all!

Does anyone know how lenient certain schools (specifically Boston U, Albert Einstein, Emory, Rochester, and other required science letter schools) are in terms of the science LOR requirement?

I have a math-based science LOR, a humanities LOR, and 3 other non professor LOR's. I might be able to secure an actual science based LOR but will this be enough given that some schools want 2 BCP related ones? Should I not even bother applying to those schools?

Has anyone had any success at schools where they didn't quite meet the LOR requirements? I would hate to dump like 5 target schools off my list because I just miss the LOR requirements.

 

[DrHart]

Are you non-trad?

 

[hellowalnut]

Are you non-trad?

No not in the typical sense. I've taken two gap years, worked through undergrad, and support myself financially (will be paying for app cycle by myself). If I get in this next cycle i'll be matriculating at age 25. Would this be considered non-trad?

 

[Goro]

Hi all!

Does anyone know how lenient certain schools (specifically Boston U, Albert Einstein, Emory, Rochester, and other required science letter schools) are in terms of the science LOR requirement?

I have a math-based science LOR, a humanities LOR, and 3 other non professor LOR's. I might be able to secure a actual science based LOR but will this be enough given that some schools want 2 BCP related ones? Should I not even bother applying to those schools?

Has anyone had any success at schools where they didn't quite meet the LOR requirements? I would hate to dump like 5 target schools off my list because I just miss the LOR requirements.

From BU's website:

Those applicants who attend, or who have recently graduated from, an undergraduate institution or a post-baccalaureate premedical program which offers a Health Professions Advisory Committee letter should submit a letter from this committee. If no such institutional letter is available, the applicant should explain this on the BUSM supplemental application and substitute a minimum of three individual letters, two of which must be from a professor who has taught you in Biology, Chemistry or Physics. The third letter can be from a person of your choice and need not be academic in nature.

Note that it does NOT give the option of "Math". Therefore, at least for BU, the answer is no, they not give you any leeway.

 

[JimmyJimJim]

From BU's website:

Those applicants who attend, or who have recently graduated from, an undergraduate institution or a post-baccalaureate premedical program which offers a Health Professions Advisory Committee letter should submit a letter from this committee. If no such institutional letter is available, the applicant should explain this on the BUSM supplemental application and substitute a minimum of three individual letters, two of which must be from a professor who has taught you in Biology, Chemistry or Physics. The third letter can be from a person of your choice and need not be academic in nature.

Note that it does NOT give the option of "Math". Therefore, at least for BU, the answer is no, they not give you any leeway.

Is this common among med schools, to restrict the sources of LOR? I will have a committee letter, but I was also hoping to include up to 6 others from PIs, Doctors I've worked with, etc.

 

[Goro]

Is this common among med schools, to restrict the sources of LOR? I will have a committee letter, but I was also hoping to include up to 6 others from PIs, Doctors I've worked with, etc.

Why not go to the Admissions websites and see what they say? I think that they're pretty clear in what they want.

I trust that you are not hoping to submit the six additional PI LORs in addition to the committee LOR. More does not necessarily mean better. After all, we read have to read these things.

 

[hellowalnut]

From BU's website:

Those applicants who attend, or who have recently graduated from, an undergraduate institution or a post-baccalaureate premedical program which offers a Health Professions Advisory Committee letter should submit a letter from this committee. If no such institutional letter is available, the applicant should explain this on the BUSM supplemental application and substitute a minimum of three individual letters, two of which must be from a professor who has taught you in Biology, Chemistry or Physics. The third letter can be from a person of your choice and need not be academic in nature.

Note that it does NOT give the option of "Math". Therefore, at least for BU, the answer is no, they not give you any leeway.

Thanks @Goro. I was hoping my application wouldn't be trashed due to not hitting the LOR requirement but it seems like that is the case. Is it best for me to avoid submitting an application to a school like this?

 

[NonTrad16]

Thanks @Goro. I was hoping my application wouldn't be trashed due to not hitting the LOR requirement but it seems like that is the case. Is it best for me to avoid submitting an application to a school like this?

If you really want to apply to a given school, contact their admissions department by email and ask. Some schools are lenient, some are not.

 

[JimmyJimJim]

Why dont you see if your committee will take your PI letters? Adding both individual letters and committee letters to the same application can cause some confusion and can impact your application in a few different ways.

Thanks for the advice, I'm a non-trad and the whole committee letter business is a bit odd to me. I'll give them what I've got and I guess they'll condense it per their format.

 

[Goro]

Thanks @Goro. I was hoping my application wouldn't be trashed due to not hitting the LOR requirement but it seems like that is the case. Is it best for me to avoid submitting an application to a school like this?

Yes.

 

[gyngyn]

Is this common among med schools, to restrict the sources of LOR? I will have a committee letter, but I was also hoping to include up to 6 others from PIs, Doctors I've worked with, etc.

Are you applying regular MD or MD/PhD?

 

[JimmyJimJim]

Are you applying regular MD or MD/PhD?

I'm applying for regular MD.