Letter of Rec; AADSAS's limit

[Piepiesuperpie]

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I apologize if this has been asked before, but as you all know, different schools require letters from different sources. From what I've compiled, in order to cover your bases, it's best to have: 3 science prof LORs, 1 dental LOR. My dilema is that I'd also like to add a non-science prof to that list (since this prof is more familiar with me than some of my science profs), but AADSAS has a limit of 4 letters. What should I do? Are schools like Columbia (who require 3 LORs from science professors) lenient on that requirement?

 

[sjv]

Call the school(s) in question and ask if they are willing to accept a letter directly. Otherwise, cover as many bases as you can. It does seem that letters are more flexible than other requirements such as prerequisites which are entirely inflexible and must be completed before matriculation.

 

[Piepiesuperpie]

Thanks! Do you know schools ask for more letters of rec in the secondaries?

 

[sjv]

Thanks! Do you know schools ask for more letters of rec in the secondaries?

Not that I know of, the only case that I can think of is proof of dentist shadowing for Tufts that you can send later if you don't send it as one of your AADSAS letters. Secondaries are usually supplementary application fees with the possibility of further essays/short answers/misc info.

 

[kingenamel]

I think loma linda lets you send the spiritual letter in their secondary. Not 100% sure tho.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Columbia also allows you to send a committee letter in lieu of the 3 science professor requirement. I think many schools allow, if not prefer, this. Personally, I am going to try to have 2 science professors, my school's Pre-health Advisory Committee's letter, and a dentist I have shadowed.

 

[ModifiedBass]

Check to see if your school has a committee as Daneosaurus said. I was able to send in 3 science LORs, 2 non science, one dentist, and the committee LOR all together as the committee package. It's the best way to get many letters in with no real limit.

 

[NMC2010]

I think 3 letters from science profs, one from dentist is good since it will cover most of the bases. In the grand scheme of things, I doubt schools care too much about your LoR as long as none of them are negative. That's more or less a guess, but I figure there are other more important things to them on your application, and there are probably many people that get accepted with bland (but positive) LoR's.

 

[Jerm174]

This is a general question regarding LORs. If my mother is a dentist, is she able to write it?

 

[sjv]

This is a general question regarding LORs. If my mother is a dentist, is she able to write it?

Generally not suggested due to potential bias from family members.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Check to see if your school has a committee as Daneosaurus said. I was able to send in 3 science LORs, 2 non science, one dentist, and the committee LOR all together as the committee package. It's the best way to get many letters in with no real limit.

I thought the limit was 4

 

[sjv]

I thought the limit was 4

The limit is 4 if you submit individual letters to AADSAS. Amount of letters in a committee letter is determined by how many you submit to the committee itself OR how many the committee accepts since they are not affiliated with AADSAS.

 

[Daneosaurus]

The limit is 4 if you submit individual letters to AADSAS. Amount of letters in a committee letter is determined by how many you submit to the committee itself OR how many the committee accepts since they are not affiliated with AADSAS.

I see. My school's committee is made up of a few science profs, most of the biology advisors, and the associate dean of the college of sciences. To get a LOR from them, you must submit your PS, and get a passing "grade" on the mock interview, and submit your DAT (or whichever applies) score. IDK if that is standard, but it requires a lot and would be excellent to have.

 

[ModifiedBass]

I see. My school's committee is made up of a few science profs, most of the biology advisors, and the associate dean of the college of sciences. To get a LOR from them, you must submit your PS, and get a passing "grade" on the mock interview, and submit your DAT (or whichever applies) score. IDK if that is standard, but it requires a lot and would be excellent to have.

I think it's similar for most. Mine was very similar, had over 20 members from the school and surrounding dentists/doctors; you had to submit 3 letters from science professors, 2 from non-science, 1 from a dentist, have a transcript review, submit your PS, have 2 interviews with grades, etc. and then they would give you a recommendation and combine all letters including theirs into the committee package. Good amount of work but totally worth it.

 

[Daneosaurus]

I think it's similar for most. Mine was very similar, had over 20 members from the school and surrounding dentists/doctors; you had to submit 3 letters from science professors, 2 from non-science, 1 from a dentist, have a transcript review, submit your PS, have 2 interviews with grades, etc. and then they would give you a recommendation and combine all letters including theirs into the committee package. Good amount of work but totally worth it.

I think if you score one, the committee thinks you're likely to get in somewhere. They seem completely worth it.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Double post