Letter of recommendation...from COACH?

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Angel_Eyes

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I have played softball for my entire life thus far, so I am tempted to have my college coach write a letter of recommendation on my behalf is that a good idea?

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I'm not sure that's the best idea. I mean, how relavent is his word toward medical school?
 
I had my boss write me a "supplementary" recommendation. I think as long as you fulfuill the requirements for how many science/non-science letters, a supplementary letter can't hurt. Just don't use it in replacement of a teacher recommendation.
 
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My friend's mother INSISTED that she write me a letter of rec. I told her I didn't think it would be given the attention and weight it should (trying nicely to tell her she shouldn't bother), but she was determined. Of all my letters, hers was the only one to be mentioned during an interview. I guess it was good!

If your coach really likes you and is willing to write on your behalf, go for it. Just make sure that this is your only "personal" recommendation. The rest should be professional recommendations.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by eagle26:
•I'm not sure that's the best idea. I mean, how relavent is his word toward medical school?•••••Well, I'm sure it's a great idea...you want a broad array of recommendation letters so schools can learn about you from different perspectives. Your coach can vouch for your work ethic, how you deal with adversity, how well you work with others, your leadership abilities and on and on...i actually got a letter of rec from my college football coach and my interviewer at Stanford said he was especially impressed with what he had to read in that rec. They aren't just looking to get to know you as a student but as a person as well, and that's where people like your coach come in to play. I would definitely get your coach to write SOMETHING..
 
your coach is likely very qualified to speak about your work ethic, dedication and personal sacrifices you've made to balance athletics and academics. these qualities are important to medicine regardless of how you've displayed them in the past--the idea is that you possess them. many academic letters are only able to address performance, not personal attributes like a letter from your coach could. as long as you've got people in other areas (academics, volunteer, etc) writing letters, i don't see how this could hurt.
i'd suggest contacting a few admissions people for their opinions (they're the ones that matter) before you do anything concrete, though.
 
I think it's a great idea. I had letters from my AmeriCorps supervisor (I taught science and literacy skills to Mexican-American schoolchildren), a research subject I recruited for a study, and from my roommate, who is a medical student. AdComms want a broad array of recommendations so that they can see you from different perspectives. Good luck!
 
•••quote:••• I think as long as you fulfuill the requirements for how many science/non-science letters, a supplementary letter can't hurt. Just don't use it in replacement of a teacher recommendation. ••••I agree. It just has to be a person who knows you very well.
 
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