Letter of recommendation from research

[NP545]

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Do I really need to have a recommendation letter from a PI/research professor?

I worked in his lab over the summer (30-40 hrs/week) and I don't think I formed too well of a bond with him because I mainly interacted with grad students. Do med schools want to see a rec letter from a PI or is it fine if I just get one from another science faculty member from a class I took?

Also, my research was "volunteer" based, so I did not receive any school credit or money. If I do not ask for a letter from him, will medical schools think I lied about my research because there is no way to validate it with proof?

 

[487806]

Do I really need to have a recommendation letter from a PI/research professor?

I worked in his lab over the summer (30-40 hrs/week) and I don't think I formed too well of a bond with him because I mainly interacted with grad students. Do med schools want to see a rec letter from a PI or is it fine if I just get one from another science faculty member from a class I took?

Also, my research was "volunteer" based, so I did not receive any school credit or money. If I do not ask for a letter from him, will medical schools think I lied about my research because there is no way to validate it with proof?

LORs from PIs are recommended/required for top tier (research heavy schools). Most schools besides them are okay if you don't have a PI LOR.

Just add him as a reference

 

[NP545]

LORs from PIs are recommended/required for top tier (research heavy schools). Most schools besides them are okay if you don't have a PI LOR.

Just add him as a reference

By research heavy, do you mean like top 20 from the best research med schools list?
A couple schools I'm interested are in the range 20-40 overall in research rankings, but I want to know if I have a good shot at them without a research recommendation letter.

What's the importance of a research LOR anyways, research isn't even mandated for med schools. Its only recommended. Would strong other extracurriculars override my lack of PI letter when applying to a good school?

 

[487806]

By research heavy, do you mean like top 20 from the best research med schools list?
A couple schools I'm interested are in the range 20-40 overall in research rankings, but I want to know if I have a good shot at them without a research recommendation letter.

What's the importance of a research LOR anyways, research isn't even mandated for med schools. Its only recommended. Would strong other extracurriculars override my lack of PI letter when applying to a good school?

1) Yes, top 20 from USNWR research ranking.
2) A research LOR always helps especially if you are focused on pursuing academic medicine (research) for career.
3) 20-40 range, research LORs may not be necessary, but that's school-specific. It always helps, but if you have excellent ECs, you'll have a good shot.

 

[NP545]

Would 350 hours of research over the summer be worth it if I will not get a rec letter or published?
I am not really interested in research, and would rather devote the time to volunteering in a hospital or even shadowing.
Can people get into med school without doing research, or would it be harder?

 

[Catalystik]

Would 350 hours of research over the summer be worth it if I will not get a rec letter or published?
I am not really interested in research, and would rather devote the time to volunteering in a hospital or even shadowing.
Can people get into med school without doing research, or would it be harder?

It's my observation that it is more difficult to get into med school without a research experience or similar. But stronger-than-typical involvement in another field of endeavor can compensate for its lack. If your only research will be a summer's worth, you will have done enough to "check that box" but probably won't appeal to strongly research-based institutions. So having no letter won't be an application killer and isn't a bar to listing the activity on your application.

Even though you don't feel you had enough of a relationship with the PI to get a decent letter, you might consider asking the grad student you worked with primarily if he/she could write you a strong one, and if they could get the PI to co-sign it. This is commonly done. If your work was lackluster enough that you doubt a good letter might result, don't stress about not having one. But do be sure that you understand the project you contributed to enough that you can describe it on the application and explain it to an interviewer.