Letter of Recommendation

[mavo93]

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I am currently studying for the OAT and planning to take it sometimes in May or June, as application opens July 1st. I have 4 people in mind that I am going to ask for a letter of rec.:

1) My boss. I was a work-study student in a physiology lab for 1.5 years. She is the lab manager and a researcher for the same lab.
2) My optometrist. I haven't started shadowing for him yet, but he has said yes to that I can shadow him.
3) My professor that I took 2 courses with in Scandinavian studies. He gave me A+ and I have a somewhat close relationship to him.
4) My mentor in a biochemistry research lab that I volunteer for at the moment. She is a 3rd year PhD student at UCLA.

I am uncertain about my 4th choice. The reason I don't plan to ask the PI is because I work solely under my mentor. But if I can get the PI to co-sign the LOR from my mentor, will that be a valid LOR? (And does anyone know how it is co-signed electronically?)

Second question, so application doesn't open until July 1st. Do the recommenders have to wait until then?

Thank you so much!

 

[jonizzy]

I am currently studying for the OAT and planning to take it sometimes in May or June, as application opens July 1st. I have 4 people in mind that I am going to ask for a letter of rec.:

1) My boss. I was a work-study student in a physiology lab for 1.5 years. She is the lab manager and a researcher for the same lab.
2) My optometrist. I haven't started shadowing for him yet, but he has said yes to that I can shadow him.
3) My professor that I took 2 courses with in Scandinavian studies. He gave me A+ and I have a somewhat close relationship to him.
4) My mentor in a biochemistry research lab that I volunteer for at the moment. She is a 3rd year PhD student at UCLA.

I am uncertain about my 4th choice. The reason I don't plan to ask the PI is because I work solely under my mentor. But if I can get the PI to co-sign the LOR from my mentor, will that be a valid LOR? (And does anyone know how it is co-signed electronically?)

Second question, so application doesn't open until July 1st. Do the recommenders have to wait until then?

Thank you so much!

Sadly they have to wait until the 1st to submit them electronically. It's done through their email.

 

[Stirling]

I'm applying in July as well. I approached all four of my people a few weeks ago and asked. I explained that it won't be submitted until July but that they're free to write their letter now. You can probably do the same and send a reminder email in June to make sure they've written it.

As for your choice of professor, do you have a science professor that could write one instead of your Scandinavian one? I guess it depends on the schools you apply to, but about half require a science professor LOE. Check out this here: http://www.optomcas.org/information-about-schools-colleges/letters-of-recommendation If you don't need a science professor then you're golden.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

 

[mavo93]

I'm applying in July as well. I approached all four of my people a few weeks ago and asked. I explained that it won't be submitted until July but that they're free to write their letter now. You can probably do the same and send a reminder email in June to make sure they've written it.

As for your choice of professor, do you have a science professor that could write one instead of your Scandinavian one? I guess it depends on the schools you apply to, but about half require a science professor LOE. Check out this here: http://www.optomcas.org/information-about-schools-colleges/letters-of-recommendation If you don't need a science professor then you're golden.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

Very helpful! Thanks so much!

 

[Trozeii]

Just a word of caution as well, when I submitted my applications, I had some trouble with some programs and they requested (specifically) 2 letters of recommendations from professors (one or even both from science course professors).

Despite my application containing only 1 LOR from a professor, one program invited me for an interview and requested that I submit the 2nd professor LOR afterwards (if I got accepted).

Look into the programs you're looking to apply to and check to see their LOR requirements 🙂

 

[evorage]

http://www.optomcas.org/information-about-schools-colleges/letters-of-recommendation

This page has the requirements for all programs. Look over it and make sure you cover all your selected programs when you ask for letters.