Letters from PIs

Started by sunshine02
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Someone else can correct me if I am wrong but I'm fairly certain it is mainly the MD/PhD programs that highly encourage them.
 
PleaseCallMeDoc said:
Someone else can correct me if I am wrong but I'm fairly certain it is mainly the MD/PhD programs that highly encourage them.
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That's what I heard, too. I've never heard of MD programs that require letters from all the PI's. That said I am just a clueless applicant so someone please chime in.
 
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sunshine02 said:
Which schools require LOR from all PIs for MD admissions only?
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No school requires letters from your PI. However, it will be odd if you have done significant research or it is a centerpiece of your application and you don't have a PI letter. At schools that heavily value research (top USNews for reference) this will be more important, other schools will care zero.
 
Agree that having PI letters will be valued at research heavy schools. As far as I know, Harvard is the only school that explicitly requires recommendation letters from every PI you've worked with. "We should receive letters from all of your research supervisors. This is true for both applicants to the MD/PhD program as well as applicants to the MD only track." See: http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/admissions-faqs#Letters
 
lhooq said:
Agree that having PI letters will be valued at research heavy schools. As far as I know, Harvard is the only school that explicitly requires recommendation letters from every PI you've worked with. "We should receive letters from all of your research supervisors. This is true for both applicants to the MD/PhD program as well as applicants to the MD only track." See: http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/admissions-faqs#Letters
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Ok yeah, that's what I was thinking--I remember Harvard saying that they require letters from EVERY PI. That's why I was wondering if there are other schools like that too?
 
And what happens if you don't send letters from every PI to Harvard? Does that mean they won't look at you? There are a couple I would be very uncomfortable asking for a LOR because I left the lab on my own will since they were horrible mentors
 
Usually the committee letter covers all requirements so I don't think Harvard's is a strict requirement. But you can include PI letters in the committee packet if you want.
 
Usually most places don't care as long the reference is good unless MD/Ph.D. or that it's research oriented as many others have mentioned

I remember U Miami used to state on their website that optionally, they would like see a PI's reference but it seems that is no longer the case
 
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Can anyone speak firsthand to Harvard's seriousness with this rule? And their non-science rule? Is that overlooked if there's a committee letter?

I feel like it'd be in Harvard's interest to hold all applications to this standard, because it at least helps them cut down the number of apps a bit...

Honestly these annoying requirements are making me not want to apply, I really don't think a letter from my summer PI after my freshmen year of college is going to give school's any insight on my ability.
 
gonnif said:
Havard's are written as recommendations and not a requirement. It is unlikely that a lacking a letter from an freshman summer I will have any impact and unlikely to be noticed even as a blip

http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/admissions-faqs#Letters

You are allowed up to six (6) letters of recommendation in support of your application. When considering the total number of letters to submit, please note the following:


  • At least (2) letters should be from professors in the sciences with whom you have taken classes.
  • At least one (1) letter should be written by a professor who is not in the sciences.
  • We should receive letters from all of your research supervisors. This is true for both applicants to the MD/PhD program as well as applicants to the MD only track.
  • If you wish to supplement a premedical advisory committee evaluation packet with additional letters of recommendation, count the packet as one (1) letter towards the six letter maximum.
  • We do not require letters of recommendation from employers, but if you have been out of school and working it is advisable to have a letter sent from your place of employment.
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you mean all the "shoulds"??
 
PakiMDDreamer said:
you mean all the "shoulds"??
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From personal experience, they do NOT firmly require letters from all PIs. As others have said, if it is a meaningful, longitudinal, or otherwise significant experience, they probably want to see the letter. If you were in a lab for 2 months freshman year and didn't get along with a PI, you don't need it. Good luck, OP.
 
gonnif said:
Havard's are written as recommendations and not a requirement. It is unlikely that a lacking a letter from an freshman summer I will have any impact and unlikely to be noticed even as a blip

http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/admissions-faqs#Letters

You are allowed up to six (6) letters of recommendation in support of your application. When considering the total number of letters to submit, please note the following:


  • At least (2) letters should be from professors in the sciences with whom you have taken classes.
  • At least one (1) letter should be written by a professor who is not in the sciences.
  • We should receive letters from all of your research supervisors. This is true for both applicants to the MD/PhD program as well as applicants to the MD only track.
  • If you wish to supplement a premedical advisory committee evaluation packet with additional letters of recommendation, count the packet as one (1) letter towards the six letter maximum.
  • We do not require letters of recommendation from employers, but if you have been out of school and working it is advisable to have a letter sent from your place of employment.
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Ummm...I didn't know that they only allow 6 max. I have 2 science, 1 non-science, 2 PI, 1 volunteer--that's six by itself and then my school also does the committee letter. I wasn't aware that the committee letter has to be counted as one of the 6. 🙁 #stressednow
 
sunshine02 said:
Ummm...I didn't know that they only allow 6 max. I have 2 science, 1 non-science, 2 PI, 1 volunteer--that's six by itself and then my school also does the committee letter. I wasn't aware that the committee letter has to be counted as one of the 6. 🙁 #stressednow
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??? just take one out..?
 
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A committee packet won't count against you. They are connected to the packet and Harvard will not penalize you.
 
gonnif said:
A committee letter with 7 attached letters counts as ONE letter. At most schools that would be the ONLY letter you would need to submit
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Oh really? I did not know that. So if I have 6 letters attached to 1 committee letter, that counts as 1 letter out of the 6 max?
 
sunshine02 said:
And what happens if you don't send letters from every PI to Harvard? Does that mean they won't look at you? There are a couple I would be very uncomfortable asking for a LOR because I left the lab on my own will since they were horrible mentors
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I didn't send a LOR from one my research mentors even though I included the research experience on my app. I didn't think it would be an overly helpful LOR. I didn't get an interview, but who knows if that was related or not. There are a million reasons as to why that wouldn't be the case.

I would just avoid the LOR if you don't think it'll be a good one. Harvard is just one school.
 
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