Letters of recommendation

[poorlilrich]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Right now I have two slam-dunk LORs: one from my Gen Chem professor and the other from my BioIA professor.

The third LOR is the one causing me some problems. I'm starting organic chemistry this fall, and from research, it seems that a LOR from an organic chemistry professor is one of the strongest one in the pharmacy school's eyes.

Do you guys think it's tacky to ask for a letter of recommendation from a professor midway through the course?


I could also do planB, which is asking my economy teacher or public speaking teacher to write LORs, but I don't think they would hold much weight to the committee.


What do you guys and gals think I should do?

A. Ask my orgo chem professor to write me a LOR during the term
B. Ask my former econ professor to write me a LOR
C. Ask my former public speaking professor to write me a LOR

 

[sungieality]

Right now I have two slam-dunk LORs: one from my Gen Chem professor and the other from my BioIA professor.

The third LOR is the one causing me some problems. I'm starting organic chemistry this fall, and from research, it seems that a LOR from an organic chemistry professor is one of the strongest one in the pharmacy school's eyes.

Do you guys think it's tacky to ask for a letter of recommendation from a professor midway through the course?


I could also do planB, which is asking my economy teacher or public speaking teacher to write LORs, but I don't think they would hold much weight to the committee.


What do you guys and gals think I should do?

A. Ask my orgo chem professor to write me a LOR during the term
B. Ask my former econ professor to write me a LOR
C. Ask my former public speaking professor to write me a LOR

I'm not sure why you feel you must have a letter from an organic chemistry professor. True, it holds weight, but you're forgetting that you've already proved your academic aptitude in science through TWO science professors. Why not get a letter from a supervisor, a director of an organization you volunteered with, or yes, even a humanities professor? If all your letters are from science professors, it shows that you're confident in your science abilities... but not much else.

 

[Monalyce]

I'm not sure which schools weigh organic chemistry professors above all else...nearly everyone I know from undergrad used an organic chem LOR; I did not (I didn't know the professor well, and I didn't see what the huge deal was with that letter being better than any other) and didn't suffer in the slightest. I'm surprised you plan to submit three letters ALL from professors; some schools even require that they be from different "types" of sources. I'd strongly consider a volunteer or work supervisor to show another dimension of your skill set.

 

[pdng]

if you have only 3 options, i would go with C, and hope that public speaking professor will rite you a good one, show all of your strengths in communication.

 

[poorlilrich]

I'm very confident in the public speaking and economics professors; I built strong rapports with them.

 

[pharm B]

Sounds like a win. Know any pharmacists that might write you one?

 

[poorlilrich]

haha nope

My application is lacking in the pharmacy experience department

 

[Passion4Sci]

haha nope

My application is lacking in the pharmacy experience department

If you are just starting Orgo that means you have time on your side. Time to fix that.

 

[pharm B]

Yup! Time to start spending some weekends in a pharmacy. 🙂

 

[Passion4Sci]

Yup! Time to start spending some weekends in a pharmacy. 🙂

Upshot: OP will probably get a lot of dates in the pharmacy too, since the ratio is totally in his favor.

 

[pharm B]

Yep. PCAT's on this date, app's due on this date, interview on this date...

 

[poorlilrich]

Do walgreens and CVS take volunteers?

 

[Passion4Sci]

Do walgreens and CVS take volunteers?

No, their insurance strictly forbids it.

There's a TON of "volunteering" posts on here. I should know, I've written all of the newest ones, since I am lead volunteer in the pharmacy at a big hospital in the bay, and I've been at it for a looong time ago (or at least it FEELS like one).

Search 'em out!

 

[pharm B]

And start making some calls tomorrow. Just poke around. Stress that you're pre-pharmacy.

 

[Passion4Sci]

And start making some calls tomorrow. Just poke around. Stress that you're pre-pharmacy.

We need t-shirts so pharmacists will recognize our people as motivated. Now that you have some rank I expect it done.

 

[pharm B]

haha I'll ask around. You're saying you wouldn't wear the "witch doctor" baby tee?

(brought this up in the Class of 2014 thread to keep this from going too off-topic)

 

[Passion4Sci]

haha I'll ask around. You're saying you wouldn't wear the "witch doctor" baby tee?

No, definitely not.

I am friends with a supervisor at The Ink Monkey in Davis, they could prolly cut as a sweet deal on 20 or 30. Done lots of business with him in the past. Something that's not just general SDN. Something that's pre-pharm/pharm. Hell yeah.

 

[SirRichardPryor]

I never understood the significance of LoR. Anybody can write them and personally, I wouldn't value them even if they came from the President. I find it very hard to believe that a 2.50 GPA with a 30 on the PCAT is pharmacy ready, Mr President.

Thank god my university doesn't consider them.

 

[pharm B]

It's just another aspect of the student's application. I think it's probably similar to the interview in as much as it's a chance for the school to see your humanity and get a qualitative assessment. What if you were a jerk in class, cut others off constantly, or sat there without ever saying a word? That prof can't possibly write you a decent LoR.

 

[owlegrad]

It's just another aspect of the student's application. I think it's probably similar to the interview in as much as it's a chance for the school to see your humanity and get a qualitative assessment. What if you were a jerk in class, cut others off constantly, or sat there without ever saying a word? That prof can't possibly write you a decent LoR.

If only that were true. Then maybe LORs would mean something. I know of at least two professors at my last college that when you ask them for an LOR they ask you for a list of accomplishments so they can include them in the letter. Otherwise they are two generic. lol

When I asked a pharmacist for a letter he asked me to write it and just let him sign it. Anyone else have this?

I guess my point is I have no faith in recommendations at all.

 

[pharm B]

Well if you know someone's not fit to be pharmacist, then maybe guerrilla warfare is necessary. Maybe send a LoR "for" them. 😀

 

[Carboxide]

I kinda figure that LORs matter most when they're bad. Like, it's more of a safety net to avoid students who may have high grades but have other issues. I dunno.

 

[pharm B]

haha, I wonder what kind of bad LoR's AdComs have seen...

"Don't trust this guy. He's a fake and a liar. And hates America. And babies. He can't count or parallel park. Absolutely not. No way. No how. Shoot on sight."

 

[SCP08]

I never understood the significance of LoR. Anybody can write them and personally, I wouldn't value them even if they came from the President. I find it very hard to believe that a 2.50 GPA with a 30 on the PCAT is pharmacy ready, Mr President.

Thank god my university doesn't consider them.

Always seemed pointless to me too. Not to mention just a tad unfair to people who went to giant schools. Outside of Rutgers, I haven't seen any pharmacy schools that don't require them--are there others?

 

[pharm B]

I thought it was a predominant requirement. I know most (if not all) SOP's in Texas require them.

 

[SirRichardPryor]

I thought it was a predominant requirement. I know most (if not all) SOP's in Texas require them.

I just don't see the value in them and many of my professors don't see it either. I'll quote my patho professor:

I interviewed this one young woman who had a LoR from 2 hot shot lawyers in southern California that just praised her but her interview was such a train wreck. Somehow she got in and hopefully she's not in this class...but if she, your interview was terrible.

 

[pharm B]

If the interview was a train wreck, why did she get in? An AdCom member told me that the interview is the deciding point in your application cycle. You've met the requirements to be interviewed, now you're no longer a number.

If he was present at that interview, he should have voiced his opinion. LoR's are just part of an app, I don't think they typically end up being that one thing that got someone in.

 

[SirRichardPryor]

If the interview was a train wreck, why did she get in? An AdCom member told me that the interview is the deciding point in your application cycle. You've met the requirements to be interviewed, now you're no longer a number.

If he was present at that interview, he should have voiced his opinion. LoR's are just part of an app, I don't think they typically end up being that one thing that got someone in.

The thing about my university is that it's so hard to tell a prospective student whether or not they have a chance. The acceptance level is so strange to me.

I've met a lot of people who made straight C's in science classes, low PCAT, no experience, yet they got in and I've met a lot of people with 4.0's or 3.80's with high PCAT scores and weren't even offered interviews.

 

[poorlilrich]

I'm calling a pharmacy first thing tomorrow; wish me luck