LOR advice

[annemal22]

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I will be applying this year for my 3rd time. I am trying to decide if I will use different LOR's, or stick with the same. I think two of them I will keep the same. One from my professor who I did my MS degree under, and the other is a vet I currently work for part-time. My trouble is in deciding whether I should use different vet that I used to work for for 4 years, or switch it to use the director of my dept. at the pharmaceutical company I do research at full time??
I know the vet wrote me a great recommendation last year, and would again this year. Just trying to decide what the vet schools would look more favorably on.. . professor, vet, vet. . . .or professor, vet, professional recommendation??

 

[zxz130]

I will be applying this year for my 3rd time. I am trying to decide if I will use different LOR's, or stick with the same. I think two of them I will keep the same. One from my professor who I did my MS degree under, and the other is a vet I currently work for part-time. My trouble is in deciding whether I should use different vet that I used to work for for 4 years, or switch it to use the director of my dept. at the pharmaceutical company I do research at full time??
I know the vet wrote me a great recommendation last year, and would again this year. Just trying to decide what the vet schools would look more favorably on.. . professor, vet, vet. . . .or professor, vet, professional recommendation??

Do you necessarily have to pick one? I know the VMCAS allows you to have up to five eLORs. Personally I had 4, English Prof, Science Prof, Vet and Employer.

 

[annemal22]

True. . . but I know some schools say they only will look at 3. But I guess I could consider that as an option. Thanks!

 

[cowgirla]

I will be applying this year for my 3rd time. I am trying to decide if I will use different LOR's, or stick with the same. I think two of them I will keep the same. One from my professor who I did my MS degree under, and the other is a vet I currently work for part-time. My trouble is in deciding whether I should use different vet that I used to work for for 4 years, or switch it to use the director of my dept. at the pharmaceutical company I do research at full time??
I know the vet wrote me a great recommendation last year, and would again this year. Just trying to decide what the vet schools would look more favorably on.. . professor, vet, vet. . . .or professor, vet, professional recommendation??

Before you even consider who is writing your letters, are you sure that the letters are strong and portray you in a positive way? If you have any doubts at all, about any of the letters, get rid of those. Some schools will tell you at file reviews whether or not your LORs were strong, although they won't always tell you which ones in particular.

That said, some schools keep your previous applications at hand and review to see where you've improved. I think adding new letters, from different aspects of "you" would definitely be a positive thing.

For the schools that will accept them, you definitely could submit them all. Again, just make sure they are all positive.

 

[moosenanny]

This could become slightly awkward, but you could mention to the vet that you're reapplying and unsure if you should use her letter again, or a new letter from your pharm research. You can bring it up like you're asking her advice. If she at all hesitates, maybe go with the new one, but if she is adamant about writing you the best possible letter, stick with hers. It could be a sort of "test," if you know what I mean.

Also, one of my letter-writers let me read his recommendation before he formally submitted it through VMCAS. He offered, so I didn't have to ask, but you could go ahead and see if the vet would let you read her letter. Some people are really formal about this, but if you have a certain type of relationship, she may not mind.

My final thought is if you do stick with the vet, maybe ask her if she can heavily update the letter, rather than just sending in the same one with only minor changes in how long she's known you, etc. This way you get the best of both worlds: you keep your strong recommender, but you also show improvement and change to the schools at which you are reapplying.

Hope at least some of this helps!

 

[annemal22]

Thanks for the advice. I have read her letter both years, and it is good, but they are very similar both years. . . only slight changes(she writes TONS of LORs). I have read the other letters as well, and they are both very good. I had a file review last year and they said that my LOR's were good and I could feel good using the same people.
But part of me feels that I need more for next year's application. So in addition to continuing to work at the clinic, doing my full time job, and taking classes I feel like maybe I should add this new recommendation- I know he will write me a stellar one, and he will probably ask me to read it before he submits it, to make sure I think it is really good. Just wasn't sure what the vet schools would think about it. I refrained from having him write me one last year because I felt that the vet schools might not look at his recommendation as highly as a professor or vet.