LOR Choices

[gunner1]

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I have a really hard time choosing who would write my third LOR. According to TMDSAS:

"It is recommended that your evaluators be current/former professors that can speak to your academic ability in the sciences."

My choices include:

1) My honors clinical research professor (he doesn't know me too who I'm afraid won't write a comprehensive letter)

2) My undergraduate advisor who is also a faculty member that knows me well through most of my undergraduate career.

3) My volunteer coordinator (not a faculty member) at the hospital where I volunteer who also knows me really well.

I would ask my honors professor but I'm just afraid it would be a risk when I can have two better people to ask.

 

[BigBlueBear]

LizzyM has said that #3 would be pretty worthless (she'll correct me if I'm wrong)

Who is writing your first 2?

 

[Meihua]

Since TMDSAS wants just two individual letters (or a committee letter), and "The participating schools prefer to receive only the required evaluation letters. Additional letters are not encouraged," you should only include a third additional letter unless if you feel it is very strong and adds a dimension not covered in the first two. I'm guessing you asked professors to write the required two LORs as per TMDSAS suggestions, so I don't really know what any of these would add to your application?

 

[Weewee]

You have already posted an entire thread about this. It is time to make up your own mind.

 

[gunner1]

Well TMDSAS does ask for two required which I have covered but they can forward one additional letter provided I waive my rights to see it. So I'm just trying to choose who my third LOR will come from. If the third choice is considered worthless I'm left with choosing between:

1) My honors clinical research professor (he doesn't know me too who I'm afraid won't write a comprehensive letter)

2) My undergraduate advisor who is also a faculty member that knows me well through most of my undergraduate career.

 

[Daodejing]

Well TMDSAS does ask for two required which I have covered but they can forward one additional letter provided I waive my rights to see it. So I'm just trying to choose who my third LOR will come from. If the third choice is considered worthless I'm left with choosing between:

1) My honors clinical research professor (he doesn't know me too who I'm afraid won't write a comprehensive letter)

2) My undergraduate advisor who is also a faculty member that knows me well through most of my undergraduate career.

I would first ask the research professor whether he can write you a strong letter of recommendation. Have you already done so?

I take this from the POV of what kind of school in Texas you are looking to get into and/or what are your strengths. Are you going for Southwestern? Do you have a strong background in research? If so, then definitely get the research letter, if he agrees. Provide him a comprehensive file of your profile, including but not limited to your PS, your academic transcript, some of the highlights of the work you've done for him. If any other school in TX, then I would think the advisor LOR would be fine.

 

[gunner1]

Thanks Daodejing! Your response is exactly what I needed 🙂