LOR Delay?

[TRSTme]

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Hello everyone,

Due to some bad planning on my part (I know, I know...), I won't be able to get all of my LORs in before mid-September. I will have most in by August (leaving me with only about 6 schools without a completed application until my last LORs are sent), but I would have submitted by primary and secondary applications before then. Obviously applying early would be ideal, but would leaving my last LORs until mid-September considerably hurt my chances? I would really like to avoid having to apply next cycle.

Just as a reference, I am Canadian, 3.7 cGPA (with huge upward trend), 35S MCAT, pretty solid ECs and I am a good writer (for PS/secondaries), and here are the schools I am planning on applying to (in addition to 8-9 Canadian schools):

NYMC
SUNY Upstate
George Washington
Jefferson
Tufts
Stony Brook
Boston University
Albert Einstein
NYU
Brown
Mt. Sinai
Dartmouth

Reaches:
Stanford
Northwestern
University of Pittsburgh
Cornell
Columbia

Thank you!

 

[mimelim]

What is the reason for the delay if you don't mind me asking?

 

[TRSTme]

Sure, I'm currently taking an intensive 9 credit research course that will end in mid-August, and am counting the LOR from the PI as one of my "science" LORs. I only plan on asking near the end of the course so that they know me better.

 

[mimelim]

Sure, I'm currently taking an intensive 9 credit research course that will end in mid-August, and am counting the LOR from the PI as one of my "science" LORs. I only plan on asking near the end of the course so that they know me better.

Like everything, this is a balancing act. In this case between strength of letter vs. timing. I am skeptical of the strength of any letter derived from coursework, even if it is under the heading of 'research'. There just typically enough time or opportunity to do enough productive things to get a strong letter out of it. (But this is a separate topic) Based on this, I would recommend getting a different 'Science letter' and add the PI letter as a supplementary letter. You have a reasonable application outside of the LORs, you will be adversely affected by applying late (you really don't know when the PI's letter will get in).

I understand that another letter will be 'weaker' than a PI letter, but it is hard to imagine that hurting you overall (relatively), especially if you eventually get the PI's letter included mid-season.

 

[TRSTme]

I guess to clarify a little, although this is an intensive course, I am in the lab close to 50 hours/week during the summer as it is a lab course for an honours thesis (which I will defend in front of a panel of several professors). As well, I am quite involved in the lab as a whole, presenting in lab meetings and contributing data and analysis to several of the other projects being done, including for an upcoming publication.

I appreciate your advice, but the only thing worrying me is that my current second science letter is probably the weakest of all my LORs (the best are non-science Faculty and EC organizations), and I think this PI could provide a really great one to make up for it.

 

[mimelim]

I guess to clarify a little, although this is an intensive course, I am in the lab close to 50 hours/week during the summer as it is a lab course for an honours thesis (which I will defend in front of a panel of several professors). As well, I am quite involved in the lab as a whole, presenting in lab meetings and contributing data and analysis to several of the other projects being done, including for an upcoming publication.

In that case, I don't think I am qualified to give you specific advice. I also think that this is a difficult question to answer and I doubt that there are many that could give you a good faith answer. (unless there is a database about when people submit/apply compared to matriculation that I am unaware of).

Do you already have a relationship with the PI or already work there? If yes, I would simply ask for it earlier, with an established relationship, while more time is ideal, it shouldn't have a huge impact on the quality of the letter. If no, then I think my previous statement stands. There is a limit to how strong the letter will be.

 

[TRSTme]

I've already had the PI for a lecture course, but didn't get to know them too well until I started this lab course (which is a very different setting than before) a couple weeks ago.

I realize it's a difficult question to answer, I just wanted to hear some quick opinions on how crucial an early application would be compared to getting a good LOR. Thanks for your advice though, you've given me good perspective! 🙂

 

[iceman55]

Early application as in June, is way more important in your case, being a Canadian applicant. If you wait until September to be complete, that's at least two months, I think decrease chance by 20%, regardless of the strength of LOR.