LOR Dilemma and Early Application Myth

[hh24]

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Hi everyone,

It will be my first time applying next week and would appreciate any insight on my current situation. I am currently one science LOR short, but recently my cognitive psychology professor (which apparently falls under "biology" classification of LOR) has agreed to write me one. However he said that since he does not know me personally, he won't be able to comment on anything besides my academic performance.

If I receive a letter from him, I will have 4 letters total that I can submit: 1 other science (bio), 2 non science (health care development, and foreign language) and one dentist. By doing so I can apply by the end of June.
My concern is that the psyc letter will not be robust. But I am confident that the other 3 letters will be more personalized and detailed. Should I take this risk so I will be able to apply earlier?

If not, I will have to wait until the end of August to receive a science LOR from biochemistry which will likely be more personalized. But I hear applying that late will definitely drop my chances.

(TLTR) What should I do, take the weaker psyc letter to apply by the end of June; or wait until the end of August to apply in hopes of a better letter?

OTHER DETAILS:
DAT: AA 21, TS 21, RC 23, PAT 18,
GPA: 3.57
- Applying to many OOS schools.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[futuredoc2019dds]

Apply with the not so personable LOR. End of August is WAY too late! Both my science LOR were like that but my other 3 were very personable and I got in. Besides, LOR from professors are suppose to do just that...talk about your academic credentials. Good luck this cycle!

 

[hh24]

Apply with the not so personable LOR. End of August is WAY too late! Both my science LOR were like that but my other 3 were very personable and I got in. Besides, LOR from professors are suppose to do just that...talk about your academic credentials. Good luck this cycle!

Thank you so much!! Btw when my profs submit the letters online is there anything in terms of formatting that I should ask them to include? Or should I assume my profs will already know? (ie: letterhead, university logo...etc?) Or is formatting not detrimental to my application/affect the letter's validity?

 

[I want to go to there]

Hi everyone,

It will be my first time applying next week and would appreciate any insight on my current situation. I am currently one science LOR short, but recently my cognitive psychology professor (which apparently falls under "biology" classification of LOR) has agreed to write me one. However he said that since he does not know me personally, he won't be able to comment on anything besides my academic performance.

If I receive a letter from him, I will have 4 letters total that I can submit: 1 other science (bio), 2 non science (health care development, and foreign language) and one dentist. By doing so I can apply by the end of June.
My concern is that the psyc letter will not be robust. But I am confident that the other 3 letters will be more personalized and detailed. Should I take this risk so I will be able to apply earlier?

If not, I will have to wait until the end of August to receive a science LOR from biochemistry which will likely be more personalized. But I hear applying that late will definitely drop my chances.

(TLTR) What should I do, take the weaker psyc letter to apply by the end of June; or wait until the end of August to apply in hopes of a better letter?

OTHER DETAILS:
DAT: AA 21, TS 21, RC 23, PAT 18,
GPA: 3.57
- Applying to many OOS schools.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Explain your situation to biochem prof and try to charm him/her to write you a good one earlier. Or visit your psyc prof few times, get to know him and send him your resume/personal statement, so he writes you a better one.

 

[hh24]

Explain your situation to biochem prof and try to charm him/her to write you a good one earlier.

I wont be starting the biochemistry course until later this summer so I won't have received my grade until the end of August 🙁

 

[futuredoc2019dds]

Professors typically know the format they need to be in. I would suggest not telling him because if you do it might insult him.

 

[I want to go to there]

I wont be starting the biochemistry course until later this summer so I won't have received my grade until the end of August 🙁

Read my edit.

 

[dentalgirl7893]

I wont be starting the biochemistry course until later this summer so I won't have received my grade until the end of August 🙁

Do you not have a Chem/ochem prof you could ask? Schools usually like to see a LOR from both bio and Chem

 

[hh24]

Do you not have a Chem/ochem prof you could ask? Schools usually like to see a LOR from both bio and Chem

Unfortunately not, I had tried asking them but they said they do not know me well enough and thus are unwilling to write me a LOR. I'm in a pretty stuck situation right now, my choices are limited in terms of LORs and it makes me worried. How much of a weight do LORs have on an app?

 

[hh24]

Professors typically know the format they need to be in. I would suggest not telling him because if you do it might insult him.

Good point! Thanks once again!

 

[hopefuldentistry]

LOR's are a pain in the butt. you have to re-upload them every year and most professors are just too busy or too lazy to write and upload them.

 

[dentalgirl7893]

Unfortunately not, I had tried asking them but they said they do not know me well enough and thus are unwilling to write me a LOR. I'm in a pretty stuck situation right now, my choices are limited in terms of LORs and it makes me worried. How much of a weight do LORs have on an app?

LORs are pretty significant. Definitely don't think they're not an important part of your application.

 

[hh24]

LORs are pretty significant. Definitely don't think they're not an important part of your application.

Am I at a disadvantage using the letters I am planning to submit? My application will be "complete" at the end of June/first week of July latest.

 

[dentalgirl7893]

Am I at a disadvantage using the letters I am planning to submit? My application will be "complete" at the end of June/first week of July latest.

If you have some that will be personal, I don't think so. It's important for your app to be done ASAP

 

[hh24]

If you have some that will be personal, I don't think so. It's important for your app to be done ASAP

Thanks for all of your advice! So to confirm end of June /early July is an okay time to apply?

 

[dentalgirl7893]

Thanks for all of your advice! So to confirm end of June /early July is an okay time to apply?

Yes. Obviously I'd advise early June but if you have to wait till then it's still in a decent time window 🙂