LOR expectations??? so confused

[powderandsugar]

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so on MSAR and some school websites explicitly express that they request at least 2 letters. and then they have some maximum requirement too

but I am confused because I am using a committee letter that has all my letters (including research LOR)

so what do I do about these schools that express that have a minimum of 2 letters requirement??
these schools accept committee letters too so I really am so lost. I don't want to be discounted at these schools just because I didn't technically meet their requirements 🙁

-don't quote this message-

 

[powderandsugar]

@LizzyM @gonnif @gyngyn @Catalystik

do you know what this is about?

Also for example OUWB on their website states they require at min 3 letters and the committee letter is counts at "2 letters" but so we have to no matter what submit another letter...???

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

so on MSAR and some school websites explicitly express that they request at least 2 letters. and then they have some maximum requirement too

but I am confused because I am using a committee letter that has all my letters (including research LOR)

so what do I do about these schools that express that have a minimum of 2 letters requirement??
these schools accept committee letters too so I really am so lost. I don't want to be discounted at these schools just because I didn't technically meet their requirements 🙁

-don't quote this message-

I would assume unless explicitly stated, a committee letter meets their requirement. If not, they'll tell you. Happened to me because in the most pedantic sense one of my letters didn't meet the whole "must have taught you in class" requirement and I had to scramble for another letter. Schools that weren't happy told me and I got another letter. No biggy.

 

[powderandsugar]

Each medical school has typically a few ways for an applicant to fulfull its LOR requirement. An applicant needs to fulfill only one of these

A) 2 professors/instructors you have taken science classes with and 1 non-science professors/instructors you have taken a class with.
OR
B) 2 science and 1 non-science faculty
OR
C) Prehealth Committee letter

Therefore, if you have a committee letter, no matter the number/type of letters that maybe part of the committee packet, you have fulfilled the the requirement

but what about on MSAR where SOOOOOO many schools have stated they have a minimum LOR requirement? most of them it's at least 2 or 3.

 

[powderandsugar]

https://wwwp.oakland.edu/medicine/admissions/admissions-process-and-requirements/

Letters of Recommendation
Applicants should submit a minimum of three letters of recommendation (maximum of five). If your premedical advising office provides a committee letter compiling feedback from multiple sources, this letter will count as two of your three required letters of recommendation.All letters should be submitted through AMCAS Letters of Evaluation/Recommendation Service.

 

[powderandsugar]

Should I send all these schools that require at least two letters a shadowing letter............

 

[powderandsugar]

http://phoenixmed.arizona.edu/admissions/application-process

We participate in the AMCAS Letters Service (link is external). The admissions committee requires a minimum of three letters from individuals with whom you have an established professional relationship and can clearly affirm the traits and characteristics desired in a physician. At least one letter from a recent clinical experience is highly recommended. Additional letters from individuals in a variety of settings are desired: employer, research lab supervisor, community service project leader, etc.

Weirdly AZ doesn't even mention the committee letter here...

 

[powderandsugar]

I am confused by your confusion. If you are submitting individual letters, then your need to follow the specific guidelines for the school on both the MSAR and, more importantly, the school's website. If you are submitting a prehealth committee letter, in most cases, you do not need to worry/count about the number of individual letters in the prehealth committee packet, nor do you typically have to submit any additional individual letters. The committee letter covers all that regardless of what is in the packet

I am going to make an excel spreadsheet of all the schools that say they are satisfied with just the committee letter on the website. On Arizona's website they don't mention a committee letter at all so should I just submit a shadowing letter for them? Maybe 2 shadowing two letters since they require 3 total letters...

 

[powderandsugar]

First time I have heard of school that accepts a committee letter also requiring an additional individual letter. But that is why I start my LOR summary with waht schools typically require.

This also points out that all applicants need to check each schools website for specific LOR requirements, in addition to MSAR

I know!!!! I was confused too...I guess I could submit a shadowing letter??? Not even sure what that would add to my application???

 

[powderandsugar]

Unless a school requests a clinical letter (which most MD dont), shadowing letters should, at best, be considered additional letters above the required amount. Most shadowing letters are from a doctor you have followed around for a short time and they mostly read the same, telling very little about you. Hence they do not have much impact/value to an adcom.

I'm aware but I don't think I have much choice when a school like OUWB requires at least 3 letters (committee letter = 2 letters) to fulfill their requirements. All my class and research lors are in the committee letter. I thought arranging it that way would be most convenient...