LOR from a friend?

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estoril

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Hey I was looking through sdnwiki and I read that you should get a letter of rec from a friend/peer? Just curious if anyone actually does this.

"Because each school has its own nuances of how many letters it wants, you should get one letter from a physical science teacher, one from a biological science teacher, one from another science professor, one from a research adviser, one from an activity adviser—sports, volunteering, hospital work—and one from a friend. There is a growing trend among medical schools to request rec letters from peers"
http://www.studentdoctor.net/wiki/i..._I_give_it_to_them?#Letters_of_Recommendation
 
If you plan on applying to a school that requests one, then get it. If not, I wouldn't bother. The only school I know that wants one is University of Florida, although I'm sure there's a few others.
 
Back in the day (2005) one of the schools I applied to asked for a letter from a peer (friend)....i think it was florida state, but not sure.
 
That's insane. What possible value would be there to a peer evaluation?

To make sure that you have friends? Who can write well?
 
Several schools I applied to requested "personal" letters which were not to be from faculty. I chose my boss and my high school English teacher (who's the bomb - you rock, Ms. Gordon), but if you have an articulate friend who knows what med schools want to hear and can say something useful about you, I don't see why you shouldn't take advantage.
 
That's insane. What possible value would be there to a peer evaluation?

To make sure that you have friends? Who can write well?

Yeah I agree, it's the stupidest thing. I know it's primarily with Florida schools. Fortunately, most schools in the country agree with us.
 
Haha thanks for the replies guys. Yeah I was just curious after hearing that if it was actually true.
 
Hahaha imagine one pre-med friend sabotaging another's application. Talk about potential gunner fodder.
Well... several things aside, that would be blatantly obvious to anyone reading it that the supposed friend attempted sabotaging your application. Which would make him or her look like an absolute d*ck, unworthy of having any acceptances anywhere.

I'm sure there are people that have tried that. I've heard of worse things happening. I'm just curious if anyone knows of anyone that foolish.
 
Well... several things aside, that would be blatantly obvious to anyone reading it that the supposed friend attempted sabotaging your application. Which would make him or her look like an absolute d*ck, unworthy of having any acceptances anywhere.

I'm sure there are people that have tried that. I've heard of worse things happening. I'm just curious if anyone knows of anyone that foolish.
Who's more foolish? The one who writes the letter or the one who asks the letter to be written?
 
The University of South Florida requires a peer letter.
 
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