LOR from babysitting job? weird?

[walala]

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I am short one letter and I have no clue what to do. My pre med committee requires 5 letters. I have 2 professors, 1MD, and my PI. That's only 4 :/. I have no other professors that I have established a relationship with or will probably even remember me. O have been babysitting since I started college, would it be okay to get one from one of my kids parents? Or would that be seen as weak or suspicious? Babysitting is the only job I've ever had.

 

[Boolean]

Can they speak of your medical and academic excellence? (I'm guessing no, but who knows). If not, don't include them. See if you can recall any graduate students who could testify to your capabilities.

 

[walala]

Can they speak of your medical and academic excellence? (I'm guessing no, but who knows). If not, don't include them. See if you can recall any graduate students who could testify to your capabilities.

We, I tutor the child in math and English? Would that count as "academic?" Or does tutoring a 10 year old get me no brownie points since it the academic basics of the basics.?

 

[Boolean]

We, I tutor the child in math and English? Would that count as "academic?" Or does tutoring a 10 year old get me no brownie points since it the academic basics of the basics.?

I think you'd be stretching it a bit far on this one. Consider a TA/grad lab student/anyone who has some professional credentials backing them (try to stay away from the babysitting)

 

[walala]

I think you'd be stretching it a bit far on this one. Consider a TA/grad lab student/anyone who has some professional credentials backing them (try to stay away from the babysitting)

Your probably right, just getting a bit desperate haha. What about a graduate student in my research lab that I've worked very closely with? The thing is, I'm getting a rec from the PI in the same lab. the PI will most likely ask the grad student about me since she knows I've work closely with her on her thesis. Would it seem wise to get two letters that would probably mimic the same thing?

Also, I heard is was a big no-no to getetters from TAs and grad students?

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Didn't you volunteer anywhere that could provide a letter?

 

[Jay11jayjay]

Your probably right, just getting a bit desperate haha. What about a graduate student in my research lab that I've worked very closely with? The thing is, I'm getting a rec from the PI in the same lab. the PI will most likely ask the grad student about me since she knows I've work closely with her on her thesis. Would it seem wise to get two letters that would probably mimic the same thing?

Also, I heard is was a big no-no to getetters from TAs and grad students?

Probably not a good idea to get 2 letters from the same lab.

 

[walala]

Didn't you volunteer anywhere that could provide a letter?

I have volunteered in a lot of places, bit none where I worked with a specific person that got to know me. I know the hospitals I volunteer for provides letters of rec, but it would just say so and so has been volunteering from this date. They have done this many hours. Nothing actually about me...

*sigh*

Would 2 MD letters work? I may have time to shadow another doctor enough to get another letter.

 

[wholeheartedly]

I'm not getting why a letter from an employer is bad. You already have letters to speak to academic ability and research background, etc. If you volunteered at a soup kitchen or animal shelter, it wouldn't be any more medically related to get letters from a supervisor there. Plus you did this over a lengthy time span.


Maybe the adcoms will disagree, but I think it says a lot about a person that someone is willing to trust you with their kids. How often did you babysit over the last few years?