LOR help

[boogiecousins94]

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My PI asked me to write a paragraph about my education in the LOR they're writing, and wants me to mention MCAT and GPA with major etc. I'm having trouble figuring out what to write/how to word it. I have a significant upward trend that my PI has no idea about (sub 3.0 first two years/ 3.7 last two years) including 3.7+ in post bacc class I took while working full time in my PIs lab.

Do I mention my GPA in context? Because overall it is low but if she were to comment on my ability more in the letter I think providing context would help. Also do I mention my previous research experiences? My PI obviously knows about them and I have LORs from the other 2 PIs I worked with in my committee packet, just don't know if it adds more context to this

Thanks for the help

 

[aldol16]

The purpose of the LoR is to add more dimensions to your two-dimensional paper application. Your scores are already on that application, as are your previous research experiences. Your current PI isn't in a position to talk about your previous research experiences unless he/she is only mentioning it in passing, e.g. "Student X has shown a sustained passion for science and was able to apply the scientific reasoning he/she learned in previous projects to his/her current project in the lab." With regard to the upward trend, you can include a couple of sentences about how you matured and excelled in academics even as you expanded your research endeavors.

 

[boogiecousins94]

I think she just wanted my perspective in terms of previous research etc. to help her explain stuff better. I sent the AAMC writers guide the other day. The letters 2 pages long and this section is only a paragraph so its definitely only is passing, I just think she wanted more info on me outside of lab. I work with her one on one so its much different than typical PI and she knows me much better, I've worked full time for a year this June.

I just said research sparked my interest in academics etc. correlating with upward trend, said how I took postbac classes while working in lab full time etc. Also commented how I volunteer outside of lab- I guess showing how I manage time