LOR; impact to supersede personal relationship? (sort of)

[AlteredScale]

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I currently have accepted LOR requests from:

1) department head of my community college who taught my lower bio class and conducted research for.
2) the senior lab tech from that same college who guided me through my research
3) tenure track professor at the cc who I TA'ed for and taught me another bio class
3) 2 letters from my work at Sbux, both from supervisors
4) 2 letters from medical students at schools of osteopathic medical schools, one who I conducted summer research with and the other a mentor for the entire application process

On my list to ask are:

1) PI (or post-doc) from the lab I am conducting my honors thesis for
2) EM clinical research director (PhD MPH)
3) Vice-Chair of Neurosurgery
4) Biochem faculty I am TA'ing for
5) Ethnic Studies PhD Candidate/Lecturer whom I took a course with.

I feel that I have an abundance of LORs set up so I would like to know: of the list of tentative LORs that I am planning to ask (outside of number 5 as that is my non-science LOR) which should take priority? I don't really know # 2 or 3 that well and honestly don't feel to good about asking for an LOR for the sake of asking for an LOR. I want my letter writers to really know who I am even if it means that they aren't MD's. Opinions?


I know all of the accepted LOR persons very well and have established strong ties with them, they're really great people TBH (and no I'm not just saying that because they wrote me an LOR ).

 

[Catalystik]

A letter from someone with whom you've had less than a semester's duration of interaction is unlikely to carry much weight. It is a rare MD program that requests a physician letter or a letter from a peer, though occasionally one's school's premed committee requires them. Also, there is generally a limit on the number of letters you are allowed to submit outside of those included with a committee letter.

 

[mcloaf]

I currently have accepted LOR requests from:

1) department head of my community college who taught my lower bio class and conducted research for.
2) the senior lab tech from that same college who guided me through my research
3) tenure track professor at the cc who I TA'ed for and taught me another bio class
3) 2 letters from my work at Sbux, both from supervisors
4) 2 letters from medical students at schools of osteopathic medical schools, one who I conducted summer research with and the other a mentor for the entire application process

On my list to ask are:

1) PI (or post-doc) from the lab I am conducting my honors thesis for
2) EM clinical research director (PhD MPH)
3) Vice-Chair of Neurosurgery
4) Biochem faculty I am TA'ing for
5) Ethnic Studies PhD Candidate/Lecturer whom I took a course with.

I feel that I have an abundance of LORs set up so I would like to know: of the list of tentative LORs that I am planning to ask (outside of number 5 as that is my non-science LOR) which should take priority? I don't really know # 2 or 3 that well and honestly don't feel to good about asking for an LOR for the sake of asking for an LOR. I want my letter writers to really know who I am even if it means that they aren't MD's. Opinions?


I know all of the accepted LOR persons very well and have established strong ties with them, they're really great people TBH (and no I'm not just saying that because they wrote me an LOR ).

That is way too many letters.

If you feel obligated to include your tentative #5 as a non-science letter, then I'd use the following letters:
Accepted #1, 3, Tentative #1, 4, 5.

That gives you five letters, which is plenty. I don't think most people would find letters from medical students very compelling, ditto for Starbucks supervisors (though I guess if they think you're totally a rock star genius with outrageous work ethic you could throw one in there, certainly not two).

 

[AlteredScale]

Thank you for the great advice guys. I appreciate all of the help!

 

[Goro]

Ask the people who know you the best, and whom you feel will write you the best letters.
Don't overthink this.

I currently have accepted LOR requests from:

1) department head of my community college who taught my lower bio class and conducted research for.
2) the senior lab tech from that same college who guided me through my research
3) tenure track professor at the cc who I TA'ed for and taught me another bio class
3) 2 letters from my work at Sbux, both from supervisors
4) 2 letters from medical students at schools of osteopathic medical schools, one who I conducted summer research with and the other a mentor for the entire application process

On my list to ask are:

1) PI (or post-doc) from the lab I am conducting my honors thesis for
2) EM clinical research director (PhD MPH)
3) Vice-Chair of Neurosurgery
4) Biochem faculty I am TA'ing for
5) Ethnic Studies PhD Candidate/Lecturer whom I took a course with.

I feel that I have an abundance of LORs set up so I would like to know: of the list of tentative LORs that I am planning to ask (outside of number 5 as that is my non-science LOR) which should take priority? I don't really know # 2 or 3 that well and honestly don't feel to good about asking for an LOR for the sake of asking for an LOR. I want my letter writers to really know who I am even if it means that they aren't MD's. Opinions?


I know all of the accepted LOR persons very well and have established strong ties with them, they're really great people TBH (and no I'm not just saying that because they wrote me an LOR ).

 

[AlteredScale]

Ask the people who know you the best, and whom you feel will write you the best letters.
Don't overthink this.

Will definitely do that then even if it means not having the "most prestigious" letters.

Thank you for your help again Goro!