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LOR problems!
- Thread starter kk123
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Both! I don't think it would hurt. Your community college years were an important part of your education leading up to medical school and I think it would be appropriate if your cc professor wrote you a letter.
Besides, can you think of a reason why if would hurt to have both? Are you worried about a limit?
Besides, can you think of a reason why if would hurt to have both? Are you worried about a limit?
I agree with Jay11.
My $0.02? is to further develop relationships with your current professors and, 'illuminate' characteristics that will enable them to write you a solid LOR. Get to know them, and make connections with them. Also, the more letters, the better. It's better to have five different letter options than to have just 2 or 3, so keep that in mind. Because things happen, and for one reason or another, some letter writers may go into hibernation mode and not respond. So keep that in mind. I had a total of 5 or 6 letters and I had an issue with one of the letters, so i was able to use another letter in its place (Keep in mind that all my letters were solid). Don't get me wrong, quality is better than quantity, but having both doesn't hurt when it comes to LOR's.
Also, use Interfolio. It makes the whole process so much easier. Good luck.
My $0.02? is to further develop relationships with your current professors and, 'illuminate' characteristics that will enable them to write you a solid LOR. Get to know them, and make connections with them. Also, the more letters, the better. It's better to have five different letter options than to have just 2 or 3, so keep that in mind. Because things happen, and for one reason or another, some letter writers may go into hibernation mode and not respond. So keep that in mind. I had a total of 5 or 6 letters and I had an issue with one of the letters, so i was able to use another letter in its place (Keep in mind that all my letters were solid). Don't get me wrong, quality is better than quantity, but having both doesn't hurt when it comes to LOR's.
Also, use Interfolio. It makes the whole process so much easier. Good luck.
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Thanks for the advice!
I was able to get to know my CC profs because classes were small and I always sat on the front row, asked lots of questions, etc. I'm just worried that may have been to long ago. At the University, the only profs I really got to know were the two I mentioned. The other profs, not so much. How do I ask for a letter from a prof I only took one class with and didn't really know?
I was also wondering, how did you know that all your letters were solid since we not allowed to look at the letters?
I was able to get to know my CC profs because classes were small and I always sat on the front row, asked lots of questions, etc. I'm just worried that may have been to long ago. At the University, the only profs I really got to know were the two I mentioned. The other profs, not so much. How do I ask for a letter from a prof I only took one class with and didn't really know?
I was also wondering, how did you know that all your letters were solid since we not allowed to look at the letters?
I feel your pain regarding asking professors that barely know you but from my experience, professors are usually very open and willing to write letters for you. I actually had that same issue with my Biology II lab professor and I just asked her and she was more than delighted to help me out. What you should do is that when they confirm that they will write one for you, give them your resume and your personal statement, so they get a good idea of who you are and your intentions. Give them a deadline to have it done. Make it at least a month before Amcas opens. It makes easier if you can get letters early. And be very, very persistent with getting your letters.
As for knowing which letters are solid; it's pretty much intuition and the relationship I had with professors. Also, I was able to see from interfolio the amount of pages that each LOR was. So if it was 2 or more pages, that's usually a sign of a strong letter IMO. Also, during my interviews, I was told I had strong letters so that sort of backed my theory up.
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This is extremely helpful! Thank you!
You said you had 5-6 letters...how many were from professors and how many were from other individuals? Other than professors, who did you ask for recommendation letters? My boss has already agreed to write me a recommendation, but I'm not sure who else to ask outside of my school.
Also, I'm considering asking one of my CC professors for a recommendation (I had 3 science classes with them), but it has been a year and a half since I've taken a class with that professor. Do you think it's been to long since I've had a class with that prof to ask for a recommendation letter?
Sorry about all the questions. Recommendation letters are really stressing me out right now.
It's no problem; I had questions like you when I applied, but I had to do a lot of figuring out by myself to get through the process. So I don't mind.
As for how many letters and from who, I had a letter from my A&P Professor, my Bio Lab Professor, My Public Speaking Professor (who reiterated my interpersonal and communications skills, just in case my verbal score wasn't where I wanted it), my Director from an internship at a critical care floor, and a last one from another Science professor who taught both lecture and lab.
See it this way, if the professors/ letter writer has a good memory of you, then chances are that they didn't forget you. I got a LOR from my A&P professor in 2013 and I took her class in 2008, so it shows that if you did well, weren't a pain in the butt, chances are that they remember you positively. If they don't know you like that, then I suggest you meet in person and ask for the letter.
