LOR question: have a professor explicitly mention/explain an IA?

[aspiring20]

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I am applying June of 2014 with a 3.6 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA, 35 MCAT, and strong/varied ECs. I went to a rigorous and highly ranked LAC, and I am cautiously confident about my chances.

However, I also have a minor IA (not related to alcohol, drugs, dishonesty, or fighting) that I must report.

An English professor (I am an English minor and really enjoyed the two classes I took under her) has agreed to write me an "enthusiastic" (in her own words) LOR, and I will be meeting with her soon both to catch up and to discuss the letter. I am wondering if I should ask her to talk about my IA in the LOR?

I feel that if a professor can support me in this manner, then that will perhaps make the IA less damaging. But since it is a minor IA to begin with, I don't want to draw more attention to it than I have to.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ismet]

You have to explain the IA on AMCAS. Unless the professor has a tie to your IA, I don't see the point of having her bring it up.

 

[aspiring20]

You have to explain the IA on AMCAS. Unless the professor has a tie to your IA, I don't see the point of having her bring it up.

thanks ismet. she has nothing to do with the IA, but i figured that maybe she can mention the IA and say how it is not representative of my character, etc?

 

[aspiring20]

bump

 

[Disinence2]

What did you do to get an IA then??

I wouldn't have her directly address it, just write a solid letter for you.

 

[aspiring20]

What did you do to get an IA then??

I wouldn't have her directly address it, just write a solid letter for you.

thanks. but do you think i am ethically obliged to tell her about the IA?

i mean letting her know about the IA but asking her not to say anything about it in her LOR?

i emailed an adcom 2 days ago, and he told me that if a letter writer can vouch for me, then the IA will weigh even less.

 

[Samir Desai]

Over the past ten years, there has been considerable research in professionalism. Researchers have found that physicians who have been disciplined by state medical boards are more likely to have had issues with professionalism during medical school. Therefore, schools want to make sure that they are admitting students who will not have problems with professionalism.

Medical schools take IA very seriously. If you have IA in your background, you will want to provide evidence to reassure schools that the IA is nothing for them to be concerned about. You have a number of ways to do this. An effective but underutilized technique is to have one of your letter writers address it in the LOR.

You don't have an ethical obligation to share the IA with letter writer. However, if you have a strong relationship with the letter writer, then he or she can address the IA in the letter. It can provide more evidence (from someone other than yourself) that the IA was a thing of the past, won't happen again, and that your application should not be overlooked or discarded because of the IA. In the letter, the writer can also comment on what you have learned from it, how your performance since then has been exemplary, and why you will make a better doctor for having gone through the experience. This type of letter can really alleviate concerns schools may have.

Samir Desai

 

[aspiring20]

Over the past ten years, there has been considerable research in professionalism. Researchers have found that physicians who have been disciplined by state medical boards are more likely to have had issues with professionalism during medical school. Therefore, schools want to make sure that they are admitting students who will not have problems with professionalism.

Medical schools take IA very seriously. If you have IA in your background, you will want to provide evidence to reassure schools that the IA is nothing for them to be concerned about. You have a number of ways to do this. An effective but underutilized technique is to have one of your letter writers address it in the LOR.

You don't have an ethical obligation to share the IA with letter writer. However, if you have a strong relationship with the letter writer, then he or she can address the IA in the letter. It can provide more evidence (from someone other than yourself) that the IA was a thing of the past, won't happen again, and that your application should not be overlooked or discarded because of the IA. In the letter, the writer can also comment on what you have learned from it, how your performance since then has been exemplary, and why you will make a better doctor for having gone through the experience. This type of letter can really alleviate concerns schools may have.

Samir Desai

thanks for your response! i'll send you a PM of my IA, and i wonder if you can comment on it.