LOR question... help!

[paperflowers15]

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[OhioDoc]

I'm applying MD this cycle, and I have a few questions about my LORs. I transferred during college, after my freshman year. Aside from my letters from 2 science faculty/1 non-science, I got 2 letters from PIs I've worked with, and 1 letter from a post-doc I worked primarily with from my first institution. I also had a year-long minor research experience in which I worked with a post-doc on his project at the school I'm at now. I mentioned it on my AMCAS app, but I stopped working in that lab because the post-doc left for France.

So my questions are-- will it look bad to not have a letter from that minor research experience? I only got one from the post-doc at my first school because we're still in touch, but I have no way to get in touch with the post-doc that left for France. I don't want it to look like I had a bad experience and left that lab.

Thanks for your help!

Unless you're applying to Harvard (which requires that you have a letter from every research mentor you've had), you'll be fine - especially because you already have a letter from the PI of the lab, correct? In addition, you already have two other "research" letters - from the other PI and post-doc and most medical schools don't expect that you have a letter from everyone you've ever done research with.

 

[paperflowers15]

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[OhioDoc]

Hey OhioDoc, thanks! I think my description of my situation may have been confusing.

First school:
Research experience for 1 semester + summer, letter from post-doc

Second school:
Research experience (minor, but I put it on AMCAS), no letters because my post-doc left for France, and no letter from the PI (I was really just assisting the post-doc with his project)
Research experience where I'm completing my senior thesis, letter from PI

2 summers at the NIH i n one lab, letter from PI

I just want to make sure this doesn't make adcomms think that I had a bad research experience at my second school-- it was just that that post-doc left.

Ahh - I see. You have a lot of research, and it seems like this was the least important of your experiences (and hence you would prioritize this letter lower). This, coupled with the fact that a lot of schools have a maximum number of LORs they want could easily have resulted in the letter not being sent to very many schools anyways (I mean, you already have six other letters). I still think you're fine. If this point does get flagged on your application, an interviewer would ask you about it, where you could easily tell him/her that the Post-Doc jumped ship for France.

Hope this helps

 

[paperflowers15]

I feel much better. Thanks, OhioDoc!

 

[OhioDoc]

I feel much better. Thanks, OhioDoc!

No problem. Best of luck with the application cycle.