LOR question

[OMSohyes]

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I've read a lot about this on different schools' sites, but to make sure I'm heading in the right direction, I wanted to ask: is it generally better to submit 4 LORs consisting of a) 2 pure science profs, 1 nonscience and 1 dentist you shadowed/volunteered with, or b) 3 science profs and 1 dentists. Off the top of my head, Creighton is the only school I looked at that I remember asking for a non-science letter, but I would like to apply there if I can. Also, how stringent are most schools about wanting letters from science profs that taught you core science classes (eg., intro bio, gen chem, o chem, etc.) vs. things like genetics, immuno, and cell molec bio.

I'm asking for next year's application cycle because I have 1 prof who's taught my biostatistics and evolution classes, and whose lab I've been doing evo research in for 2 years with a 1st author paper. I also have a prof who taught my virology class and advanced cell molec lab, and whose lab I'm going to start working in. Both can write me great letters, but neither taught me in any of the core science classes required by dental schools.
I also have a very willing prof that taught my microbial ecology and 1st semester intro bio in case I need a prof that taught one of these core classes, but if I use all three and a dentist, I can't also have a non-science LOR.

Thoughts? And am I totally forgetting a bunch of schools that need non-science LORs?

 

[SpaceCake]

I've read a lot about this on different schools' sites, but to make sure I'm heading in the right direction, I wanted to ask: is it generally better to submit 4 LORs consisting of a) 2 pure science profs, 1 nonscience and 1 dentist you shadowed/volunteered with, or b) 3 science profs and 1 dentists. Off the top of my head, Creighton is the only school I looked at that I remember asking for a non-science letter, but I would like to apply there if I can. Also, how stringent are most schools about wanting letters from science profs that taught you core science classes (eg., intro bio, gen chem, o chem, etc.) vs. things like genetics, immuno, and cell molec bio.

I'm asking for next year's application cycle because I have 1 prof who's taught my biostatistics and evolution classes, and whose lab I've been doing evo research in for 2 years with a 1st author paper. I also have a prof who taught my virology class and advanced cell molec lab, and whose lab I'm going to start working in. Both can write me great letters, but neither taught me in any of the core science classes required by dental schools.
I also have a very willing prof that taught my microbial ecology and 1st semester intro bio in case I need a prof that taught one of these core classes, but if I use all three and a dentist, I can't also have a non-science LOR.

Thoughts? And am I totally forgetting a bunch of schools that need non-science LORs?

I've never heard of a non-science letter to be required for the applications. Those types of letters are recommended, but hardly required. Therefore I would go with the 3 science profs + 1 dentist approach. I applied 2 years back to 15 schools with that combination and I had no problems. I got a Bio, Gen Chem, Physics prof and my dentist to write the letters.

 

[OMSohyes]

I've never heard of a non-science letter to be required for the applications. Those types of letters are recommended, but hardly required. Therefore I would go with the 3 science profs + 1 dentist approach. I applied 2 years back to 15 schools with that combination and I had no problems. I got a Bio, Gen Chem, Physics prof and my dentist to write the letters.

Thanks, I'll do that then. I'd really like to use those three professors because I'll have research experience with two of them, all have taught me more than once, and I'm confident that I can get good letters from them. But will it work against me that they're all bio/microbio professors (no chem/physics/math or anything different, and even biostats was listed under the bio department)? I don't really have professors from those other subjects that could give me much more than a generic letter since none know me really well.

 

[OMSohyes]

Anyone?

 

[Accent]

I remember that there were some schools that wanted one from bio dept. and chem dept, and some preferred lors from basic science courses. Some say required, some say recommended/preferred.

To be on the safe side, just have a list of schools you are interested in and check their website to see what kind of letters they want. In general, choose the two letters from profs that you feel will be the strongest, 1 letter from dentist. The 4th is your choice.

Since this is for next year, you'll have time to research schools thoroughly, and asked for a strong 4th letter.