LOR Questions

[s5260205]

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For reference letters, does it matter if the "prof" is not an actual professor in the department but an instructor? At my school, a number of courses (even upper year ones) are taught by instructors who are not faculty members. Also, would it raise any alarm if I ask a professor from first year chemistry to write me a reference letter?

P.S. there is no premed committee/advisor in my school.

Thanks!

 

[EgyptKing21]

Usually, med schools are really lax when it comes to letter of recs. As long as it states that 1) they gave you a grade and 2) the course title, you SHOULD be fine. 2 sciences,1 non science and 1 physician (MD or DO) would be enough for all medical schools (MD and DO). Good luck.

 

[s5260205]

Usually, med schools are really lax when it comes to letter of recs. As long as it states that 1) they gave you a grade and 2) the course title, you SHOULD be fine. 2 sciences,1 non science and 1 physician (MD or DO) would be enough for all medical schools (MD and DO). Good luck.

Thanks a lot!

 

[DoctorKrieger]

One of mine wasn't technically faculty, but I just called it good since they had a PhD and instructed courses at my school. I had no problem. It doesn't matter what year they had you if they can write you a good letter.

 

[WesternRedCedar]

As long as they have a PhD and taught the class its fine!

Though if they just have a masters and some teaching certificate, then I wouldn't get an LOR from them.. some schools can be pretty picky about that.

 

[WesternRedCedar]

First year chem should be okay, but do they know you well and are able to write a good letter? An upper level biology class would be best but take what you can get ! 🙂

 

[s5260205]

I have two instructors this semester teaching a third year biochemistry and a third year neuroscience courses. I believe neither of them have PhD's. So is it unwise to ask them for LORs? I did quite well in these courses and was hoping to get a good letter from them. How would the school know if they have PhD's or not?

 

[EgyptKing21]

In short, med schools will NOT care. "Instructors" are academic personal involved in non-tenure-track, mostly non-research teaching positions. Some have PhD's and some have master's. And no, schools will not care or check if they have PhD's. A lot of my peers that took their basic science pre-reqs at CC got their letter of recs from these instructors and guess what? Most of these instructors that teach at CC do NOT have PhD's (only masters) and my peers did fine.

Once again, med schools are not that strict when it comes to letter of recs. Just make sure your writer puts the school's letter head, the class they taught you, and the grade they gave you, and you WILL be fine.

 

[s5260205]

Got it! That makes me feel better now. With some schools requiring 3 prof letters, I was afraid I might not be able to fulfil the requirement.

 

[DoctorKrieger]

Whoa, not so fast. The requirements for letters vary from school to school and that's a pretty sweeping statement to say they're not that picky. Call or email the schools you are applying to and ask if your letters will suffice. I doubt you'll have a problem, but it would be a stupid reason to get your app tossed in the reject pile.

 

[WesternRedCedar]

Whoa, not so fast. The requirements for letters vary from school to school and that's a pretty sweeping statement to say they're not that picky. Call or email the schools you are applying to and ask if your letters will suffice. I doubt you'll have a problem, but it would be a stupid reason to get your app tossed in the reject pile.

This is what I was getting at, some schools ARE picky, I had a friend who's LOR wasn't accepted because the person was a community college instructor with just a masters.

Most schools won't be picky, but its best you find out.

 

[WesternRedCedar]

I have two instructors this semester teaching a third year biochemistry and a third year neuroscience courses. I believe neither of them have PhD's. So is it unwise to ask them for LORs? I did quite well in these courses and was hoping to get a good letter from them. How would the school know if they have PhD's or not?

Go with what you can get, and for 90% of the cases you will be absoultely fine.

I suppose you go to a small university? Or maybe i'm just biased since my main university is a big state school, where all the 200+ level classes are taught by PhDs. Only the freshman classes are taught by masters level instructors that are hired sessionally.

 

[studentp0x]

In short, med schools will NOT care. "Instructors" are academic personal involved in non-tenure-track, mostly non-research teaching positions. Some have PhD's and some have master's. And no, schools will not care or check if they have PhD's. A lot of my peers that took their basic science pre-reqs at CC got their letter of recs from these instructors and guess what? Most of these instructors that teach at CC do NOT have PhD's (only masters) and my peers did fine.

Once again, med schools are not that strict when it comes to letter of recs. Just make sure your writer puts the school's letter head, the class they taught you, and the grade they gave you, and you WILL be fine.

Is a letterhead generally required if the letter is signed?

 

[medickdb]

As long as they have a PhD and taught the class its fine!

Though if they just have a masters and some teaching certificate, then I wouldn't get an LOR from them.. some schools can be pretty picky about that.

I had someone who had a Master's write one of my LORs. I had known her over the course of several classes and years. I asked if she could get my letter cosigned by the MD who supervised the program. So, while one letter written by someone with a Master's is fine, it should be cosigned by someone with a doctoral level degree if possible.