LOR questions

[honeybee87]

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[dr_kateb]

Schools have limits on the # of letters. Don’t send more than that limit which is usually 5-6.

 

[907914]

I have a few questions about letters of recommendation below.

1) Let's say I have 8 good LOR, is that better than 4 (2 science, 1 non-science, 1 research)? In other words, if the quality of the LORs are the same, is the more the better? This assumes I will send every LOR I have to each school without a number cutoff. The only reason I am asking is because by nature I am an anxious individual, and I hate to have my future in someone else's hands, so the way I see it, the less LOR I have, the lower the risk of someone saying something negative (like one word out of an entirely positive LOR).

2) In terms of a research LOR, I mainly work with a graduate student, not the PI. I know that graduate student LORs have little weight, especially if they only have a BS, so how would I go around this? Would I ask him to write me a LOR and then have the PI sign, or would they both co-sign? I'm sure this is a common occurrence among undergrad researchers, so I just want to get an idea of what everyone else does.

3) I took a class last semester that had 2 instructors. I remember reading somewhere on here that a LOR from 2 instructors were not as good as from 1, but I think in that context it was from 2 separate classes in which the instructors just knew each other (Gen Chem 1 and Gen Chem 2 for example). In my case, however, I'll only have each instructor for about half the semester, so I don't think I can get a solid LOR from each one individually, but perhaps a strong combined LOR? In this case, would 1 LOR from 2 instructors be viewed in a neutral light?

Thanks

Quality over quantity. My 4 LORs are 1)Genetics professor, also my advisor, I also TA’d is genetics class the quarter after I aced it 2)Professor of an intro bio lab that I have subsequently worked on 3 research projects, 1 of my design, one for his stuff and one that I wrote the grant for with his collaboration. 3) General Chemistry Professor that I have worked with for 2 years on a research project. And 4) A physician I have shadowed in OR and Clinic for 80+ hours, he is also my supervisor at work and was also my platoon leader in my reserve unit.

You gotta have those type of meaningful things that can really speak to who you are.

 

[Rusrus]

I have a few questions about letters of recommendation below.

1) Let's say I have 8 good LOR, is that better than 4 (2 science, 1 non-science, 1 research)? In other words, if the quality of the LORs are the same, is the more the better? This assumes I will send every LOR I have to each school without a number cutoff. The only reason I am asking is because by nature I am an anxious individual, and I hate to have my future in someone else's hands, so the way I see it, the less LOR I have, the lower the risk of someone saying something negative (like one word out of an entirely positive LOR).

2) In terms of a research LOR, I mainly work with a graduate student, not the PI. I know that graduate student LORs have little weight, especially if they only have a BS, so how would I go around this? Would I ask him to write me a LOR and then have the PI sign, or would they both co-sign? I'm sure this is a common occurrence among undergrad researchers, so I just want to get an idea of what everyone else does.

3) I took a class last semester that had 2 instructors. I remember reading somewhere on here that a LOR from 2 instructors were not as good as from 1, but I think in that context it was from 2 separate classes in which the instructors just knew each other (Gen Chem 1 and Gen Chem 2 for example). In my case, however, I'll only have each instructor for about half the semester, so I don't think I can get a solid LOR from each one individually, but perhaps a strong combined LOR? In this case, would 1 LOR from 2 instructors be viewed in a neutral light?

Thanks

1) There's a limit to how many you can send and even if there wasn't, I wouldn't recommend sending more than five. Of course quality > quantity, but at the end of the day if the your letter writers are boasting about the same thing, then there's no difference.

2) Ask the PI for a LOR and have them sign it. If the PI is curious to know more about you, they will converse with your graduate mentor.

3) No, this exudes that you did not know your letter writer well enough such that they had to depend on another colleague to provide insight to you as a student.

 

[chlorocruorin]

You must first send their requirement LORs. But after that you can send probs 2-3 "special LORs" thats what I did. But tailor it to the school. And these special LORs outside of the requirement should probably come outside of the classroom (research, boss, coach, physician...etc)

 

[honeybee87]

@gonnif

 

[chlorocruorin]

So I’m thinking 1 science (undergrad), 1 science upper div, 1 writing, and 1 research for every school I apply to (for the schools that want a letter from clinical experience I’ll add a letter from the doc I shadowed). Is that a good range, or would you add anything different

I would add the doctor, especially if he or she is "well known"...letters go very far after the first initial screening. Are you planning to do MD/PhD...if not the research letter may not hold as much weight as a doctor if you also know the doc well.

 

[Campana]

I'm paraphrasing what I learned at a few info sessions led by dean / director of admissions of two specific schools...to give examples:

• Stanford - we give you room for 6; why wouldn't you give us 6? do you not have 6 folks who can write a strong letter? do you not want to use all 6 opportunities to tell us how perfect you are for us? by all means, if you can convey everything in 3 letters, fine, but i don't see why you wouldn't use every opportunity possible.
• USC - it says it right on our website, the limit is 3. honestly, when folks send us more than three it really makes me wonder if they even looked at our website.

So, take what you will, but I'd make sure I get great letters to cover the requirements of each school and then hand pick which letters to send to each school based on their requirements/ focus (ie - research school? make sure you have a PI letter!)

 

[honeybee87]

1. You need to find out what each school requires
2. You can get up to 10 letters in AMCAS
3. You then assigbn specific letters to specific schools

Ok. One more question, I know that most schools like at minimum 2 science LOR. For one I’m having my physics professor, but for the other I’d like to have my professor who taught a class about insects (anatomy, life style/cycle, ecology, etc.). Would that be considered a science LOR, and would it looked down upon if I only use those 2 classes to fulfill some school requirements of 2 science LOR?

 

[Rusrus]

Ok. One more question, I know that most schools like at minimum 2 science LOR. For one I’m having my physics professor, but for the other I’d like to have my professor who taught a class about insects (anatomy, life style/cycle, ecology, etc.). Would that be considered a science LOR, and would it looked down upon if I only use those 2 classes to fulfill some school requirements of 2 science LOR?

It depends on the school, I submitted one science letter that from a Neuropharmacology professor and it was rejected because the school only accepted basic sciences to fulfill the requirement. I would recommend reaching out to another professor as a back up.

 

[stairway2seven]

like everyone said, quality > quantity
It doesn't hurt to collect more than you need just to give you more options when you apply since you ultimately decide which schools see which letters but don't bother getting letters from people who can't give you a STRONG letter. I think I ended up with 6 letters but for most schools, I submitted 4 of them.

Make sure to get letters from a variety of people who can speak on a variety of your talents/characteristics. The AAMC has a list of competencies:
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/core-competencies/
I suggest asking each letter writer to highlight 3-4 of them in their letter, obviously based on your unique experience with each writer.

 

[panbimbo]

...he is also my supervisor at work and was also my platoon leader in my reserve unit.

How did that come about?

 

[907914]

How did that come about?

I took initiative as a private to walk around my reserve unit asking all of the doctors (majors and colonels) if their practice allowed shadowing. Only one said yes, my platoon leader, and I asked him what practice. Turns out his urology practice was one I had seen an ad online looking for a medical lab tech almost a year prior. It had not been filled yet because it was only 10 hours a week, which was perfect for me as I was getting ready to quit full time at my previous lab and go back to school not 3 months later. I left drill that day with a new job and a shadowing gig (that has lasted about 8-20 hours a month for almost 2 years now).