LOR Requirements, Strict???

[ERScribe]

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So here's the deal,

I have only 3 outstanding/glowing letters.

If a school requires 3 faculty science professor LOR's, and I only have 2 faculty professor LOR's + Research LOR [where I am the lead researcher] do you think school will hold it against me?

I have a 3.95 Cumulative and a 3.90 Science from a mid to low tier state school in California. 37 MCAT.

How strict are schools on their letter requirements?

 

[LizzyM]

So here's the deal,

I have only 3 outstanding/glowing letters.

If a school requires 3 faculty science professor LOR's, and I only have 2 faculty professor LOR's + Research LOR [where I am the lead researcher] do you think school will hold it against me?

I have a 3.95 Cumulative and a 3.90 Science from a mid to low tier state school in California. 37 MCAT.

How strict are schools on their letter requirements?

In my book, a research LOR is an acceptable substitute for a science faculty letter. YMMV.

 

[Appless]

It varies by the school. For example creighton is very very strict about their reqs and if you dont have a non-sci letter they just do not care. Vermont on the other hadn requires a non-sci letter but they are very fluid as is VCU. Other schools like Utah are so amazingly anal its ridiculous. Your best bet it to look at the reqs for each school and the ones you dont meet easily, call them and ask what you can do. In the end there are going to be schools who are inflexible and those who arent. Its on a case by acse basis and really no random SDN person would be able to tell you about each school. Calling them would be the best idea.

Most schools i called would accept a reasearch as a sci letter, i remember a few emailing me back saying no but it was a small %. Also no school requires 3 sci letters except jefferson that i can think of. I think you will run into more problems wiht the non-sci letter.

 

[ERScribe]

Thanks!!! Exactly what I wanted to hear.

I'm glad to hear that it is not usual for schools to be flexible, though inflexibility should also be anticipated.

Also, 5 of my safety schools I've found out require 3 Science letters, I know strange. but I'm was planning to apply to 60 Schools. I guess these LOR requirements might be just another reason to cut the list down a bit.

 

[Appless]

Thanks!!! Exactly what I wanted to hear.

I'm glad to hear that it is not usual for schools to be flexible, though inflexibility should also be anticipated.

Also, 5 of my safety schools I've found out require 3 Science letters, I know strange. but I'm was planning to apply to 60 Schools. I guess these LOR requirements might be just another reason to cut the list down a bit.

dear god 60 is too much but too each his own, you would have to start on secondaries like now and pray they dont change...youre crazy...but beyond the insanity that is 60 schools, what 5 schools req 3 sci letters? Im applying to 40 which i thought was a lot and only jeff requires 3 on my list.

 

[BlueElmo]

Thanks!!! Exactly what I wanted to hear.

I'm glad to hear that it is not usual for schools to be flexible, though inflexibility should also be anticipated.

Also, 5 of my safety schools I've found out require 3 Science letters, I know strange. but I'm was planning to apply to 60 Schools. I guess these LOR requirements might be just another reason to cut the list down a bit.

😱.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

dear god 60 is too much but too each his own, you would have to start on secondaries like now and pray they dont change...youre crazy...but beyond the insanity that is 60 schools, what 5 schools req 3 sci letters? Im applying to 40 which i thought was a lot and only jeff requires 3 on my list.

And I thought my 20 was overkill 😛

 

[BlueElmo]

And I thought my 20 was overkill 😛

I thought my 30+ was way too many.😳

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Unless you have unlimited time and money, please don't apply to 60 schools.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Thanks!!! Exactly what I wanted to hear.

I'm glad to hear that it is not usual for schools to be flexible, though inflexibility should also be anticipated.

Also, 5 of my safety schools I've found out require 3 Science letters, I know strange. but I'm was planning to apply to 60 Schools. I guess these LOR requirements might be just another reason to cut the list down a bit.

I'm almost afraid to ask... how many safety schools do you have?

 

[Appless]

Unless you have unlimited time and money, please don't apply to 60 schools.

Just to add to that point, theres not even 60 schools any applicant is competitive at. Either you have ridiculous ksmi stats and you are going to be a guaranteed lock into med school so you need not break the 20 mark. Or you are like me and straight up average so you need to go the 30+ mark. As an OOS applicant there are no more then 30 schools or so that you would even have a realistic chance at as an average applicant. IF you are not average theres no point in applying to 129301923 schools.

 

[ERScribe]

Just to add to that point, theres not even 60 schools any applicant is competitive at. Either you have ridiculous ksmi stats and you are going to be a guaranteed lock into med school so you need not break the 20 mark. Or you are like me and straight up average so you need to go the 30+ mark. As an OOS applicant there are no more then 30 schools or so that you would even have a realistic chance at as an average applicant. IF you are not average theres no point in applying to 129301923 schools.

I have relatively high numbers, LOTS of hours of shadowing, and some research but I KNOW my application leaves much to be desired in terms of EC's. Additionally, there are 2 things in my application which will likely need to be explained in an interview. NOTHING BAD OR DISHONEST LIKE INSTITUTIONAL ACTION, CHEATING, ARRESTS ETC, but things that make me unique and unusual and quite frankly I am unsure as to how they will be perceived. This is why I am applying very broadly.

I picked my OOS schools based on percent OOS acceptance, then 90th percentile MCAT score.

I've saved money since the beginning of the year. Honestly, if I had more time to save I would have just saved up the $4000 you need to apply to all the AMCAS participating schools.

 

[Appless]

I have relatively high numbers, thousands of hours of shadowing and research but I KNOW my application leaves much to be desired in terms of EC's. Additionally, there are some things in my application which will likely need to be explained in an interview, some which have good reasons and others which don't. NOTHING BAD LIKE INSTITUTIONAL ACTION, CHEATING, ARRESTS ETC, but somethings that are unusual and quite frankly I am unsure as to how they will be perceived.

Even then serious you have got to be applying to schools you would have little change at like JH or schools that barely accept any OOS applicants like many FL schools for example. If you feel its best to do then by all means go ahead, im just saying that you really should rethink this, unless you are one of those rich kids who has everything paid for them, then wth why not lol, its not your money.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

I've saved money since the beginning of the year. Honestly, if I had more time to save I would have just saved up the $4000 you need to apply to all the AMCAS participating schools.

The secondaries for 40 schools will cost you 3-4K on top of the 1.5K for AMCAS.

 

[AdemTD]

but I'm was planning to apply to 60 Schools.

With a 3.9 and 37, why would you apply to so many schools?

 

[BennieBlanco]

With a 3.9 and 37, why would you apply to so many schools?

lol, I think 60 would actually HURT your chances not improve.

Thoughts:

Spreading yourself thin.

Laser like focus (your doing the opposite).

Drop that to 20 man. 20 is plenty, you need to spend some serious time filtering out and selecting the schools you like.

Imagine preparing for 30 interviews, you will do much better preparing for half or a third of that.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Additionally, there are 2 things in my application which will likely need to be explained in an interview. NOTHING BAD OR DISHONEST LIKE INSTITUTIONAL ACTION, CHEATING, ARRESTS ETC, but things that make me unique and unusual and quite frankly I am unsure as to how they will be perceived. This is why I am applying very broadly.

I assume you don't want to discuss what those things are here because they are too identifying. I'd advise you to consult with someone knowledgeable about the admissions process to find out if you are as handicapped as you think.

 

[ERScribe]

Well I suppose, but to summarize it its the fact that I've gone to school all over the country and basically taken the super duper scenic route through college. I started college at an unbelievably young age so I never felt pressured to finish. People complain about being 5th years or worse 6th years [gasp]. Lol I think i'm like a 8th year + a couple of breaks, but I'm no older than the average senior. If I had stayed in one place I probably could've gotten 3-4 degrees by now. lol

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Are any of those breaks in the last year or two?

 

[LilHouse]

🙂

 

[229141]

What schools require 3 science LORs?

 

[ERScribe]

I know... its expensive. I picked up an extra job this last school year just for the purposes of earning money for the AMCAS, secondaries, and travel.

 

[229141]

I know... its expensive. I picked up an extra job this last school year just for the purposes of earning money for the AMCAS, secondaries, and travel.

3.95 gpa....37 MCAT...applying to 60 schools.

LOL


Did anyone tell you that you can only attend 1? lol all jokes aside...I really suggest you get a life man.

You could apply to like 5 and be fine...while still having a fun life.

If I were in your situation..I'd get in quickly, then ENJOY my last year before med school. I hate to see you do this for literally 0 reason whatsoever

 

[flip26]

60 is ridiculous. With your stats, you could do extremely well with a balanced list of 20 schools...

I agree with others here: dealing with 60 secondaries will be a nightmare. You will burn out, lose focus, and likely screw up your chances at schools you probably really want...