LOR sources for PhD to MD

[Endoxifen]

Should letters of recommendation typically come from one's undergraduate or graduate institution? I'm participating in an established program in supports PhD to MD as an established track. As a recent college graduate though, I want to be sure that I source my LORs soon, if undergrad is where they need to originate.

Thank you!

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[Postdoc2MD]

I was in a similar boat and applied this cycle. I am currently in my postdoc, and got 1 LoR from my postdoc advisor, 1 from my graduate advisor, 1 from another research professor in my postdoc lab, and 1 from a volunteer manager.

You don't need undergrad (unless it is a very, very specific requirement). For instance, many want a LoR from someone who taught you science. While this is normally an undergrad science professor, your thesis adviser would know you much better than your O Chem professor from a 100 person class, ten years ago. I got an interview at Rush, and they had very particular LoR requirements, but I was able to assign the letters for each specific requirement (i.e. they wanted a 'personal' letter, which was one from a research professor I work close with, even though that letter could also have been used for research purposes).

 

[hebrewBAMmer]

I had to deal with this when applying last year. For most places with being nontrad, they waived the LoR requirements. A couple schools (like Penn State for example) required a letter from every institution I had been at. I personally had a couple from my undergrad since I felt it was good for me to have a letter that can speak about my time there and some grad school letters so they can comment about my time since graduating. Absolutely have your PhD writer give a letter. You will have to check for each school, but generally the specific requirements are waived, but it would be a good idea to have 1-2 letters from undergrad and 1-2 from your grad program to cover your bases.

 

[APA 32]

I used letters from my PhD advisor, a committee member, physicians I shadowed and my job supervisor.

 

[QofQuimica]

I was ten years out of college when I applied, and I did not have any letters from UG. As some of the prior posters suggested, you should ask the individual schools what letters they want based on your specific situation.