LOR specific criteria?

[zenith92]

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Just a couple questions regarding LOR,

First, are there any set criteria or requirements for LOR? Are there certain facts or a list of things that Adcoms would like to see on the letter? I realize that the more personal the letter, the better, but for a letter to be considered of 'average' or 'decent enough' quality, what are the things the letter should contain?

Second, how important are LORs? I'm kinda stressing out because I only have one or two strong recommendation letters. It's sort of my fault I guess for not having actively built strong relationship with professors during my undergrad, but will submitting rather generic and plain LORs kill my chances?

Thanks for reading and please share some insight.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[melatonin]

Just a couple questions regarding LOR,

First, are there any set criteria or requirements for LOR? Are there certain facts or a list of things that Adcoms would like to see on the letter? I realize that the more personal the letter, the better, but for a letter to be considered of 'average' or 'decent enough' quality, what are the things the letter should contain?

Second, how important are LORs? I'm kinda stressing out because I only have one or two strong recommendation letters. It's sort of my fault I guess for not having actively built strong relationship with professors during my undergrad, but will submitting rather generic and plain LORs kill my chances?

Thanks for reading and please share some insight.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Hopefully my example gives you some insights.

I applied to 5 schools with 4.16 oGPA and 4.20 sGPA and Canadian DAT score of 23/24/23/21 (BIO/GC/RC/PAT). At the end, I did not get any interview and I wonder what had caused such failures in that app cycle. I realized that I obtained three letters of recommendation from the professors whom I did not know well. I went and asked professors of the courses in which I did well not necessarily the ones who knew me well and personally. My letters must have been the "generic" ones which just state my grade in the course, description of the difficulty of the course, course average, and my class rank, etc. Nothing personal about me. After all, my stats made me arrogant and overlook the importance of the reference letters. So the bottom line is that take all components of the application SERIOUSLY. Specifically for you, come and talk to the professors, get them know about you better so that they can write you outstanding letters. I know it is hard if you are attending a huge university like mine. But be initiative. Professors are there to help you on this matter.

 

[melatonin]

Just a couple questions regarding LOR,

First, are there any set criteria or requirements for LOR? Are there certain facts or a list of things that Adcoms would like to see on the letter? I realize that the more personal the letter, the better, but for a letter to be considered of 'average' or 'decent enough' quality, what are the things the letter should contain?

Second, how important are LORs? I'm kinda stressing out because I only have one or two strong recommendation letters. It's sort of my fault I guess for not having actively built strong relationship with professors during my undergrad, but will submitting rather generic and plain LORs kill my chances?

Thanks for reading and please share some insight.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

And yes, I think it will affect your chances if all three letters are generic ones.

 

[y3nd0]

I know that Tufts requires a general dentist to write you your letter and that they want the amount of hours specifically listed in the letter.

Other than that, I haven't found anything from any school that details what they want in a letter. Generic letters can hurt you, especially if it's blatantly obvious that the professor didn't know you. A decent letter from a professor should contain your scholastic capabilities in addition to tidbits about your character.

 

[doc toothache]

I applied to 5 schools with 4.16 oGPA and 4.20 sGPA and Canadian DAT score of 23/24/23/21 (BIO/GC/RC/PAT). At the end, I did not get any interview and I wonder what had caused such failures in that app cycle. I realized that I obtained three letters of recommendation from the professors whom I did not know well. I went and asked professors of the courses in which I did well not necessarily the ones who knew me well and personally. My letters must have been the "generic" ones which just state my grade in the course, description of the difficulty of the course, course average, and my class rank, etc. Nothing personal about me. After all, my stats made me arrogant and overlook the importance of the reference letters. So the bottom line is that take all components of the application SERIOUSLY. Specifically for you, come and talk to the professors, get them know about you better so that they can write you outstanding letters. I know it is hard if you are attending a huge university like mine. But be initiative. Professors are there to help you on this matter.

It is unlikely that "generic" lors will sink a battleship.

 

[zenith92]

Hopefully my example gives you some insights.

I applied to 5 schools with 4.16 oGPA and 4.20 sGPA and Canadian DAT score of 23/24/23/21 (BIO/GC/RC/PAT). At the end, I did not get any interview and I wonder what had caused such failures in that app cycle. I realized that I obtained three letters of recommendation from the professors whom I did not know well. I went and asked professors of the courses in which I did well not necessarily the ones who knew me well and personally. My letters must have been the "generic" ones which just state my grade in the course, description of the difficulty of the course, course average, and my class rank, etc. Nothing personal about me. After all, my stats made me arrogant and overlook the importance of the reference letters. So the bottom line is that take all components of the application SERIOUSLY. Specifically for you, come and talk to the professors, get them know about you better so that they can write you outstanding letters. I know it is hard if you are attending a huge university like mine. But be initiative. Professors are there to help you on this matter.

By no means am I trying to sound rude or anything, but are you really sure the letters were the main cause? I'm not overlooking the importance of the letters, but I honestly find it a bit difficult to believe that you did not get any interviews with a stat like that. I never knew that the letters have such significant impact on admission like you mentioned 😱

 

[jeffity]

It is unlikely that "generic" lors will sink a battleship.

I agree with this.

Bad LORs? Yes. Generic LORs alone wouldn't ruin you.

 

[tbond5]

I agree with this.

Bad LORs? Yes. Generic LORs alone wouldn't ruin you.

Bad letters would sink the battleship.