LoR: three "teachers"?

[Kinocilium]

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Hi all,

I'm getting ready to apply to Washington U and I was just checking out the letters of rec requirements. On their instructions site, it says:

"In general we require three letters of recommendation. The letters should come from three teachers at a college or university you attended who know you well enough to write on your behalf. These teachers should be asked to provide in-depth evaluations of your accomplishments, skills, talents and character rather than mere recapitulations of your academic achievement or grades in their course(s). At least one of these individuals should teach in the sciences." (There's no max so I can have many more on top of these three)

So here's my question: would it be reasonable to interpret that as requiring letters from *any* teacher, or do I absolutely need to have taken their class?

Right now I have lined up (from last year's application process, which I didn't complete because I took a year off) 3 letters from PIs (research-related), 2 from instructors, and 1 personal/work (from a quadriplegic I worked for as a PCA). All three of the PI's are instructors at my university, but I wasn't in any of their classes (actually I did audit a class taught by one of them last semester but I don't think it's worth it to ask him to point that out in his letter). I really don't have another teacher I could go to for a letter that would say anything more than "yeah she got an A in my class." So is this enough or are the admissions people going to think I don't know how to follow directions if I don't have letters from three people who taught me?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Build]

Hmmmm...

As long as you have solid letter writers, it seems like there is some degree of flexibility in LoR's... If there is anything you can do with the prof's such as research credit or something, that is a way to have them say they taught you.

Also, I'd consider hunting down 1 or 2 prof's you took classes from and ask for their help. Some may be willing to spend some time getting to know you through interviews, PS's, etc. before writing. Just make sure after you get to know them you ask if they'd write a STRONG POSITIVE letter for you.

Here's a recent thread that may or may not be useful.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=719161

Sorry that's a little vague... Good luck!

 

[Kinocilium]

Thanks for the advice! I actually got a personal message from someone who said she got accepted with a similar situation as me (lots of letters, but not three teachers), so I'm going to assume I'll be okay. My tentative plan was to find some teachers that knew me a little bit and meet with them a couple times, but I'm really glad I don't have to do that now! It's hard enough asking people you know for a favor, much less someone who only knew you as one name in a whole stack of tests.

 

[Shifty B]

I agree and think it's fine. I can't imagine that someone will discount your letters because you didn't take their class, as long as they knew you some other way. In fact, I doubt they would even notice.