LOR Tips

[adriano710]

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One thing I believe I'm lacking and may need when applying to DO schools is a LOR from a pre-health committee and LOR from one or two science teachers. I will have a LOR from an MD maxillofacial surgeon and a LOR from a DO neurologist. How can I get a LOR from a professor if I haven't 4.0 the class? Would a LOR from the person who runs the research project I'm involved in be any good? How important is it that I have an LOR from a pre-health committee/professor - do most DO schools require?

Thanks!

 

[tripl3s3v3n]

If you school has a pre-health committee then most schools want that letter. Otherwise, if you have 2 science professors that you know well and get a long with then ask for a LOR, even if you only earned a 'B' in that class.

 

[adriano710]

If you school has a pre-health committee then most schools want that letter. Otherwise, if you have 2 science professors that you know well and get a long with then ask for a LOR, even if you only earned a 'B' in that class.

Can you define "pre-health committee"? I was under the impression that "pre-health committee just meant a club or something involving medicine or science such as pre-med club or human bio club or something of that matter.

 

[tripl3s3v3n]

Can you define "pre-health committee"? I was under the impression that "pre-health committee just meant a club or something involving medicine or science such as pre-med club or human bio club or something of that matter.

This is different for each school. At my school the pre-health advisor basically compiled all LORs and wrote a single overview letter of recommendation, then put them into a single packet that was uploaded to interfolio. At other schools you have to interview, plus meet other requirements.

 

[verynice]

Can you define "pre-health committee"? I was under the impression that "pre-health committee just meant a club or something involving medicine or science such as pre-med club or human bio club or something of that matter.

Yeah, it basically means a letter on behalf of all of your science profs.

Also, I'm not sure how not having a 4.0 in a class would exclude you from getting a LOR. In my experience, I have gotten good LORs from profs of classes I have gotten Cs in.

If you want to know if a prof will write a good LOR, preface the conversation with something along the lines of: "I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get a LOR from you." I have hear stories of people who got LORs from professors who didn't actually recommend them because of work ethic/poor performance/etc. For the safety of your app, definitely make sure.

LOR from the research project would be great!

You definitely either need 2 science prof letters or a committee letter. Most, if not all schools, have that as a requirement.

 

[AlteredScale]

Yeah, it basically means a letter on behalf of all of your science profs.

Also, I'm not sure how not having a 4.0 in a class would exclude you from getting a LOR. In my experience, I have gotten good LORs from profs of classes I have gotten Cs in.

If you want to know if a prof will write a good LOR, preface the conversation with something along the lines of: "I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get a LOR from you." I have hear stories of people who got LORs from professors who didn't actually recommend them because of work ethic/poor performance/etc. For the safety of your app, definitely make sure.

LOR from the research project would be great!

You definitely either need 2 science prof letters or a committee letter. Most, if not all schools, have that as a requirement.

+1 I just received my strongest letter from the dean of bio at my CC, I got a B+ in her class.

 

[adriano710]

This is different for each school. At my school the pre-health advisor basically compiled all LORs and wrote a single overview letter of recommendation, then put them into a single packet that was uploaded to interfolio. At other schools you have to interview, plus meet other requirements.

Yeah, it basically means a letter on behalf of all of your science profs.

Also, I'm not sure how not having a 4.0 in a class would exclude you from getting a LOR. In my experience, I have gotten good LORs from profs of classes I have gotten Cs in.

If you want to know if a prof will write a good LOR, preface the conversation with something along the lines of: "I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get a LOR from you." I have hear stories of people who got LORs from professors who didn't actually recommend them because of work ethic/poor performance/etc. For the safety of your app, definitely make sure.

LOR from the research project would be great!

You definitely either need 2 science prof letters or a committee letter. Most, if not all schools, have that as a requirement.

Would you just email them or set up an appointment? Still a little confused about pre-health committee LOR.

 

[verynice]

Would you just email them or set up an appointment? Still a little confused about pre-health committee LOR.

Get in touch with your advisor and ask if they do a committee letter or not. If they have a committee letter, you do not need the two letters from science profs. If they do not do committee letters, get two of your science profs to write you letters.

If they do committee letters, ask your advisor how they are composed. That should give you a better idea what a committee letter is to your specific school.

 

[kkosp2451]

Would you just email them or set up an appointment?

+1, I would also like to know about this! I have a professor I had for 2 semesters who I got an A and a B in their classes (Gen Chem I and Organic I). He's referred to me as hard-working before, and definitely knows me by face.

 

[adriano710]

Get in touch with your advisor and ask if they do a committee letter or not. If they have a committee letter, you do not need the two letters from science profs. If they do not do committee letters, get two of your science profs to write you letters.

If they do committee letters, ask your advisor how they are composed. That should give you a better idea what a committee letter is to your specific school.

Thank you!

 

[tripl3s3v3n]

+1, I would also like to know about this! I have a professor I had for 2 semesters who I got an A and a B in their classes (Gen Chem I and Organic I). He's referred to me as hard-working before, and definitely knows me by face.

This is probably school dependent as well. I went to a small state school and I knew my professors very well and would talk to them often while passing through the science buildings or around campus. At a larger institution you probably have to make an appointment.