LOR writer needs info

[rangoon1984]

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Hi Everyone,

I need a LOR for a post bacc program and I contacted my Bio teacher for it. He said he would do it, and asked for background info about me and what I have done.

I am going into medicine for relatively personal reasons (I went through a health ordeal myself, and I watched my grandpa go through one), and I feel like I should mention why I go into medicine because, well, that's important.

How much info should I give my LOR writer? How personal is too personal? Being a nontrad, how much background/what kind of background should I give?

 

[DrMidlife]

I gave my recommenders a package containing:
1. polite, friendly "instruction" sheet
2. addressed labels for destination (Interfolio or similar)
3. picture (how many hundreds of students does prof have?)
4. resume
5. med school PS draft (and ask for review feedback)

Interfolio is strategic; don't ever make a professor re-send a letter.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Courtjester8]

If you can, ask that it be on letterhead and digitally signed. I'm not sure how many schools are picky about this but I know I'm having issues with a school now because of it.

-cj8

 

[thlaxer]

How much info should I give my LOR writer? How personal is too personal? Being a nontrad, how much background/what kind of background should I give?

You should definitely include those personal reasons you listed (like you said, they're important!). I gave my recommenders as much relevant information as possible. This included family history, important volunteering/shadowing moments, etc in addition to the stuff DrMidlife listed. I wasn't very close to some of my recommenders, so this packet was a way for them to know me better outside of academics.

 

[DrMidlife]

The intent of this:

5. med school PS draft (and ask for review feedback)

is to accomplish this:

...personal reasons you listed...as much relevant information as possible. This included family history, important volunteering/shadowing moments

Why you want to go to med school, and a summary of the acts by which you vetted that ambition, should do double duty. I'd have a hard time coming up with a personal/family/non-school thing that you'd benefit from telling a potential recommender, that wouldn't also benefit your PS. They're not looking for a lengthy documentary on you.

My $.02.