LoR

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I was going to ask my boss for a letter of Rec. I was a clerk at at a local market, but I don't know official it would be. I'm not even sure if he has an e-mail lol. What do you guys think?
 
Zen0321 said:
Then why are you asking us in the first place...? just google and see what the school you want to get into wants
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I was pretty clear as to what I was asking. I didn't ask if schools what schools require what letters. I asked if it is a good idea to ask my boss at work (for schools that accept those kinds of letters).
 
BioTic said:
I was pretty clear as to what I was asking. I didn't ask if schools what schools require what letters. I asked if it is a good idea to ask my boss at work (for schools that accept those kinds of letters).
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If the schools you want to apply to accept this type of LOR then go ahead, ask him for one!
 
I would only ask an employer that I worked with for a significant amount of time. Also if you are going to use their letter, I suggest making this a 4th/supplemental LoR with the same reasoning as everyone else.
 
BioTic said:
Some schools are different.
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Is this for the University of Minnesota? I couldn't apply because of that supervisor/employer letter requirement.
 
your letters of recommendation can really make your application. if he knows you well and can write a quality letter it may be worth it. if you were able to work with and/or shadow a dentist, that may be of better value to your application.
 
Noice said:
Is this for the University of Minnesota? I couldn't apply because of that supervisor/employer letter requirement.
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UoP
Letter of Recommendation: 2 letters from science professors and 1 of your choice (e.g., dentist, research or work manager/supervisor) OR 1 committee letter
 
knewstance said:
I would only ask an employer that I worked with for a significant amount of time. Also if you are going to use their letter, I suggest making this a 4th/supplemental LoR with the same reasoning as everyone else.
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I've worked there for many years now. I'm not sure how official it would be, the boss is an immigrant and he's nice and would say yes, but his English isn't too good. I don't even know if he has an e-mail lol.
 
I-hate-alginate said:
Just tell him you'll write it and he only has to submit it! Write the recommendation letter of your dreams buddy lol.
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lol this made me laugh. So what, he just needs an e-mail and I have to provide his contact information? I mean I'm sure they'll call him as well when the time comes.
 
I-hate-alginate said:
Just tell him you'll write it and he only has to submit it! Write the recommendation letter of your dreams buddy lol.
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I did this more or less for my SMP. Since I had already submitted a statement to them written in my tone, it was important to change the tone on the letter if you are going to write it for them. Ie, make a list of points and ask a friend to write it for you, that way it's not in your voice.
 
knewstance said:
I did this more or less for my SMP. Since I had already submitted a statement to them written in my tone, it was important to change the tone on the letter if you are going to write it for them. Ie, make a list of points and ask a friend to write it for you, that way it's not in your voice.
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Keep this in mind OP ^
 
Illumident said:
Are you applying to dental school or clerical school?

Not trying to be a wise-ass (or maybe I am), but I encourage you to have your letter of choice be from a dentist, especially if your boss doesn't have a good grasp of the English language.
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He's from Spain. I'm sure I can help him write it, but I just shadowed the dentist I didn't have much of an interaction to get a strong letter.
 
I understand you position Bio. Everyone will advise you to ask a letter writer whether they can write you a "strong letter of rec" and just in general insist that you get a super strong letter. Sometimes, ya just need any damn letter to complete your app. I barely knew my second professor (but I did know my dentist and the first professor). One interviewer actually commented that I had good letters! My feeling is that all letters pretty much start sounding the same after you've read hundreds of them (excluding borderline negative letters). My pre-dent friend showed me a letter a professor wrote for him. It was a pretty generic ~3-4 sentences (I told him he should have submitted a confidential one. Otherwise it kind of looks like you were hovering over the professors shoulder as he/she wrote it.) I bet a lot of dental letters are a lot less glamorous than we'd imagine.

I feel like a boss could give a different perspective (hard worker, punctual, etc). I thought about asking my chem "TA" (we call them GSIs) to write a letter (and have the professor co-sign it maybe), but his English was quite bad. I decided against asking him. There was also just a cultural divide where he would sometimes give people really harsh criticism (like everyones' jaws would drop type/room goes silent harsh) and I didn't want to risk him saying something that he shouldn't (even though I knew he liked me).
 
Illumident said:
IMO a letter of recommendation for dental school should speak to your academic abilities as a student and your work ethic and fit into the dental community as a future dentist.

If the person writing your choice LOR isn't from the field, then you may encounter a problem with his/her credibility. Not saying letters from work supervisors are a bad idea, just saying those non-dental work letters have a higher standard to meet in terms of incorporating and translating how your work ethic is valuable and applicable to the dental field. And if your boss doesn't have a strong grasp of English, that poses as an additional challenge. Keep in mind you technically will have to check a box saying you waived your right to view your LORs.
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Well, when people ask dentists for letters they can only speak on their fit into the dental community, and that's already pushing it since you only shadow the dentist. If I ask my boss, he can speak greatly on my work ethic and character in general, and that goes beyond a letter I would get from shadowing a dentist. I think that's why they want a mix, so some can comment on different elements like, academics, work ethic, etc. Appreciate the response.
 
I used a letter from an employer but I had worked for this person for a long time during my gap years. I still had the science professor letters and dentist letter too. I would say it depends on the significance of your employment - if it was a short period of time or a summer job type of thing, probably not worth the LoR.
 
Key to success:
Letter 1: dentist
Letter 2: bio prof
Letter 3: Chem prof
Letter 4: work or volunteer supervisor
 
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