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I thought 2 science professors and a dentist... yes, no?
Agree.
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deleted738762
Some schools are different.
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711769
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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deleted738762
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).
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.
Is this for the University of Minnesota? I couldn't apply because of that supervisor/employer letter requirement.
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deleted738762
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
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deleted738762
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.
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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deleted738762
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.
Pretty much.
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.
Keep this in mind OP ^
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deleted738762
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).
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).
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deleted738762
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.
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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
Letter 1: dentist
Letter 2: bio prof
Letter 3: Chem prof
Letter 4: work or volunteer supervisor
