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Lor
- Thread starter Missserica
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Missserica said:
You have already answered your own question, it's "either...or". If you have a pre-professional committee then most dental school like to have the one letter from it, but if not then the other ones you mentioned will sufice.
Missserica said:
2 LORs from science professors + 1 LOR from a non-science professor + 1 LOR from a dentist = 4 total LORs
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That would be ideal, but I also think that simply science professors and a dentist's reccomendation would suffice...just make sure those science classes are of a different nature...like a wide variety.
Missserica said:
Hi, one of the schools I am considering require at least 3 letters with one being from an advisor or pre-dental commitee. My school doesn't have a pre-dental commitee so I sent one in from my advisor, the 2 orthodontists I shadow, the 2 pediatric dentists I shadow, and a teacher that I had in like 6th grade that I babysit for. That makes a total of four. As far as which they prefer, I'm not totally for sure. I think it would be important to have letters from people of a variety of different backgrounds. Definately get one from someone who has known you for a long time.
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heyitscyndi said:
Hi,
Can you get letters from your science professors at your university or college? If you can, i strongly suggest you to do so. A letter from a teacher that you had in 6th grade will not help you with the admission committe. 4 Letters from 4 different dentists do not help either. Most schools require only 1 letter from a dentist, and EMPHASIZE significantly on letters from science professors from university or college. If you do not have a pre-dental committe, I suggest you should ask for 3 letters from 3 science professors to substitute that (if you read the requirement from each school that you are going to apply, this would be case: 3 LOR from science professors = 1 LOR from pre-dental committee).
In my opinion, your choices of LOR are weak and will not meet the LOR requirement for most dental schools. The dental schools do not mind if you send more than what they require, but they specifically check the letters and make sure their requirement is fulfilled. For an instance, lacking in 1 letter from a biology professor will make your profile incomplete (this happens to my friend at a certain school).
Good luck!
Dr.Smiley-OR said:
Well, the reason I asked my teacher is that she has known me personally for that many years and can comment on my personal character and my work/study habits. I think that would have some relevance because dental schools are looking for well-rounded individuals, right? For the particular school that I am applying to they said that it can be from the committee or from the advisor if there is no committee. Their information said nothing about having to have a LOR from a science professor. I don't know, it might be a good idea to go ahead and ask one just in case though. (btw, the dentists I asked to write letters are partners and they both jointly wrote a letter. So there's only 2 letters from dentists instead of 4).
heyitscyndi said:
I know that all of the schools I looked at or applied to requested at least a minimum of two LOR from science professors (usually one from a biology professor and one from a chemistry professor). I am sure that the basis behind such a request is that the school is interested in a professional opinion surrounding your performance in collegiate science courses and your ability to handle the stress and workload that comes with them.
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heyitscyndi said:
I do not know what school you are applying to, but five schools that I applied to (and I also have visisted many other schools' websites) 3 Letters from 3 science professors (or at least 2) are required if your univeristy does not have a pre-dental committee. Now, since you have visited the website for the dental school that you are going to apply, and if they said it is fine to have an advisor to write it, then go ahead. But just keep my warning in mind. I just want to help you and save you from the headache later.
Secondly, you are correct that your 6th grade teacher would be an ideal person to show that you are a well-rounded person. However, her letter would not be counted to any requirement. Most schools require letters from 1) pre-dental committee (or 3 science teachers), and 2) a dentist. However, you should sent in her letter as an accessory to your profile. It 's sure helpful though, but do not count it as an requirement.
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Thanks for the information. I'm still new at this application stuff so I don't know everything yet. But let me ask you this, how much is too much? They said at least 3 lor, are they going to get tired of reading 5-6 letters? Or maybe they'll think wow, she's got great reports from 5 different professionals. What do you think?
heyitscyndi said:
I remember I went to a presentation where several d-school admission people spoke. I heard a couple of them saying that 5 letters would be considered max. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Would it be okay if my LOR's from profs are from environmental science classes? or is it necessary that they come from biology professors?
I don't know how reliable this is, but according to Barron's: How to Prepare for the DAT, under the LOR section it talks about this. It quotes:
"Given that this can be an arduous process, why would a student choose to go through the Pre-Health Profession Committee? A letter of recommendation from the Pre-Health Profession Committee is preferred over individual letters from faculty(italicized in the book). This is not to say that you will be penelized if your school does not have a Pre-Health Profession Committee."
It then goes on to discuss that the admission committee knows that the pre-health committee members are reliable sources of evaluation. I think if you know other professors personally, then this might be even better to get letters from them. My school is rather large and research based, so most of the professors don't know you, and don't care to know you.
"Given that this can be an arduous process, why would a student choose to go through the Pre-Health Profession Committee? A letter of recommendation from the Pre-Health Profession Committee is preferred over individual letters from faculty(italicized in the book). This is not to say that you will be penelized if your school does not have a Pre-Health Profession Committee."
It then goes on to discuss that the admission committee knows that the pre-health committee members are reliable sources of evaluation. I think if you know other professors personally, then this might be even better to get letters from them. My school is rather large and research based, so most of the professors don't know you, and don't care to know you.
UofT-Girl said:
I would try to have at least one from a biology professor.
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mccarth2 said:
If your university/college have a pre-health profession committee, then you must get this letter from them. However, if it doesn't, you can get 3 letters from 3 faculty. IT IS ABSOLUTELY FINE!!! My two friends and I used 3 individual letters, and we all got into the schools we wanted (got acceptances on Dec 1). They do not look down on you if you do not have a pre-health profession committee.
The problem with pre-health profession committee letter is that these people do not know you personally to evaluate you on your academic performance and your personality. It is true that your professors know you personally, but when you ask them to write your LOR, you must waive your right to read the letters. As long you do waive your right to read, they can honestly evaluate you in your letters and that should be valid.
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heyitscyndi said:
Yes, the maximum should be 5. If you have 3 letters from 3 faculty and 1 letter from a dentist, which meet all the requirement, will add up to 4 already. Only 1 more from your 6th grade teacher (since you really want that letter to be read) will add up to 5. The more letters you have does not mean you are a better applicant. People with less letters show that they know what they are doing and they are more confident. It is logic. If I am an adcom, and I only have to read 3 letters from applicant A to know how well he is, compare to i have to read 5 letters from applicant B to know how well she is, then I prefer to select applicant A over B. You must learn how to choose people who are going to write LOR for you carefully.
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Sprgrover said:
Yes, at least one letter from a biology or chemistry professor, because dental schools want to know how well you can perform in biology and chemistry courses. Environmental biology is great, but it is not being taught in dental school and therefore a letter from an environmental biologist will not be weighed heavily like one from a life biology professor.
Question... What exactly is a Prehealth Committee Letter?? Don't you still have to have professors right LOR's and send them to the committee??? Im a little confused (freshman).
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Hilaree320 said:
Yes! That is right. What happens is that you will request LORS from different professors (I know certain schools will require at least 6 professors) each to write you a letter of evaluation and send them the prehealth committee. The prehealth committe will invite you for an interview, asking why you want to become a dentist and stuff (interview by the committe is optional). Then the committee will write their own LORs from what they know about you through your professors' LORS and your interview.
And once again, if no prehealth committtee does exist at your school, then it is your responsbility to send in to the dental schools 2-3 letters from professors individually.
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Hilaree320 said:
A pre-health committee is usually comprised of your advisor and two or three professors that are very familiar with the admissions process. My school used to have one and it was rather rigorous - you had to complete your personal statement and they would review it and make suggestions. You had to face them for an interview in which they would grill you with questions (it was also a mock dental school interview), review your grades, and so on. This committee would also mentor you and guide you along in your scholastic career as well. Once it is all said and done the committee writes one, collective letter describing the applicant, their academic performance, long-term prospects, personal character, etc. and then each member signs the letter. If you have such a committee at your school, and your advisor will know this, then their letter is the only one you will need (as it contains professors and represents the opinions of several individuals). If you don't have such a committee then you will need to collect LOR's from some professors, a dentist, etc.
