LORs as non-trad: how strict are schools re: professor letters

[glassshark]

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I finished undergrad about 5 years ago, and was wondering how strict med schools are regarding letters from professors.

For example, UCSF has on their website, "3-5 letters of recommendation, including at least two letters from your instructors." Is this a strict requirement to have 2 professor letters, or will they accept less? Or is this something that differs from school to school, and so I'd have to call each admissions office to clarify their requirements?

I have multiple good letters from my employment and other ECs, but any letters I can get from undergrad professors will likely be mediocre at best, since it's been such a long time.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Cornfed101]

You can definitely contact the schools directly, but from my experience contacting schools about LOR requirements, most schools are not flexible. Besides the LORs, it is also concerning that you haven't taken any classes for 5 years. Many schools like to see recent coursework to know that you can handle med school today, not 5 years ago. What have you been doing in the meantime? When did you take the MCAT?

 

[ThetisAntithesis]

N = 1 but I only had 1 professor letter. It was a recent course and science.
The rest of my letters were employer and volunteer letters. Been out of ugrad for 10 yrs.
It hasn't been mentioned (so far) and got a bunch of interviews.

I thibk it depends on the entire application.

 

[glassshark]

You can definitely contact the schools directly, but from my experience contacting schools about LOR requirements, most schools are not flexible. Besides the LORs, it is also concerning that you haven't taken any classes for 5 years. Many schools like to see recent coursework to know that you can handle med school today, not 5 years ago. What have you been doing in the meantime? When did you take the MCAT?

I will be retaking the MCAT next Jan (scored a 505 a few years ago). I've been working full time/part time with volunteering, in multiple hospitals since undergrad.

N = 1 but I only had 1 professor letter. It was a recent course and science.
The rest of my letters were employer and volunteer letters. Been out of ugrad for 10 yrs.
It hasn't been mentioned (so far) and got a bunch of interviews.

I thibk it depends on the entire application.

What were the LOR requirements for the schools at which you interviewed?

 

[ThetisAntithesis]

What were the LOR requirements for the schools at which you interviewed?

I applied to multiple schools. To be honest, I didn't focus on that (don't be like me though lol). The only school on my list that I know is very strict (although did not make an effort to see if they would give me an exception) is PCOM - My application is still in process bc I don't have a committee letter.

By the way, a committee letter substitutes for the science, non-science, professor requirements of most schools. I think the committee letter writers may have their own requirements though.

 

[Cornfed101]

By the way, a committee letter substitutes for the science, non-science, professor requirements of most schools. I think the committee letter writers may have their own requirements though.

This is where I ran into issues. I had a committee letter and one physician LOR and some schools wouldn't accept the committee letter (University of Utah and MUCOM)

 

[glassshark]

I applied to multiple schools. To be honest, I didn't focus on that (don't be like me though lol). The only school on my list that I know is very strict (although did not make an effort to see if they would give me an exception) is PCOM - My application is still in process bc I don't have a committee letter.

By the way, a committee letter substitutes for the science, non-science, professor requirements of most schools. I think the committee letter writers may have their own requirements though.

I won't have a committee letter, but I do have 5-6 good letters from physicians who know me well. It's getting decent letters from professors, science or non-science, that I'm worried about. I can get those letters, but they won't be anything special, and I'd much rather use my other better letters if possible.

 

[ThetisAntithesis]

Not sure what my professor letter looked like but the class was a summer class, literally 4 weeks and I asked her in December, so I'm sure it was good but not spectacular: "she's the absolute best". She said she remembered me but I won't be surprised if it was just another generic letter.
Unless you think the professor letters are going to be bad, just get the letters rather than not getting your applications looked at bc of incomplete materials.
Decent is better than nothing especially since the application process is high stakes to begin with - wanna have all your ducks, and back up ducks in line, ready to go.

 

[ThetisAntithesis]

The letters will be (and should be) confidential but you can probably send them to a friend to look over but not tell you excatly what it says to make sure its a good letter and no red flags.

 

[penicillinman]

I think this will vary from school to school. Specifically, the Texas schools I applied to allowed me to submit letters from a supervisor to replace the professors letter. They were understanding of the fact that the last classroom based course I had taken was almost 10 years ago so it would make no sense to have a professors letter. I did have some more recent online classes however. I was able to secure two interviews and one acceptance....so moral is ...it varies, just call up the school and ask.

 

[glassshark]

I think this will vary from school to school. Specifically, the Texas schools I applied to allowed me to submit letters from a supervisor to replace the professors letter. They were understanding of the fact that the last classroom based course I had taken was almost 10 years ago so it would make no sense to have a professors letter. I did have some more recent online classes however. I was able to secure two interviews and one acceptance....so moral is ...it varies, just call up the school and ask.

Yeah, definitely varies from school to school, having looked through numerous admissions websites.

Just called UCSF admissions office and they said the 2 letters from professors is not a hard requirement, but it's something they like to see. Otherwise, letters from research faculty would be an acceptable alternative. Good to know my app won't be rejected if I didn't have these 2 letters.

 

[wangb]

I'm on kind of the same boat. Is there a list on schools that are dead set on LORs from science and non-science professors? I have three potentially great LORs from employers and two of which are PhDs (worked in an academic lab and currently in biotech).

 

[Bonne Nuit]

I'm on kind of the same boat. Is there a list on schools that are dead set on LORs from science and non-science professors? I have three potentially great LORs from employers and two of which are PhDs (worked in an academic lab and currently in biotech).

There’s not one list. It’s a pain, but you’ll have to check individual school websites/MSAR for the requirements and contact the schools directly regarding exceptions. It varies so wildly. I will say that I’ve seen a good amount of flexibility for nontrads many years out of school substituting employer letters for professor letters. Some schools require letters from volunteering experiences as well, so keep that in mind.

Random aside, I applied to one school with 3 professor letters because the MSAR just said “3 letters required”. It was only after I got an II to this school that I was clicking around on their website and discovered one of the letters needed to be from a physician! So, it appears that some schools are loose with their own stated requirements and websites sometimes have more comprehensive information than the MSAR.

If you’re an otherwise strong candidate, you should expect some leeway on your letters from many schools.

 

[curbsideconsult]

The rules are a little different for non-trads. If you were applying 1 or 2 years out of undergrad and didn't have a prof letter, that would be concerning. You'll be 6 years out by the time you apply next year (at least I assume you're applying next year) so not having prof letters will be fine. The caveat is that if you've taken classes between now and then, you should try to get at least one prof letter.

 

[Goro]

I finished undergrad about 5 years ago, and was wondering how strict med schools are regarding letters from professors.

For example, UCSF has on their website, "3-5 letters of recommendation, including at least two letters from your instructors." Is this a strict requirement to have 2 professor letters, or will they accept less? Or is this something that differs from school to school, and so I'd have to call each admissions office to clarify their requirements?

I have multiple good letters from my employment and other ECs, but any letters I can get from undergrad professors will likely be mediocre at best, since it's been such a long time.

Thanks for the help.

It seems pretty cut-and-dry as to what they are requiring.

 

[ToothlessTheDragon]

I've been out of undergrad for five and a half years. I had one letter from a recent science professor (I did a post-bacc program over three years, with the bulk of it this past Spring), one letter from a professor during my undergrad (political science professor), one letter from my employer/manager, and one letter from where I volunteer. I applied to six schools and received interviews at them all. I hope that this helps!

 

[CoitusInterruptus]

I've been out of undergrad for five and a half years. I had one letter from a recent science professor (I did a post-bacc program over three years, with the bulk of it this past Spring), one letter from a professor during my undergrad (political science professor), one letter from my employer/manager, and one letter from where I volunteer. I applied to six schools and received interviews at them all. I hope that this helps!

Hey tooth you’re not really a representative applicant since you’re in an inaccessible echelon that only accepts the cultural capital your work experience provides. I saw you went from analyst to associate? That means you have longitudinal commitment and you know how to work hard. But most of all. You know you how to kiss ass and that’s how you win in life. It’s why you can afford to be so choosy while the rest of us toil in mediocrity. I salute you boi

 

[ToothlessTheDragon]

Hey tooth you’re not really a representative applicant since you’re in an inaccessible echelon that only accepts the cultural capital your work experience provides. I saw you went from analyst to associate? That means you have longitudinal commitment and you know how to work hard. But most of all. You know you how to kiss ass and that’s how you win in life. It’s why you can afford to be so choosy while the rest of us toil in mediocrity. I salute you boi

Okie, well thanks, I guess.

All I’m trying to say is that with non-traditional applications, I feel that the whole picture has merit to the schools. If you’ve worked hard and can evidence it and your letters are genuine and show it, then you may be able to skirt hard-set rules.