LORs ?s

[rubbercleat]

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I am planning on applying this upcoming cycle and I am trying to figure out who to ask to write my LORs. The following are potentials. Given that any one of them would be able to give me a strong LOR, who should I ask? Also, should I pursue LORs from any other sources.

1) PI of lab: I am currently working in academic research with an MD/PhD (PI). I have worked in his lab for two years and have been an author on 2 of his publications. I have also shadowed him in the clinic a few times.

2) Post-docs of lab: I work with them side by side everyday. they know me better than my PI.

3) Premed advisor: He knows me personally but not on the academic level. I never took any of his classes (conflicted with other classes).

4) Science professor: I took two upper level, difficult classes and got A’s in both. I was an active participant in his classes and did a few extra projects. I would absolutely ask him except after I took his final class, he retired and moved far away. This was two years ago; I have not kept in contact with him.

5) Creative writing professor: I took two classes with him, excelled, and did some extracurricular things with him.

6) Study abroad professor: I studied abroad in Thailand where I did an internship in a hospital. The professor in charge of the program (a PhD in sociology) has already offered to write me a letter. He is a little cheesy though.

7) MD I have been shadowing in a community clinic for the past year.

 

[bannie22]

get all

 

[boaz]

get all

+1

Why not???

 

[apumic]

1) Definitely (looks bad if you don't have a PI write one)
2) No, the post-doc will likely help the PI write it but the PI should sign it (looks better)
3) No... (advising alone isn't a substantial basis upon which to write a letter)
4) If possible yes, but if not, another science prof will do
5) Sure.... he's an option (use for non-science)
6) Potentially..depends what you did with him (clinical supervisor? science professor? not really sure what you did with him...)
7) Absolutely not. Shadowing gives the doc no basis on which to write a letter

Edit: Getting all would not be beneficial. A few strategically chosen letters is generally better than a whole bunch of decent ones. Also, having LOR writers write letters w/o a good knowledge of you will result in mediocre letters, which will hurt you.

 

[Artimacia]

get all

Yea, if they're good, why not? Just make sure you have your basic required LORs (2 science, 1 nonscience) atleast.

 

[Artimacia]

1) Definitely (looks bad if you don't have a PI write one)
2) No, the post-doc will likely help the PI write it but the PI should sign it (looks better)
3) No...
4) If possible yes, but if not, another science prof will do
5) Sure.... he's an option
6) Potentially..depends what you did with him
7) Absolutely not. Shadowing gives the doc no basis on which to write a letter

For 7, I think it would depend on how "active" the shadowing was, for example, did you just sit and watch the whole time, or did you ask questions, talk about future goals, have good discussions, etc...

 

[apumic]

For 7, I think it would depend on how "active" the shadowing was, for example, did you just sit and watch the whole time, or did you ask questions, talk about future goals, have good discussions, etc...

If he was active in patient care then it is no longer shadowing. If the OP, OTOH, simply watched and, on occasion, asked a question or two, that doesn't really give the MD much to go off and it will show in the letter. Also, you usually mention your relationship to someone when you write them an LOR and saying "The applicant followed me around and asked questions over the course of 5 days of rounding and administrative meetings, totalling 40 hours" as your "relationship" isn't going to impress anyone. As a result, it would likely have the reverse effect and make an adcom wonder why the applicant didn't get an LOR from someone else instead ("was this all the applicant had to offer?" "was their no one else available or willing to write the applicant an LOR who actually knew him?")

Think of it like you're applying for a job. Would you give them a reference you've known for less than a year? (Most applications specifically ask for references who have known you for at least 12 months.) Likewise, if you haven't known the person at least 6-12 months, I don't think you can really expect their word to hold much weight. In certain cases, you might go down to a semester (3-5 mos) but even that would be stretching it if you want a quality LOR.

 

[harvman11]

Quality over quantity, remember that the people reading your application don't want to read tons of letters. You're much better off with 3 great letters than 6 good ones.

My personal opinion is definitely get the ones from your PI, the science professor, and the creative writing professor. a post-doc letter probably wouldn't do you much good, and there's no reason for it if the PI's writing one. I'd avoid the advisor, because there's not a whole lot an advisor can say about you that others can't say better: he can't give examples like other professors can. The study abroad professor has knowledge of your work in the hospital and a somewhat academic environment right? If so, I would probably get him, especially since you'll probably get a good letter if he offered. As for the shadowing MD... your call, I have no experience in the area, but I'm not sure what exactly he'd add, especially if you get a letter from the study abroad prof.

 

[rubbercleat]

Thanks guys. I wanted to weed down my list to 3 or 4, so your in put is great. Should I stay away from my study abroad director since he has the tendency to be cheesy? In a reference for my current job he emailed the post doc saying, "If it were up to me I would hire ___ in a split second!!" He just did not seem to be professional. However, his LOR could provide valuable unique insight into my medical internship...

 

[harvman11]

I don't think him being cheesy would be held against you, and from the sound of it he thinks very highly of you. I think it would probably be pretty valuable to have someone who can directly relay your interest/involvement in medicine to the adcoms. Maybe ask him to emphasize that part of his letter, because that's something you won't be getting from any of your other LORs.

 

[randombetch]

1) Definitely (looks bad if you don't have a PI write one)
2) No, the post-doc will likely help the PI write it but the PI should sign it (looks better)
3) No... (advising alone isn't a substantial basis upon which to write a letter)
4) If possible yes, but if not, another science prof will do
5) Sure.... he's an option (use for non-science)
6) Potentially..depends what you did with him (clinical supervisor? science professor? not really sure what you did with him...)
7) Absolutely not. Shadowing gives the doc no basis on which to write a letter

Edit: Getting all would not be beneficial. A few strategically chosen letters is generally better than a whole bunch of decent ones. Also, having LOR writers write letters w/o a good knowledge of you will result in mediocre letters, which will hurt you.

Agree with all except for #3 if the OP's talking about a committee letter.

 

[dragon529]

so it's generally not good for an MD to write an LOR if you just shadowed him? I thought having an MD LOR would add some weight to the application..?

 

[tallandshort]

I say get them all if possible, decide on which ones to actually send to med schools later. Remember that you can pick and choose which letters you want to send to which schools and just because you ask for a letter from all of these people doesn't mean you have to send every single letter to every school. At least this way you should have plenty of choice when application time comes around, and you won't be left without enough good rec letters. Also, remember to request these letters on school letterhead, it should go without saying but a few letter writers don't do this and some schools are very picky about it. Best of luck!