Mediocre EC's and LOR's...

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

ddhm

Full Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
121
Reaction score
0
hey guys, i'd appreciate hearing back on this from anyone who can speak from experience...

academically, i think my stats are okay. i have a 3.57 gpa, 4.00 sci gpa, and 21/21/22 dat scores.

but i've only had about 40 hours of shadowing, and the EC's i've done are fairly basic -- hopital volunteering, tutoring, sports, part/full-time jobs during school.

what's more, i've managed to round up some LOR's from professors, but i don't think the letters will be that outstanding. they'll probly give adcoms just the average, standard impression.

well my question is, has anyone been able to overcome mediocre EC's and LOR's with strong academics, personal statement, and interviewing? let me hear back from you if you can speak from experience.

and a few words of advice to those early in the game -- you probly know this already, but i'd strongly reinforce the oft-told advice to get to know your professors personally. i think because i never struggled in my courses enough to go seek personal help, i never invested the time to visit with my professors and just get to know them. if i could do thing again, i would take the time to visit my professors and become familiar with them, whether i needed help with the coursework or not, and not just with the sole intent of requesting a letter down the stretch. im sure i would've enjoyed my school experience alot more if i would've become more involved with my teachers.

i realized so late in the game that i needed LOR's. thankfully, most of my profs have been pretty cool about meeting with me for a short while to discuss providing a letter, but they're probly gonna be limited in what they can say about me on a personal level.

well, anyhow, ive just got to do with what i have at the moment, but it sure would be nice to hear if anybody else has been in a similar experience but came out with positive results. thnx!!!
 
I dont really think you should worry...esp. w/ your stats. I personally think that LOR's are kind of used as tie-breakers b/t students. Your #'s will get you interviews...and and your interview + your #'s will get you an acceptance. I think LORs are used if you are on the fence or, as I said, neck and neck w/ another applicant...it doesnt hurt to get as strong of LOR's as possible...but w/ ur stats...wouldn't be too concerned....oh, and ur EC's seem fine.
 
well, i hope that holds true. if it came down to a nitty gritty comparison between myself and another applicant with similar stats, i'd say the average predent who's had an early start and been on the predent track for a lot longer than i've been would have the advantage.

applicants who've been predents since early on in undergrad seems more likely to have built stronger relationships with their profs and done longer-term, more quality EC's.

thanks for the reply.
 
Top