Mixture of Good & mediocre LOR

[seren1051]

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Hi everyone,

I graduated from college couple years ago, applied last year and ended up with one waitlist. I am planning to apply either this year or next year again, and my alumni advisor pointed out that my LORs are heavily research-based: one from science professor, two from research PI/PostDoc that I've worked with during undergrad research, and one from volunteering.

I didn't really reach out to profs during my college years, and my advisor told me that since I have 4 good LORs, I should complement that with two academic LORs; one science, one non-science. He suggested that I should just email profs I've taken classes with during senior year and ask for letters. Although I told him that those LORs would be mediocre at best (100% they won't even remember me; they'll basically be writing off the resume I send them/from my A grade from the records), he suggested that having two mediocre wouldn't really hurt.

I know that stand at SDN regarding LOR is that no LOR is better than a bad LOR, but what do you guys think? My other option is to apply next year, and during that year take post-bacc courses at my school & build good relationship with professors & aim to obtain good LORs. Since I've taken MCAT at October 2014, that means I'll have to retake the MCAT..but I'm willing to take the challenge.

Thanks for reading!

 

[To be MD]

Hi everyone,

I graduated from college couple years ago, applied last year and ended up with one waitlist. I am planning to apply either this year or next year again, and my alumni advisor pointed out that my LORs are heavily research-based: one from science professor, two from research PI/PostDoc that I've worked with during undergrad research, and one from volunteering.

I didn't really reach out to profs during my college years, and my advisor told me that since I have 4 good LORs, I should complement that with two academic LORs; one science, one non-science. He suggested that I should just email profs I've taken classes with during senior year and ask for letters. Although I told him that those LORs would be mediocre at best (100% they won't even remember me; they'll basically be writing off the resume I send them/from my A grade from the records), he suggested that having two mediocre wouldn't really hurt.

I know that stand at SDN regarding LOR is that no LOR is better than a bad LOR, but what do you guys think? My other option is to apply next year, and during that year take post-bacc courses at my school & build good relationship with professors & aim to obtain good LORs. Since I've taken MCAT at October 2014, that means I'll have to retake the MCAT..but I'm willing to take the challenge.

Thanks for reading!

I am not an ADCOM, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

If your MCAT scores, GPA, and ECs are already fine, I reckon it would be a complete waste of time and money to pursue a post-bacc or SMP for some LORs. They're important, yes, but not year-of-your-life important.

Instead of spending a year's worth of graduate tuition and time on a few LORs, why don't you invest in taking a few days off to head back to your undergraduate institution and speak in person with each one of the professors you'd like a letter from? People remember faces... names and email addresses, not so much. Plus, it's much more difficult to say "no" to someone when she's right in front of you than it is to ignore an email. Use that your advantage.

 

[besheep]

I am not an ADCOM, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

If your MCAT scores, GPA, and ECs are already fine, I reckon it would be a complete waste of time and money to pursue a post-bacc or SMP for some LORs. They're important, yes, but not year-of-your-life important.

Instead of spending a year's worth of graduate tuition and time on a few LORs, why don't you invest in taking a few days off to head back to your undergraduate institution and speak in person with each one of the professors you'd like a letter from? People remember faces... names and email addresses, not so much. Plus, it's much more difficult to say "no" to someone when she's right in front of you than it is to ignore an email. Use that your advantage.

I will agree with taking a day to trek to the institution and talk with those LOR's. In the best case scenario, that mediocre LOR turns into a fairly good one. Every professor likes a proactive student. It shows them you care. I WANTED a professor I took a class with in my senior year to write a LOR. I knew full well the level this LOR would give. This professor/the department doesn't give out many LOR's because they also know the quality of a LOR based on such limited interactions would produce.

I met with him and he agreed and sent the meeting talking about me and my aspirations.

 

[ace_inhibitor111]

Honestly, I thought 4 good letters would already be enough.

 

[seren1051]

I am not an ADCOM, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

If your MCAT scores, GPA, and ECs are already fine, I reckon it would be a complete waste of time and money to pursue a post-bacc or SMP for some LORs. They're important, yes, but not year-of-your-life important.

Instead of spending a year's worth of graduate tuition and time on a few LORs, why don't you invest in taking a few days off to head back to your undergraduate institution and speak in person with each one of the professors you'd like a letter from? People remember faces... names and email addresses, not so much. Plus, it's much more difficult to say "no" to someone when she's right in front of you than it is to ignore an email. Use that your advantage.

I will agree with taking a day to trek to the institution and talk with those LOR's. In the best case scenario, that mediocre LOR turns into a fairly good one. Every professor likes a proactive student. It shows them you care. I WANTED a professor I took a class with in my senior year to write a LOR. I knew full well the level this LOR would give. This professor/the department doesn't give out many LOR's because they also know the quality of a LOR based on such limited interactions would produce.

I met with him and he agreed and sent the meeting talking about me and my aspirations.

Thank you so much guys for these sincere feedback. I do think my GPA and MCAT is decent (3.7/34), but my EC is a bit on the weak side and was thinking of spending additional year to strengthen that. Then, I can take post-bacc during that additional year to strengthen both GPA and get additional LOR. I work in the undergraduate institution I graduated from, so tuition for post-bacc will be covered.

That being said I'm still not completely decided on whether to apply next year or this year (will have to take the new MCAT for next year), and am preparing this year's application just in case I do decide to apply this year. I will definitely take your advice and visit professors to see if they are willing.

Honestly, I thought 4 good letters would already be enough.

I thought so, too. It did give me two IIs last year, so I don't think it's anything alarmingly bad...but since many schools do specify that they want 'x number of letters from science faculty, y number of letters from non-science faculty', my advisor told me it's important to follow those rules.

 

[MaxPlancker]

I don't think your letters are holding you back. No need for mediocre ones.