Multiple LORs - Help me decide?

[K9DANE]

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This upcoming application cycle will be my first and as I'm starting to organize everything, I'm torn on how many LORs to provide. I know most schools require 3, with some that want anywhere from 3-6. I've searched other threads on this subject and it appears responses on how many is too many are subjective. My first school of choice does accept more than 3, with at least one of them required to be from a DVM.

Considering my background in human medicine, I'm torn as to which ones to decide on as I have 6 evaluators willing to write positive letters. I want to portray my diverse experience, but at the same time do not want to appear egotistical.


From human med:

• cardio-thoracic surgeon I've worked with for 7 years
• cardio-thoracic physician's assistant I've worked with for 6 years
• pulmonary-critical care intensivist I've worked with for over 10 years (this one is a definite as I've worked with him my entire career, at different facilities, in different environments: both clinical and non-clinical. So I feel he is well versed in evaluating me in many different environments/situations. NTM, he is ecstatic about my career goals & totally supportive.)

Academics:

My orgo professor (she will also be my bio-chem prof), Phd chemist, and the head of our chemistry department


Vet med:

• small animal vet
• small animal vet, board certified specialist that receives referrals from my first school of choice

Sorry so lengthy. 1 from human/academic/vet? total of 3, 4, 5 or all 6? 😕

 

[squirrelsrule]

If you can be sure they'll all be good, I'd go for all 6. Then if one doesn't make the deadline, it won't be a big deal. Then if schools only look at 3 or 4 you can email or specify in the supplemental (not sure how some schools do it but OSU only accepts 3 and has you write in what ones you want them to use) which ones you want them to look at.

If it were me I'd go with the 2 vets and the O. Chem professor or one vet, the O. Chem Professor, and then the human med one that you definitely want to use.

I think if you apply to three and one is OSU or another school that requires 2 from vets and only takes 3 total, you're gonna be better off using the academic one with the 2 vets because then the adcoms see your functioning in medicine and your academic abilities. I think most schools allow 4 though, so I'd go with the definite in human med, 2 vets, and the academic.

Good luck to you this application cycle.

 

[kakurubird]

I'm sure this is something that you've already considered, but if I was an adcom at a school that looked at all LORs, and saw an applicant who had half of there letters from working in human med, I'd expect a really good explanation for why you are now applying to vet school. That being said, if you have a well-done explanation for the change and your letters support this, I'd also look pretty highly on a LOR from someone who has know you for 10 years and speaks very highly of you from seeing you in many different settings and can speak to many different aspects of how awesome you are.
And I wouldn't worry about seeming egotistical about submitting 6 letters--I'm sure others do and you really want to make yourself look great. Not that I've applied yet, but this isn't something where I'd want to hold back on showing schools how amazing I would be in their program.

 

[K9DANE]

Yes, I'm well aware I have some explaining to do and I'm fully prepared for that. This has not been a quick decision, or an abrupt change of tracks, but rather a journey that began 15 yrs ago.

Thank you for the opinons/advice. 🙂

 

[HappyCowsfromCA]

I submitted 5 with my VMCAS so that if someone backed out or forgot or whatever, I would still have an extra. For most schools, you can choose which ones you want them to look at to kind of tailor to each school. I think I would submit all of them, but stick with one from each of your categories for supplemental apps: Human Med, Orgo prof, and Vet Med. Good luck!

 

[OH Bunny Girl]

I was told in one of my numerous file reviews that it's not only the length of time you've known your recommenders, but how current you are in keeping contact with them. Did they know you well 4+ years ago and you just casually keep in touch over email vs. a newer contact for maybe 1+ years who you are in current contact and knows you well in your current state?

Just food for thought 🙂

 

[K9DANE]

That's an interesting aspect too, thanks! The 3 from human med I work with weekly as human med still pays my mortgage. The prof is a current prof & I'll have her again for Biochem in the fall/spring. The 1 vet I work with twice a week, and the specialized vet I work with every other week. Hopefully, I'm covered there but thanks for mentioning it as I don't believe I would've considered that.

 

[LetItSnow]

1 from human/academic/vet? total of 3, 4, 5 or all 6? 😕

Advice 1: Don't lose sleep over this. Submit at least as many as necessary ... and then as many as you want past that. In the end, it probably won't matter if all your LORs are very strong.

Advice 2: I would NOT worry about appearing egotistical. Ask yourself if each LOR writer will have a unique view of you, or information about you.

Advice 3: Unless VMCAS is now allowing you to prioritize them, enter them into VMCAS in the order you want schools to look at them. You can, in theory, get hosed by a school that only reads three when you put your strongest in last. (I know this to be true from personal experience my first time 'round.)

Looking at your list, I'd probably go with both vets, the crit-care specialist, the prof, and one of the cardios (in that order). I wouldn't bother with both cardios because I don't see how it would really improve your chances, and it DOES take work to write one (so you'd be making one of them do it for no real purpose).

That said, if you'd sleep a lot better using all six, then do it.

G'luck!!

 

[kakurubird]

Yes, I'm well aware I have some explaining to do and I'm fully prepared for that. This has not been a quick decision, or an abrupt change of tracks, but rather a journey that began 15 yrs ago.

Thank you for the opinons/advice. 🙂

Oh, I certainly didn't mean to imply in any way that I thought that you were being flighty with your decision or any such thing. You certainly come across as committed to doing this and definitely know that vet med is want you want. It also seems like you have a great story that adcoms will (hopefully) remember and make them want to meet you and interview you! I just wanted to emphasize my support for having the human med doctors who do end up writing you letters mention the change. Anyway, my vote would be, if you don't go all 6, 2 vet, academic, plus the pulmonary doc you've know 10+ years.

 

[K9DANE]

Looking at your list, I'd probably go with both vets, the crit-care specialist, the prof, and one of the cardios (in that order). I wouldn't bother with both cardios because I don't see how it would really improve your chances, and it DOES take work to write one (so you'd be making one of them do it for no real purpose).

LIS - your tips are much appreciated!

Oh, I certainly didn't mean to imply in any way that I thought that you were being flighty with your decision or any such thing.

No worries, I didn't take it as such. 😉

 

[StartingoverVet]

I still wouldn't submit 3 letters from human med. Sure you plan on having to explain yourself, but why create doubt. Pick which one you think is best and stick with that.

No matter what you say, if I am on an adcom, I am just going to assume you have 3 human-med letters because you are probably applying to med school and haven't decided. They will be just that much more skeptical of what you say.

I don't see the great advantage. I could be wrong, but ask yourself what those 3 writers are going to say that is going to be different or make you stand out? Quantity is not quality. It can be quite repetitive to read a lot of letters.

Find out what your LOR writers are likely to say and then decide if they are really adding anything special, and then decide if it is really worth it to look like you are still tethered to human med.

 

[bigkittinteef]

My teacher/advisor interviews and assists with the admissions process for the RVC. He told me to submit no more than 3 LORs because it can be a red flag for some schools. He said when more than 3 are submitted, they are concerned that it is an attempt to overcompensate for weaknesses in an application. They end up scrutinizing the application for these perceived weaknesses with a metaphorical magnifying glass (which none of us would want). This is just one interviewer but his advice has been completely sound and has served me well every step of the way. I picked my teacher/employer (a DVM), my boss (a DVM), and my adviser/ teacher/dept. head. I felt that having combinations of employers, teachers, advisers, and DVMs were the most advantageous for me. Good luck with everything regardless. I wish you the best. 🙂