My LOR list, not enough science?

[Cheez]

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Hi. What do you guys think of my LOR list:

1. Clinical Research PI
2. Public Health Professor (non-science)
3. Engineering professor
4. Free clinic volunteer director

All of them are solid but I've been told that I need another science professor. It should be noted that the research writer is a professor that gives grades for a research "class." I do have an option for another letter though. I just finished a micro lab and my professor seemed to like me a lot so that could work for another science letter. The problem: I got an A- and it would be pretty short notice. What do you think?

 

[CougarMD]

Hi. What do you guys think of my LOR list:

1. Clinical Research PI
2. Public Health Professor (non-science)
3. Engineering professor
4. Free clinic volunteer director

All of them are solid but I've been told that I need another science professor. It should be noted that the research writer is a professor that gives grades for a research "class." I do have an option for another letter though. I just finished a micro lab and my professor seemed to like me a lot so that could work for another science letter. The problem: I got an A- and it would be pretty short notice. What do you think?

I would say ask for another letter just because it is good to always have extras. The grade you got doesn't matter if you think you can get a stellar letter. Also, you don't need letters until you start doing secondaries so they still have at least a month, which should be plenty of time. If it is not, then you tried, but I would at least ask.

I always do it in person and phrase the question as "Do you feel comfortable writing a strong letter of recommendation for me to go to medical school?" You can tell by their faces and reaction how strong it will be. I try to only go with people who hug me in response😉

 

[aerin47]

I would say ask for another letter just because it is good to always have extras. The grade you got doesn't matter if you think you can get a stellar letter. Also, you don't need letters until you start doing secondaries so they still have at least a month, which should be plenty of time. If it is not, then you tried, but I would at least ask.

I always do it in person and phrase the question as "Do you feel comfortable writing a strong letter of recommendation for me to go to medical school?" You can tell by their faces and reaction how strong it will be. I try to only go with people who hug me in response😉

Great approach!👍

 

[organdonor]

Yes you will need at least two LOR's from science faculty. I'm not sure that engineering would count. A call to the school would find out. Two science LOR's is pretty standard across the board. Check each schools website for details.

On another note, I wouldn't submit all those letters to each school. Adcoms have plenty to read without all the extra letters people send them that they don't ask for. Keep it to at most 1 or 2 more than what they ask for.

 

[hippiedoc13]

If it's true that some schools require 2 basic science letters, then yes, get another one. I don't know if that's the case; I used to sit on the AdCom and I don't believe we had that specific requirement.

As someone who sat on an AdCom, I think your current list sounds great. I'd rather hear about you from your research PI and the free clinic director, who are more likely to actually KNOW you, than from some random science prof who had 200 students in the lecture hall and is writing 40 LORs this year and couldn't pick you out of a lineup. Furthermore, your interpersonal skills and work in the lab or the clinic are MUCH more relevant to your future as a physician than whatever a science prof can pretend to have gleaned about you while he lectured on the Krebs cycle.

But if some silly AdCom really needs 2 letters saying "so-and-so took my class and is a good student as evidenced by earning an A- in my course" then so be it. Don't ever want to get thrown out on a technicality.

 

[Cheez]

Thanks everyone. I'll ask my professor for the letter tomorrow. From what I've read, 5 letters will be appropriate for most MD schools. Are there any schools that will look down on this many?

 

[CougarMD]

Thanks everyone. I'll ask my professor for the letter tomorrow. From what I've read, 5 letters will be appropriate for most MD schools. Are there any schools that will look down on this many?

There are a few schools that say 3 max; I don't know off the top of my head, but look at the letter requirement for each school.

Even for the "Two science letters" thing I know that this is a guideline for a LOT of schools, and not a super hard rule. I called UCSD because I am a non-trad and just did not have two science letters when I first considered applying; but I did have at least 3 letters from former employers. What the head of the AdCom told me was that they want your "5 best letters, no matter what they are". I would say that is pretty solid advice for most places. I would call to be sure.

However, be prepared for the question "Why didn't you have two science letters". I think the answer to that question is "I did have two science letters, however, I thought it would be more helpful to have a letter from someone who has seen me in a myriad of situations that included academic ones, and not just someone who had only seen me in an academic situation with a class of 300+ people"

 

[FlowRate]

I decided that any school that threw me out because I sent letters from two engineering professors would not appreciate my engineering background anyway and thus I probably wouldn't be a good fit. (I did send one chemistry prof to 17/20 schools, the ones that didn't specify only 3 letters, just to cover my butt a little)

 

[Quester]

Science LOR means letters from faculty of Science, and not just from BCPM profs? Which means, a letter from Geography prof meets this criteria?

 

[FlowRate]

Science LOR means letters from faculty of Science, and not just from BCPM profs? Which means, a letter from Geography prof meets this criteria?

I asked this question of an admissions office once. The reply was (copying this straight from my email):

"Any faculty member that can speak to your science ability will count. So, for example, an engineering professor who taught you about the design process might be less well suited as a recommender than an engineering professor who taught you about molecular engineering. We need letters from two faculty members who can comment adequately on your ability in the sciences."

That is, obviously, the definition given by one school (Georgetown).

 

[Quester]

I asked this question of an admissions office once. The reply was (copying this straight from my email):

"Any faculty member that can speak to your science ability will count. So, for example, an engineering professor who taught you about the design process might be less well suited as a recommender than an engineering professor who taught you about molecular engineering. We need letters from two faculty members who can comment adequately on your ability in the sciences."

That is, obviously, the definition given by one school (Georgetown).

Thanks FlowRate. By their use of word 'science' in this context, it seems that they might be implying BCPM courses though. But then again, environmental science is part of the sciences... I think I'll take my chances.