Need Advice on Recommendation Letter

[machida]

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Hi All,

I'm putting together my postbac applications right now, and most programs require two letters of recommendation. One of them will come from my last boss, who I know will write a very strong and supportive letter. For the second letter, I am debating between asking an old professor from undergrad and a good friend who is a physician and instructor at a well-regarded medical school (whom I've shadowed).

I graduated nine years ago and although at the time this professor had written me a positive letter of recommendation (on file with my school), he barely remembers me now (actually, I suspect he doesn't really). I'm concerned that even if the professor writes me another positive letter of recommendation, it won't be a very strong one.

On the other hand, while my friend doesn't know me in a professional or academic capacity she knows me personally very well, has seen for the last few years the personal development that led me to deciding on a career switch to medicine, is willing to write a strong letter of support for me, and is the one person I know who has the professional credentials to persuasively assert that I would one day make a good doctor.

Most programs I'm applying to (Goucher, Bryn Mawr, Hopkins, etc.) state that they prefer at least one rec letter from someone who can attest to your academic strengths, but I think in my situation my friend's letter will make for a much stronger letter than my old professor's. My undergrad GPA (humanities major at a top 20 school) was 3.8/4.0, and my standardized test scores (including recently taken GRE) are high.

Which recommender do you think I should go with? Any thoughts, shared experiences, or advice is much appreciated!

 

[DrMidlife]

I vote old professor. Doesn't matter how old the letter is, since you have recent assets. Faculty letters cover your academic skills in a manner that admissions committees are prone to accept.

Having a friend write you a letter just makes it look like you're not taking this seriously.

Best of luck to you.

 

[betterlate]

Having a friend write you a letter just makes it look like you're not taking this seriously.

I agree completely. However, there is no reason you can't include more than two letters in your application.

When applying to my masters program (years before postbacc or med school) I was in a similar position. I still had some papers I'd written for one professor. When I asked for a letter of recommendation, i dropped off a packet of work I'd done for her that included her comments in the margins, so she could recall what she'd thought of my work at the time. I also included a resume and a cover letter that was essentially a mini-version of my personal statement for my application. It explained what I was applying for, what I'd been doing since graduating from college, and what had led me to the decision to apply to the masters program. I wanted to give her the tools she needed to write as personal and detailed a letter as possible, given the fact I hadn't had any contact with her for several years.

Good luck!

 

[DrMidlife]

When applying to my masters program (years before postbacc or med school) I was in a similar position. I still had some papers I'd written for one professor. When I asked for a letter of recommendation, i dropped off a packet of work I'd done for her that included her comments in the margins, so she could recall what she'd thought of my work at the time. I also included a resume and a cover letter that was essentially a mini-version of my personal statement for my application. It explained what I was applying for, what I'd been doing since graduating from college, and what had led me to the decision to apply to the masters program. I wanted to give her the tools she needed to write as personal and detailed a letter as possible, given the fact I hadn't had any contact with her for several years.

👍👍👍 Help them help you.

 

[indebted]

If you are far removed from college, why don't you email the contact persons for the programs you are applying and ask if you could send 2 professional references instead of the 1 academic. It can't hurt to ask. I see many of these programs state that if you are far removed from college that more recent work will be considered.

 

[machida]

Thanks, all - that was great advice! I checked in with the programs I'm applying to, and will be submitting my friend's letter as a third supplementary recommendation.

My old professor told me that he can only comment on my work in his classes way back when (ie, he doesn't want to comment on anything else), but he seems comfortable writing a good rec nevertheless so hopefully the three letters combined will paint a thorough and positive portrait.