No LOR from Research Prof? Well, I don't know where he is...

[Fibroblastman]

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So, I've done research for the same professor for 3.5 years -- receiving two publications (one 6th author, one 1st author) and tons of scientific presentations -- but no LOR. A lot of med schools are going to be wondering:

"You worked for this guy, got a lot of stuff done... so what happened? Hmm?"

So *ahem*... during my last semester of my senior year Dr. A decides to go on sabbatical. Having planned ahead, I requested a letter from him before he left.

Time passes, and emails go unanswered. I know this guy better than any other student, having worked with him and traveled with him to conferences, etc. He's always all smiles and gets things done on-time, so it was out of his character not to answer. Months pass, and I become anxious... So I ask Dr. B for a letter as well, who just happened to be Dr. A's best friend.

Time passes... I graduate, summer comes, applications arrive.

Then it turns out that this Dr. A eloped with Dr. B's spouse. I have no clue where he is, and no one else does... Great, no LOR.

Awesome.

So Dr. C, also being Dr. A's best friend and knowing my predicament, writes me a letter -- a sympathy letter.

And so... that's why I didn't get my LOR from my research professor, who is somewhere on the other side of the world with Dr. B's spouse.

And it's going to hurt my application, because schools like Harvard and I will be wondering the same thing...

"What the heck happened?"

 

[193250]

Wow, that sucks man.

 

[135892]

That's crazy

 

[cheasus]

Sounds unreal. Thats going to be a pretty tough question to answer. I would just say that the professor went on sabbatical and you haven't been able to get in contact with him (which is all true). Leave it at that.

 

[Fibroblastman]

Sounds unreal. Thats going to be a pretty tough question to answer. I would just say that the professor went on sabbatical and you haven't been able to get in contact with him (which is all true). Leave it at that.

Yeah there's much more... but let's just say there's enough to have it's own movie and sequel. Crazy drama between the secret lives of professors... sheesh.

 

[Lukkie]

i would definitely try to bring this up in an interview

 

[135892]

Yeah there's much more... but let's just say there's enough to have it's own movie and sequel. Crazy drama between the secret lives of professors... sheesh.

There's more?? Let's hear it 😀

 

[junkct]

Dude, I bet if you put what you just wrote in the "If you need to explain extenuating circumstances blah blah blah..." section, AND THEN say "there's enough for a sequel, but I can't write it all here," you're going to get interviews wherever you want

 

[Vihsadas]

(Vihsadas reads your story)

*Vihsadas stares at you blankly.*