No research letter for Harvard...

[ekb1701]

I did 10 weeks of research in polymer chemistry with biomedical applications this summer, but my professor spent over 6 weeks in Europe and throughout the US looking for money for his lab. Needless to say, we hardly know each other, and the only interaction I've really had with him is through email and with his hired help.

Basically, there's no way to get a LOR from him. I'm a good student with a shot at Harvard, but without this should I even apply?

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[coralfangs]

don't worry
he will most likelywrite you a good one provided that you got good results and everything, he can definitely aske his hired help about your performances too

 

[voirlesetoiles]

If your other LORs are excellent, I don't see why the lack of a research letter would be detrimental. You can talk about your research in the AMCAS ECs and more extensively in an interview situation. Mad props if you've got a shot at HMS, definitely apply

 

[BigRedPremed]

It would be detrimental because Harvard REQUIRES a LOR from EVERY research supervisor, including the one at his current lab.

 

[voirlesetoiles]

It would be detrimental because Harvard REQUIRES a LOR from EVERY research supervisor, including the one at his current lab.

Thanks, I had no idea.There's no way I can track down my research supervisor either. If the school has a premed committee, is that a way to get past the requirement?

 

[moomix906]

 

[FutureDoc4]

Actually, Bigred is right, Harvard requires a LOR from every research lab you have worked in

 

[moomix906]

oh just kidding, sorry my bad, but this really did look like a hilarious post

 

[meowkat444]

incidentally, any thoughts about this: i had only been working at my new lab for 3 weeks when i applied, and i still have barely met the pi. are they going to still want a letter even though it's work that will happen post-application? maybe an update one in the spring?

 

[voirlesetoiles]

Actually, Bigred is right, Harvard requires a LOR from every research lab you have worked in

I've emailed their admissions office, asking about what to do when research supervisors are abroad and not reachable. I'll post back when I get a reply.

 

[BigRedPremed]

incidentally, any thoughts about this: i had only been working at my new lab for 3 weeks when i applied, and i still have barely met the pi. are they going to still want a letter even though it's work that will happen post-application? maybe an update one in the spring?

A lot of people will have this problem, including me. Since Harvard is nonrolling, I might just give it another month or two until I get to know my PI better.

 

[EyeballLove]

I actually e-mailed Harvard about this already. I already have 3 research letters from PI's. I don't have one from this lab I worked in when I was in college because the PI didn't know me (the very reason why I left the lab)...so basically, I explained my situation, listed the 5 or 6 letters I was sending to Harvard (whatever their requirement was. I can't remember now). I explained that 2/3 research letters come from full-time research I'm doing this year. One is from the PI, and the other is from the assistant researcher in the lab that I work closely with. I asked them if this would disqualify me from applying to their school. I got an e-mail back within 5 minutes saying I could go ahead and apply. Now I think about it...I don't exactly have the numbers for HMS...so I don't know what I was thinking that day ::cries::

 

[littlealex]

No research letter from that particular lab, or no research at all? Not even independent scholastic research?

I think applying to Harvard with zero undergraduate research recommendation letters may be a long shot given their focus.

 

[voirlesetoiles]

I've emailed their admissions office, asking about what to do when research supervisors are abroad and not reachable. I'll post back when I get a reply.

>Thank you for your e-mail. It is in your best interest to obtain all
>letters that are specifically requested.

 

[meowkat444]

oh, harvard...

 

[sillydoc2230]

a committee letter/packet always overrides any of the school's individual rec requirements.

 

[TheRealMD]

a committee letter/packet always overrides any of the school's individual rec requirements.

However, Harvard asks for research letters separately. You aren't going to get past that one.

 

[SnoPearl]

I am asking a PI for a separate LOR for Harvard's research letter requirement, since it was only a minor summer internship 2 years ago. I will have him send it directly to Harvard, since my school is already going to send a packet of letters that won't include his. Do you guys know how Harvard wants the letters? Any forms to attach or things to put on the LOR? I haven't gotten my AMCAS verified yet so I don't know what information is on the secondary regarding this. If anyone knows please let me know, I'd appreciate it!

 

[RocNYer]

i havent looked at the application too extensively yet, but if i have a committee letter from my school (including stuff from my undergrad research advisor) and letters from my PI & post-docs from the lab im in now, do i also need an individual letter from my undergrad research advisor? or is it ok if hers is tied into the committee letter?