no science letters of recc

[Delilah]

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any of you get away with not getting any letters of recc from science profs? i could get a generic one, but i would much rather get compelling ones from non-science profs and mentors. so far i have my clinical supervisor (who i did research with), and 2 humanities profs who know me very well. i never really got to know my science profs.

 

[silverlining1]

I believe that many schools ask for 2 science letters of rec. I don't know if your 1 clinical supervisor letter would be adequate; I would call the schools to ask.

 

[MassTransport]

any of you get away with not getting any letters of recc from science profs? i could get a generic one, but i would much rather get compelling ones from non-science profs and mentors. so far i have my clinical supervisor (who i did research with), and 2 humanities profs who know me very well. i never really got to know my science profs.

It will vary, but I haven't seen any school that doesn't at least require one letter from a science professor who's taught you. If you're in a bind, a generic (but positive) letter is better than no letter at all.

 

[viciouz]

From my experience, 22 different schools, you need at least one science letter. There are a few schools that ask you to submit any type of letter, but those are rare.

 

[medguy83]

Practically every school I know of asks for 2 science letters, 1 non-science, and a few personal recs from either an employer, research coordinator, etc. I think you'd be hard pressed trying to get past the letter requirement. At this point it's almost August and interviews will be coming shortly. If I were you I'd take whatever letters I could get so at least my file would be complete.

 

[littlealex]

Yeah. Most schools have a 2 science letter policy. Get whatever letter you can at this point.

While it is generally true that quality is better then quantity, not having a science letter altogether hurts you badly, and may disqualify you from applying to many schools.

 

[chickenlittle84]

It depends on whether you are using a pre-med committee letter or not. According to my pre-med adviser, med schools will take whatever comes in the committee letter and not fuss about what kind of letters are included. I don't have any science letters with my committee letter for the reasons you mentioned - I would rather have 3 glowing letters with my committee packet than a positive, but generic science letter.

Just in case there were some schools who really wanted to see something from a science professor despite the committee letter, I got a science letter that I am sending through Interfolio apart from the committee letter. I expect it to be positive, but not glowing. I would suggest doing something similar. I don't know how well it will work, but my pre-med adviser thought it was a great idea...

 

[TarHeelBorn]

All ten of the schools I'm applying to do not require a letter from a science professor. If you do a little digging, you can find some.

 

[BigRedPremed]

Practically all of the schools I've applied to have required at least 1 science LOR. Hopefully, your school has a premed committee to write you a committee letter.

 

[Phoenix.]

It depends on whether you are using a pre-med committee letter or not. According to my pre-med adviser, med schools will take whatever comes in the committee letter and not fuss about what kind of letters are included. I don't have any science letters with my committee letter for the reasons you mentioned - I would rather have 3 glowing letters with my committee packet than a positive, but generic science letter.

Just in case there were some schools who really wanted to see something from a science professor despite the committee letter, I got a science letter that I am sending through Interfolio apart from the committee letter. I expect it to be positive, but not glowing. I would suggest doing something similar. I don't know how well it will work, but my pre-med adviser thought it was a great idea...

That's what I've heard too. My committee accidentally only used one science prof and two clinical LORs to write my committee letter. So far, I've been considered complete at a bunch of schools with just that. Granted, when they review my file I may hear otherwise, but I called UIC, who said that so long as you have a committee letter, that's sufficient. I'm having the second science prof letter sent separately by my committee (since it was their error), but hopefully it won't lead to any delays in getting reviewed. Good luck scrounging up a science prof LOR (or convincing a pre-health committee to write you a committee letter without one).

 

[tennisnr]

If you're just getting individual letters and sending them I'd suggest at least having 1. 2 is usually required. Furthermore, if you are getting a committee letter they usually require at least 1. Letters of rec are very impt and can make or break apps

 

[medstuddude]

Letters of rec are very impt and can make or break apps

It can break it, but it won't make it, unless you got the numbers and ECs

 

[Delilah]

Thank you for the feedback, everyone. Yes, I do have a committee writing me a letter. In fact, the committee letter writer HERSELF (who I spoke to today) remarked that she would rather work with 3 compelling letters than a lackluster letter that came from a science professor out of protocol. She said I shouldn't worry about it.

Sending a seperate letter interfolio sounds like a good idea. I am taking 2 summer classes now and will try to approach them.

 

[MChitty]

Thank you for the feedback, everyone. Yes, I do have a committee writing me a letter. In fact, the committee letter writer HERSELF (who I spoke to today) remarked that she would rather work with 3 compelling letters than a lackluster letter that came from a science professor out of protocol. She said I shouldn't worry about it.

Sending a seperate letter interfolio sounds like a good idea. I am taking 2 summer classes now and will try to approach them.

I think you should be ok. I was in a similar situation because I only took the pre-med requirements and was thus in the intro lecture classes. I got 2 science letters and then 3 from my full-time job after graduation and my adviser said those were fine for the committee letter.

 

[Hyperstudyosis]

I make it a point to get to know my profs somewhat...going to their office hours and asking questions pertinent to what we are studying, printing off and sharing with them medical research I find that relates to what we are studying, talking to them after class, etc. I always sit at the front of the class (they seem to like this) and show great interest in whatever they are teaching. I'm very fortunate to have a great anatomy and physiology professor who is a huge fan of mine and actually recommended that I switch my major from nursing to pre-med. She wrote a really great LOR for me when I was applying for a scholarship. I know I can count on her for a great LOR for med school when I apply.

 

[raptors]

Would a kinesiology prof who teaches exercise physiology or coronary physiology be considered a science prof?

I'm still reading info..but thought i'd ask anyways.

 

[capn jazz]

Would a kinesiology prof who teaches exercise physiology or coronary physiology be considered a science prof?

I'm still reading info..but thought i'd ask anyways.

I would assume so. Exercise physiology is very much biology.

 

[honeypot]

What if you have a premed committee? I spoke to the premed advisor at my school and she told me that you don't need to have a science letter of recommendation and that I could send any three LORS to the committee (doesn't have to be science) and they would put everything together. Can anyone comment on this? Because so far I have only science recommendation but I am applying next year.

thanks

 

[MassTransport]

From what I've seen, the committee letter will replace the LOR requirements from the school. It's always x science letters and x others or a committee letter.