For schools who ask for a non-science letter of rec, is it absolutely necessary? Has anybody been accepted/gotten an interview at schools who want one without having one?
Non-science LOR requirement flexible??
- Thread starter goobears
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don't try to go around this. schools won't even bother looking at your app. it will just be considered incomplete. after all, they have thousands of other applicants who have met the requirement. don't think that if you submit 5+ they won't notice either. many times on the secondary they will ask specifically which letters you plan to use to satisfy their requirements. the rest will just be counted as extras.
of course different schools have different requirements. but unless you plan to check the LOR requirements for every school in advance, you might be in for a nasty surprise. i screwed up last cycle and had to delay my app by 1 month getting a LOR from a science professor (lab professor does not count for all schools).
of course different schools have different requirements. but unless you plan to check the LOR requirements for every school in advance, you might be in for a nasty surprise. i screwed up last cycle and had to delay my app by 1 month getting a LOR from a science professor (lab professor does not count for all schools).
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Some schools are flexible. I was interviewed and accepted to more than one school that required a non-science LOR. I used an employer's letter instead. I would contact the specific school(s) you're thinking about applying to though, because exceptions seem to be made on a case by case basis. I am a non-traditional applicant, so they may have given me more leeway based on that.
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Even besides the fact that some schools require it, a non-science letter often add information about you in a way science profs can't: performance in a group setting (seminar), demonstrated leadership in a class, writing ability, etc.
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I came up against this problem too, and I especially had a problem since 3/4 of my major professors are now retired (and since I'm a non-science major a couple schools required a letter from my major, not just non-science).
Just make sure you satisfy what the school requires. You can always call and ask too. Also, beware of the mandatory supervisor letter some schools include if you've been out of school and in the workforce for awhile.
Just make sure you satisfy what the school requires. You can always call and ask too. Also, beware of the mandatory supervisor letter some schools include if you've been out of school and in the workforce for awhile.
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