Non-STEM letter of Recs

[mwsapphire]

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Good morning everyone,

So I'm about to apply this summer. I'm taking the MCAT in July and applying to a mix of MD and DO based on my MCAT.

So I have two stem professors who I can ask for a letter of Rec, but I'm kind of stuck for non-stem professors. I have a lit. professor who sort of knows me, but I'm not sure that's good enough.

I'm taking a class called senior seminar , through the biology department, and it's a small class that teaches mainly public speaking skills. We present scientific papers, but the skills taught in that class are focused on delivering presentations. The class is still offered through the biology department.

Can that prof's class count as a non-STEM letter of rec? For both MD and DO?

paging Dr.Goro @Goro ,as he works at a DO program. With the way course classification works for DO ( relying more on department and not content), this class may count as a stem letter.

Thoughts? Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[Goro]

Good morning everyone,

So I'm about to apply this summer. I'm taking the MCAT in July and applying to a mix of MD and DO based on my MCAT.

So I have two stem professors who I can ask for a letter of Rec, but I'm kind of stuck for non-stem professors. I have a lit. professor who sort of knows me, but I'm not sure that's good enough.

I'm taking a class called senior seminar , through the biology department, and it's a small class that teaches mainly public speaking skills. We present scientific papers, but the skills taught in that class are focused on delivering presentations. The class is still offered through the biology department.

Can that prof's class count as a non-STEM letter of rec? For both MD and DO?

paging Dr.Goro @Goro ,as he works at a DO program. With the way course classification works for DO ( relying more on department and not content), this class may count as a stem letter.

Thoughts? Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Biology = sciences = STEM

Take a humanities or history class.

 

[mwsapphire]

Biology = sciences = STEM

Take a humanities or history class.

I'm almost done with my degree- and am applying this summer.
I guess I'll ask that literature professor? Also- is it true that letters from faculty with PhD's are preferred? I had a psychology class with a professor who had an MA in psych, or is that not " good enough".
I had a professor in the F17 whose class I took, he was a lawyer. Is someone with a a JD considered suitable for a letter?

 

[Goro]

I guess I'll ask that literature professor? Also- is it true that letters from faculty with PhD's are preferred?
I had a professor in the F17 whose class I took, he was a lawyer. Is someone with a a JD considered suitable for a letter?

Yes and yes.

 

[907914]

Good morning everyone,

So I'm about to apply this summer. I'm taking the MCAT in July and applying to a mix of MD and DO based on my MCAT.

So I have two stem professors who I can ask for a letter of Rec, but I'm kind of stuck for non-stem professors. I have a lit. professor who sort of knows me, but I'm not sure that's good enough.

I'm taking a class called senior seminar , through the biology department, and it's a small class that teaches mainly public speaking skills. We present scientific papers, but the skills taught in that class are focused on delivering presentations. The class is still offered through the biology department.

Can that prof's class count as a non-STEM letter of rec? For both MD and DO?

paging Dr.Goro @Goro ,as he works at a DO program. With the way course classification works for DO ( relying more on department and not content), this class may count as a stem letter.

Thoughts? Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I will not have a non-science faculty letter. I had a list of 38 schools. Removing schools that explicitly asked for a non-science faculty reduced that list to 28. So many do ask for it explicitly, but there is still enough schools that you don’t need to go out of your way to get what is likely a half-assed letter.

Edit: If this is bad advice, someone please let me know.

 

[mwsapphire]

Yes and yes.

I'll ask him , then. I'll send him an email asking if he is able to write me one, and why I need it.

 

[mwsapphire]

Yes and yes.

@Goro Also, for DO and MD, would the seminar class be part of my sci GPA? I know MD schools classify courses based on content , so this is definitely non STEM. People have said DO course classification is based on department, but I looked at the ACOMAS guide and it doesn't seem like that's the case. So, for DO, does Senior Seminar count in my sci or non sci GPA? It's honestly a GPA boost class it seems like, so I'm asking for the sake of honesty.

 

[Goro]

@Goro Also, for DO and MD, would the seminar class be part of my sci GPA? I know MD schools classify courses based on content , so this is definitely non STEM. People have said DO course classification is based on department, but I looked at the ACOMAS guide and it doesn't seem like that's the case. So, for DO, does Senior Seminar count in my sci or non sci GPA? It's honestly a GPA boost class it seems like, so I'm asking for the sake of honesty.

This is too granular a question for me. Check with AACOMAS

 

[mwsapphire]

This is too granular a question for me. Check with AACOMAS

Another question please? For my EC letter of rec ( I volunteer at a nursing home, have for about 2 years, almost 200+ hours under my belt) , I want two people to write it , together. One actually works right next to me and can really talk about how I am with the residents- the other is the music therapist. She doesn't interact with me working with the patients that often, but she still has seen me interact and thinks I could work as a doctor.

The thing is, the music therapist is sharp as a tack and has written dozens of letters of rec before. The other person who works me with me is a little less familiar with applying to med school, how the letter of rec should look, etc. ( she started working right out of HS, the music therapist has an advanced music degree). That's why I want them to work together. My advisor said this is fine, but she is kind of newer to pre health advising and I wanna make sure. I also wanna stop asking senior advisor- I think he's sick of me XD

 

[Goro]

Another question please? For my EC letter of rec ( I volunteer at a nursing home, have for about 2 years, almost 200+ hours under my belt) , I want two people to write it , together. One actually works right next to me and can really talk about how I am with the residents- the other is the music therapist. She doesn't interact with me working with the patients that often, but she still has seen me interact and thinks I could work as a doctor.

The thing is, the music therapist is sharp as a tack and has written dozens of letters of rec before. The other person who works me with me is a little less familiar with applying to med school, how the letter of rec should look, etc. ( she started working right out of HS, the music therapist has an advanced music degree). That's why I want them to work together. My advisor said this is fine, but she is kind of newer to pre health advising and I wanna make sure. I also wanna stop asking senior advisor- I think he's sick of me XD

AMCAS has a guide for LOR writers. Give it to your recommenders.

 

[mwsapphire]

AMCAS has a guide for LOR writers. Give it to your recommenders.

I'm giving what my our advisor sent out- which is the AMCAS letter guide. However, I still feel more comfy with them collaborating. I just...do. Is that fine?

 

[Goro]

Its fine

 

[capriccio]

I'm giving what my our advisor sent out- which is the AMCAS letter guide. However, I still feel more comfy with them collaborating. I just...do. Is that fine?

It's not too uncommon for two people to write a letter, like for research LoRs—sometimes the grad student or supervisor will write the bulk of the letter and then the professor signs off on it. I think your situation is somewhat similar.

About the lit professor, set up a face to face meeting to talk over the letter and your motivations for applying.

 

[907914]

I would consider it bad advice for the following reasons
1) most LORs are just "OK" : not in depth, give brief idea of student from class, and that's all
2) Everyone with a college degree with likely have at least 1 non science class where they can get a letter like that
3) While AMCAS has BCMP, that is not equal to science and neither is STEM. You could try to use Math as a non-science letter
4) Many school websites, offer alternative letters, particularly for those who are out of school for sometime or have a job
4) limiting schools that you can apply to simply because you are missing the technical fulfillment of a nonscience letter, which can be done with an OK letter, I would consider not a great strategy

I wrote this in the same day that I posted asking about getting an LOR from my psych prof. I caved and visited his office hours, he had it submitted within 2 days and it seems like it is a kick ass letter.

To OP, don’t listen to my first post. Get the non-science letter even if meh.

 

[907914]

Hoo-Rah!

Hey now! Hoo-rah is marine talk. It’s too many syllables for us Army folk. We say Hooah. Simpler. More elegant. Certainly better than whatever the Navy’s Hooyah is...

 

[mwsapphire]

Hi everyone,
So it looks like all of my academic letters of Rec are in ( to the prehealth committee) , the one from my EC should be in a bit later.
I have one major concern- one of my professors sent in my letter, and he emailed a PDF to me of it. I did not open it. Aren't we not supposed to see our letters of Rec, or am I mistaken? I haven't opened it, but if we're really not supposed to see it, I'm not sure what to do now. Do I tell advising?
@Goro @LizzyM @gonnif

 

[907914]

Hi everyone,
So it looks like all of my academic letters of Rec are in ( to the prehealth committee) , the one from my EC should be in a bit later.
I have one major concern- one of my professors sent in my letter, and he emailed a PDF to me of it. I did not open it. Aren't we not supposed to see our letters of Rec, or am I mistaken? I haven't opened it, but if we're really not supposed to see it, I'm not sure what to do now. Do I tell advising?
@Goro @LizzyM @gonnif

I would just delete it and pretend it never happened. If you don’t look at it then it is still confidential and your integrity can remain in tact. This may be the wrong answer?

 

[mwsapphire]

Prohibition is unilateral
You have no right to demand it
The professor can send it to you if they want

I was wondering if that was the case! Thank God. Thanks. I still won't open it, but it's good to know it won't look like I did anything wrong.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Off track of original post but my scribe mind read the title as a "non-stemi" and I was greatly relaxed until I realized I was on SDN and not in the ED. LOL

 

[mwsapphire]

Another question- I'm gonna go back on campus for my committee interview- and I wanna leave a handwritten thank you to my letter writers ( I thanked them in person and in email but I want a more personal touch). What type of gift is appropriate? I feel bad that I didn't thank them more sooner- I asked for my letters directly before finals and then forgot. I also have a letter from a prof on a diff campus ( he's a non-STEM letter). I only asked him via email, and he's an adjunct. how can I get a thank you note to him?

 

[907914]

Another question- I'm gonna go back on campus for my committee interview- and I wanna leave a handwritten thank you to my letter writers ( I thanked them in person and in email but I want a more personal touch). What type of gift is appropriate? I feel bad that I didn't thank them more sooner- I asked for my letters directly before finals and then forgot. I also have a letter from a prof on a diff campus ( he's a non-STEM letter). I only asked him via email, and he's an adjunct. how can I get a thank you note to him?

You said thank you in person and over email. They wrote you the letter. The deed is done. Let it pass.

 

[mwsapphire]

You said thank you in person and over email. They wrote you the letter. The deed is done. Let it pass.

I still want something more personalized tho...I have really nice handwriting and could write a note. I almost wanna make cookies or something ( one of profs mentioned not being to cook well) but IDK how to get the food to them. I can ask the secretary via email if she could do that, and then make cookies/ cookie dough that can be frozen and bring it in.

 

[Calizboosted76]

I still want something more personalized tho...I have really nice handwriting and could write a note. I almost wanna make cookies or something ( one of profs mentioned not being to cook well) but IDK how to get the food to them. I can ask the secretary via email if she could do that, and then make cookies/ cookie dough that can be frozen and bring it in.

So I agree with @MemeLord but if you are really boning for another form of thank you, then buy them all starbucks gifts cards and be done with it.

 

[907914]

So I agree with @MemeLord but if you are really boning for another form of thank you, then buy them all starbucks gifts cards and be done with it.

OP could do what my in-laws do for my birthday: Buy me a gift card to a restaurant that only exists where they live (300 miles from me). That is a real crowd pleaser.

 

[smukke]

OP could do what my in-laws do for my birthday: Buy me a gift card to a restaurant that only exists where they live (300 miles from me). That is a real crowd pleaser.

No, it's a trap.

Gets you to visit them and you have to invite them with you when you go.