Not having any LORs from volunteering?

[ProspectiveKidd]

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As of right now, I volunteer from 6-8 and 5-8 at two different places every week. The 5-8 shift I also go to various nursing homes. Because of these hours and type of work, the volunteer coordinators and supervisors are never present to get to know me at all when I'm volunteering. Thus, I do not feel comfortable asking them for a strong letter of recommendation when the time comes.

These experiences are meaningful to me and I will be talking a lot about them. With that being said, is it going to come off as odd that I don't have LORs from these places?

There are staff members such as activities and nursing around, but nobody that I would necessarily want writing a LOR. Any suggestions/ input? I can get a strong employer LOR (I'm nontrad) and letters from some professors as well. I just figured since I will be heavily relying on these experiences I need the LORs

 

[arc5005]

Is a volunteer LOR required?

 

[Officer Farva]

In my experience no, you are good. I had three professors, one PI, and one physician I did research with and shadowed. The people where I volunteered would not write me a decent letter too.

 

[ChrisMack390]

I'm not planning on getting one. I feel like they are a bit soft.

 

[njtrimed]

As of right now, I volunteer from 6-8 and 5-8 at two different places every week. The 5-8 shift I also go to various nursing homes. Because of these hours and type of work, the volunteer coordinators and supervisors are never present to get to know me at all when I'm volunteering. Thus, I do not feel comfortable asking them for a strong letter of recommendation when the time comes.

These experiences are meaningful to me and I will be talking a lot about them. With that being said, it it going to come off as odd that I don't have LORs from these places?

There are staff members such as activities and nursing around, but nobody that I would necessarily want writing a LOR. Any suggestions/ input? I can get a strong employer LOR (I'm nontrad) and letters from some professors as well. I just figured since I will be heavily relying on these experiences I need the LORs

I am also nontrad and I got all of my LORs from former professors, my two former research PIs, and a handful of physicians I work with now. I did a lot of meaningful volunteer work as well over the past decade, but I didn't ask for LORs since letters from professors are supposed to carry the most weight. Instead, I let my own description of that work in AMCAS and my PS speak for itself. I was asked about my volunteering during all of my interviews, but nobody asked why I didn't have any LORs.

Another word of advice: if you can still use your alma mater's prehealth committee, do it. I was ambivalent about it since I've heard some negative things about it, but I was pleasantly surprised at my committee interview when the head of the committee was so fascinated by my story, and so supportive of my application. I think it definitely helped me this cycle.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Another word of advice: if you can still use your alma mater's prehealth committee, do it. I was ambivalent about it since I've heard some negative things about it, but I was pleasantly surprised at my committee interview when the head of the committee was so fascinated by my story, and so supportive of my application. I think it definitely helped me this cycle.

My understanding is that if your UG has a committee then you are required to use it. I haven't transferred from my 2 year yet; I'm pretty sure there is no committee because there is no premed anything.

 

[njtrimed]

My understanding is that if your UG has a committee then you are required to use it. I haven't transferred from my 2 year yet; I'm pretty sure there is no committee because there is no premed anything.

I was so far out of undergrad that I would not have been required to use my committee. Your situation is different if you're applying after transferring to a university that has a committee. My apologies; I took "nontrad" to mean you're applying after being out of school for some time.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

I was so far out of undergrad that I would not have been required to use my committee. Your situation is different if you're applying after transferring to a university that has a committee. My apologies; I took "nontrad" to mean you're applying after being out of school for some time.

I understand, sorry. I was out of HS for about 7 years before I went to college in the first place.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Is a volunteer LOR required?

Nor AFAIK, I just felt as though it would be conducive to my story if I had them (and it will if I can figure out how I'm going to get a good one).

 

[Lost in Translation]

Spoiler: Intriguing anecdote, brother

2 of my 5 letters were volunteering LORs. But unlike in your situation, I got to interact with my supervisors regularly. And I'm sure they were among the strongest letters in my app.

Bottom line, if you (or they) don't think their letter will be a strong one, don't ask. It's not a required LOR, though it does look pretty good since most volunteer positions are only done for like 2 semesters and if you stay longer then you'll get a letter attesting to your commitment which looks really good.