number of LOR?

[Dulcina]

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I remember being told by my premed advisor that I need 3 LORs, 1 science, 2 whatever. I also remember him telling me that you CANT have more than 3...

then I glanced at a thread somewhere on SDN and someone mentioned that they had 5. What is the general consensus on this...does it look good/bad/neutral to have more than the requested number of LORs? What is the most that a school requires? Thanks!

 

[MattD]

Most often, you'll turn your letters in to a pre-med committee, and they will write a composite letter combining the high points of your letters and then sending that along with them. Perhaps your committee just doesn't want more than 3 letters. Go ahead and collect as many as you like, and seek out some personal (nonacademic) letters too, as you'll need them for some schools secondaries.

 

[wood41]

really sometimes premed committess write composite letters... no wonder it's taking forever.

 

[UCDavisISokay]

I had 6 or 7.

Two Sciences, one humanity, one research, one long-term volunteer work, one MD

 

[Dulcina]

hmm yeah i remember hearing about a 'committee letter'.

does this replace the original letters, or is it in addition to them?

 

[drizzt3117]

hmm yeah i remember hearing about a 'committee letter'.

does this replace the original letters, or is it in addition to them?

Most med schools consider the committee letter and those that make it up to be one letter...

 

[Jaded03]

The letters seem to cap at 6. I would not send more than 6 if they give you zero limit. Most applications will allow you to send 5 max. A few have said 3 or 4 max.

I would say get a 2 GRADED SCIENCE LORs, 1 GRADED NON-SCIENCE LOR at the absolute minimum. I'd say shoot for 1-2 EC LOR, usually RESEARCH or VOLUNTEERING.

MD if you shadowed, but it seems so useless. Most people shadow someone they know...for me, it's as good as a FRIEND/FAMILY letter which shouldn't really count. However, what do I know. 😛

I know nothing about committee letters.

 

[drizzt3117]

The letters seem to cap at 6. I would not send more than 6 if they give you zero limit. Most applications will allow you to send 5 max. A few have said 3 or 4 max.

I would say get a 2 GRADED SCIENCE LORs, 1 GRADED NON-SCIENCE LOR at the absolute minimum. I'd say shoot for 1-2 EC LOR, usually RESEARCH or VOLUNTEERING.

MD if you shadowed, but it seems so useless. Most people shadow someone they know...for me, it's as good as a FRIEND/FAMILY letter which shouldn't really count. However, what do I know. 😛

I know nothing about committee letters.

If you have a committee letter, it and the letters that make it up count as one. I have seven letters in my VE, the committee letter and the three letters that make it up, and three outside (employer, two PI letters). Almost all schools count it as me having four letters.

 

[chad5871]

So would I have enough if I put these in my file:

1. LOR from Genetics Professor (also head of my department and I'm preceptoring for him this semester)
2. LOR from Organic Chem 2 or Biochem Professor (haven't decided which yet)
3. LOR from well-respected MD that I shadow with and have known a long time
4. LOR from an English professor
5. Committee letter (which will encompass all of the previous letters)

Will medical schools still only count that as one letter? If that is the case, will I need more? I can get additional letters from my church volunteer work and from my place of employment, but is it really necessary?