*~*~*~*Official Letters of Recommendation Questions Thread 2018-2019*~*~*~*

Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
I have been in a clinical research position (patient-facing) for over 6 months. My physician boss, with whom I spend at least four hours a day and has grown to know me very well, offered to write school-specific letters that I can send as part of an update to the places where I've interviewed and am awaiting decisions, or to the schools where I've been complete but heard nothing from. She gave the physical, signed letters to me to distribute. What is the best way to navigate this situation? Is she required to submit them via the AMCAS letter service? If not, would I violate any rules if I upload scans of the letters as updates on the individual application portals? Could I send them by mail to the individual admissions offices? All of my applications have been complete since the end of August. Any and all advice on how to deal with this will be immensely helpful!
Members don't see this ad.
 
If a professor says they are unsure of writing a letter of recommendation letter until grades are out but to follow up after to ask how good their letter would be should I not ask?

I am a little taken aback since I have so far only asked professors whose personalities I mesh well with... I have also gotten As in these classes so I'm unsure how I feel after a professor whose class I currently have an A in would say that when I thought she knew me well as a person.

Should I go back to the sorting table and ask a different professor who is more willing or wait until after my grade is finalized and they assess whether their letter would be good or not?
 
Anyone ask their foreign language prof to be your non-science letter writer? Im guessing its most common because the classes are the smallest ones, but not sure how relevant it is and how I could connect it to medical school..

Im deciding between my language prof who knows me very well but isnt related to medicine, and my public health prof who is more related to medicine but doesnt know me as well :/
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Anyone know how long it takes AMCAS to receive a letter from Interfolio? The letter was sent by Interfolio three days ago but still has not been received by AMCAS. It’s time sensitive, so I don’t know if I should call AMCAS.
 
If one of my professors asks for transcript but I don't want to give them transcript should I ask another person to write my letter or hope they don't mind the bad (still passing) grades I got freshman year?
 
gonnif said:
Do you really need someone to tell you the answer to that question? Either give them the transcripts or Get a different person
Click to expand...
I suppose so. I doubt the professor will write anything bad based on the transcript but it is something that has given me sadness over the past few years. I can't really change my freshman/highschool grades on my college transcript. I can only do better right now- which I have been doing since Freshman year. I just worry that they might see bad Freshman and highschool grades and focus on that.

And it's not easy to get new letter writers especially for non science classes when I am a science major... I would have to take another non science class next semester and gamble with the possibility that I would have a great letter writer. And even then they also might ask for a transcript.
 
I was originally going to have 2 science professor LOR, 1 non-science, and then 1 LOR from my PI. I'm actually taking a 2-semester bio course taught by my PI this year, so I'm thinking that he could be a very solid option as my 2nd science professor LOR since he would know me the best of any of my other science professors. Would it be okay for him to write me a letter both from the insight of being my science prof and being my PI? I'm just nervous that submitting such a letter would seem almost like a cop-out to med schools like I didn't get to know enough science professors to vouch for me. It would also mean I'd be submitting 3 overall LOR rather than 4 and I'm not sure whether that is problematic or not. I feel like I'm sounding pretty neurotic but any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
 
Will a letter from a graduate student who taught a non-science course herself, not TA, at the university fulfill the non-science prof letter requirement? It's the best one I got. Any other non-science letter will just talk about an A grade and attendance. There was no PhD instructor in the course.
 
Hi Gonnif,

I am planning on asking my behavorial neuroscience professor for a recommendation letter. The course is, in my judgement, more science than nonscience (i.e. we cover action potentials, perceptual systems, neurological pathways). The professor’s title is Chair of Behavorial Neuroscience. However, the course is listed under the Psychology department and I do not know the policy for letter of recommendations (I know science GPA classification is usually by course content). What would you recommend I do to ensure this is classified as a science letter? The distinction seems very arbitrary honestly when it comes to neuroscience/psychology.
 
Thanks Gonnif. Very helpful response! In my judgement I will classify this as a science letter seeing as the course is bio-heavy and the Professor holds appointments in the SOM...
 
I am worried about finding people to write letters for me... junior applying in ~2 years
1. I have volunteered and worked extensively as an employee in my university hospital, but they (volunteer coordinator & employer) have clearly stated from the beginning that they do not write letters of rec due to a university policy. (nevertheless, I do not regret committing as I had great experiences)
2. I also work for our university science learning center, but there's a lot of us working and thus a bit hard to make an impression on my employer. I can of course do my best from here on out.
3. Haven't quite connected with a non-science professor yet.

On the bright side, I think I can get 2 science letters alright, along with a good letter from my PI.

Should I be fretting more & buckling down on seeking out potential letter writers?
 
Last edited:
Getting letters from PhDs who are non-faculty/non-professor (their title is lecturer) - is this okay? I have a really, really strong science letter lined up but it would be coming from a lecturer, and many schools specifically list faculty and/or professor in their requirements
 
Is there a difference between countersign and cosign, and how would that difference be noted on the recommendation letter itself?
 
Can I take a course at my local CC to obtain science and non science letters? in a different state. No connection with any instructors from my undergrad. If i do ask my undergrad, they will be generic.
 
Any advice on asking professors for updated LORs. I'm going to re-apply, and my science professors' letters are dated 2016.
 
Sunbodi said:
If one of my professors asks for transcript but I don't want to give them transcript should I ask another person to write my letter or hope they don't mind the bad (still passing) grades I got freshman year?
Click to expand...
This to me seems like an odd question - we have a centralized degree planner that every professor can log in to and take a look at your past course history and intended future course history.
 
MemeLord said:
This to me seems like an odd question - we have a centralized degree planner that every professor can log in to and take a look at your past course history and intended future course history.
Click to expand...

At many schools, this is only available to certain faculty (major/concentration advisors, central advising etc), and is only meant to be viewed in line with FERPA law. A professor taking a gander at your transcript without a valid reason breaks FERPA just as a doctor could be breaking HIPAA.
 
gonnif said:
Personally, I dont think professors should ask for transcripts as they should write from what they know about you but why are you worried? What skeletons do you have?
Click to expand...
I had 2 Cs my freshman year
 
gonnif said:
So you would rather pass up getting a good letter because you dont want a professor to see what every adcom will see anyway? Please explain your logic?
Click to expand...
Gonnif. We had this conversation 5 months ago.
 
gonnif said:
Just ask. There seems be a great reluctance on the part of many premeds to ask for an updated letter. Dont be, professor already supported you and will glad to do it again
Click to expand...

I definitely agree with this sentiment as I have my asked my professors for updated letters on more than one occasion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

chilly_md
~*~*~*~*~* Official Letters of Evaluation Questions Thread 2025-2026 *~*~*~*~*~
Replies
12
Views
594
premedvibe
P
B
A few questions about my letters of recommendation
Replies
4
Views
750
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
N
Letter of recommendation conundrum
Replies
2
Views
513
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
R
  • Locked
Adding letters of recommendation
Replies
1
Views
656
wysdoc
wysdoc
T
Letters of Recommendation help
Replies
7
Views
2K
chilly_md
chilly_md
Top