Only 1 Sci LOR?

[geronimo_SK]

I'm a psych major applying this cycle to med school. Due to taking more psych/non sci classes, I was able to get 2 non sci letters (both from psych professors) and only 1 sci letter from a bio class I took. I also have a letter from my hospital volunteer supervisor. From the med schools I have researched, I found quite a few that do not have requirements of 2 sci, 1 non sci. Instead, they just say have 2-4 lor. Would this hurt my chances if i submit 1 sci?

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[Skydive Fox]

Most of my top picks all specified exactly what they wanted (ex. 2 science, 1 non-science, 1 EC supervisor), but even if there's no specification, just one sci letter might raise some eyebrows since you probably took a plethora of sci prereqs regardless of major. Did you just not perform well enough for a strong LOR, or just neglected to network?

One of my profs who sits on our institution's med school adcom told me that LOR's are sometimes the make-it-or-break-it for who gets the golden ticket when they're tryna choose between candidates who all interview well and look similar on paper. Not sure what he'd think of just one sci LOR, but he did say that his adcom puts much more emphasis on science LOR's when we were discussing him writing my LOR a few months ago.

 

[frosted_flake]

Requirements are requirements, unfortunately. I think if you only submit one science LOR it will look like you are unable to follow directions... definitely not a favorable train for a medical student/future physician.

 

[bisonbison]

Just a random question that has a little bit to do with this. If I have been out of school for at least a year, would I still be having to adhere to the professor letter of recommendation requirements? When I applied the first time (this past cycle), I had one science prof LOR and a committee packet, so most schools were satisfied with that. I am not sure what to do now that I am not in school anymore and won't be getting a committee evaluation to supplement my one science letter. I feel weird going back to school and asking other professors, too, especially since I was only really close with the one that wrote me my letter. Or should I just look for schools that only require 1 science letter?

 

[Skydive Fox]

Or should I just look for schools that only require 1 science letter?

Narrowing your school list down by that is the worst way to build a list of schools to apply to. I'd resort to awkwardly asking profs over that approach.

But for real, y'all. Networking with professors is one of the most overlooked parts of being a student. All it takes is being engaged in class and the occasional after-class or office hours conversations to get a decent letter if you need one someday.

 

[bisonbison]

Narrowing your school list down by that is the worst way to build a list of schools to apply to. I'd resort to awkwardly asking profs over that approach.

But for real, y'all. Networking with professors is one of the most overlooked parts of being a student. All it takes is being engaged in class and the occasional after-class or office hours conversations to get a decent letter if you need one someday.

Yeah, I know, but I feel like it's too late now 🙁

 

[bisonbison]

Some schools will provide committee letters to alumni for a certain amount of time after graduating

I had not even thought about that. I will definitely call tomorrow and see. Thank you so much for all of your help! I really appreciate it 🙂

 

[geronimo_SK]

It would also completely block you at schools that check the letter fulfillment at time of file completion. That is, letters are checked when they come in as to fulfilling the requirement and the file will not be completed, nor moved on to evaluation by the committee, if they require 2 science instructors.

What schools did you find do not require this?

The schools I found don't specify "2 sci, 1 non sci"..instead they vaguely mention "at least 2, at max 5"

Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Georgetown University of Medicine
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
University of Illinois College of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
The Commonwealth Medical College
The University of Toledo College of Medicine
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Albany Medical College
University of Minnesota Medical School
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

 

[geronimo_SK]

Most of my top picks all specified exactly what they wanted (ex. 2 science, 1 non-science, 1 EC supervisor), but even if there's no specification, just one sci letter might raise some eyebrows since you probably took a plethora of sci prereqs regardless of major. Did you just not perform well enough for a strong LOR, or just neglected to network?

One of my profs who sits on our institution's med school adcom told me that LOR's are sometimes the make-it-or-break-it for who gets the golden ticket when they're tryna choose between candidates who all interview well and look similar on paper. Not sure what he'd think of just one sci LOR, but he did say that his adcom puts much more emphasis on science LOR's when we were discussing him writing my LOR a few months ago.

it was mainly a mix of not strong performance and failure to network...the majority of my science classes were pretty large so it was difficult to initiate any relationship to begin with. Thats why my psych professors will be stronger because classes are smaller hence a better relationship

 

[MaxPlancker]

Some schools do genuinely let you have your pick of letters, whether 2-5. If there is no requirement to have a specific type, then you may submit those that you deem to best portray your potential to succeed in medicine. More schools are beginning to realise that people come from various backgrounds and it may be inconvenient and/or not optimal to set too many stringent criteria on LORs.

 

[mellie0]

I had not even thought about that. I will definitely call tomorrow and see. Thank you so much for all of your help! I really appreciate it 🙂

Wishing you the best! I just wanted to warn you that many premed committees have harsh deadlines and requirements to get a committee letter. For example, at my school, we had to fill a huge form entering our EC's and answering several essay questions. That was due in January! We also had to submit letters from professors, and that was all due in March. So it might not work out for you 🙁 but keep us posted as I'm vouching for you!

 

[ChrisMack390]

Are either of your psych letters science-y enough to pass? Neuropsych, perhaps?

 

[bisonbison]

Wishing you the best! I just wanted to warn you that many premed committees have harsh deadlines and requirements to get a committee letter. For example, at my school, we had to fill a huge form entering our EC's and answering several essay questions. That was due in January! We also had to submit letters from professors, and that was all due in March. So it might not work out for you 🙁 but keep us posted as I'm vouching for you!

Called today and apparently alumni have to go through the committee again. As I am not getting e-mails or anything anymore, I did not know about the deadline and missed it. I am wondering if that will be something that will hold me back on applications since I "technically" had access to it. :\

 

[jih]

There are a couple of schools that ask specifically for two BCP professors. Most others just want science. I got by with two letters from engineering professors and one from an English professor.

In my opinion your major professors will have a whole lot more to say about you than the one you took some 300-person general science course with 3+ years ago, anyway.

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[MaxPlancker]

Called today and apparently alumni have to go through the committee again. As I am not getting e-mails or anything anymore, I did not know about the deadline and missed it. I am wondering if that will be something that will hold me back on applications since I "technically" had access to it. :\

You can always opt out. A good amount of nontrads do so.

 

[ChrisMack390]

I graduated in 2013 and am not applying for a committee letter. If anyone asks, I plan to just say that I graduated over 3 years ago and I think that letters from more recent coursework and experiences are more relevant than ones from 4-8 years ago.

 

[bisonbison]

You can always opt out. A good amount of nontrads do so.

True. I'm just worried it will hurt my application.

 

[geronimo_SK]

Are either of your psych letters science-y enough to pass? Neuropsych, perhaps?

Eh, one of them taught my experimental research methods class and the other was developmental/cognitive psychology. So, I guess not.