original LOR dilemma

[TheLadyVanishes]

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Since I wasn't a premed in college, I didn't bother getting to know many of my professors. One of the few professors - "Prof. N" - who is likely to remember me mentored me for my allied health career, even wrote me strong rec letters. This career hasn't worked out for various reasons and now I want to apply to medical school.

I have one science letter, but I still need a second one. At this point I have two options:

1.) ask Prof N.
Pros: This professor probably remembers me, taught me in several classes and thought highly enough of me to write a rec letter.
Cons: Awkward to explain how/why the allied health career didn't work out. Furthermore, Prof N may not be able to speak to my potential as a future physician. It might be like, "TLV is punctual, respectful and does well on tests", which is ok for the allied health career but not sufficient for medical school.

2.) ask professor from science courses I'll take as a post-bacc or non-matric student.
Pros: more recent, will show my continuing ability to do well in courses.
Cons: do not know these professors, maybe they'll be distant, mean or write bad letters. Maybe it will look bad that these classes are not at my alma mater or in my major. Some of the professors are PhDs or accomplished in their field, but not tenured faculty.

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[LingoLaine]

#2 is probably your only option unless #1 was fairly recent.

Your cons here aren't really valid though-- you can still get to know the professors, alma mater/major is irrelevant, and I wouldn't place much weight on tenure.

 

[ghostman]

I did not take any science courses in college. All of my science recommendation letters come from my post-bacc, which is where you should get them as well. Not only is it more recent, it's also more relevant to your current career pursuits. You generally only need one recommendation letter from your alma mater.

As LingoLaine said, your "cons" for option 2 aren't valid cons. Post-bacc shouldn't be considered just a step you need to get out of the way; post-bacc is your new college and that's where you should get to know your profs. Distant? Mean? Or write bad letters? These were all possible from your alma mater as well. Does this new school frown upon post-baccs?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Just make an effort. I took a biochemistry course knowing that one day, I need to ask this professor for an LOR so every action in that class was done with that in mind. I asked about things I didn't know, showed I was working very hard, all of that. Just do that. As the people above said, your cons are poor.

 

[Arrode]

I'd say go with option 2. I'd spend time to get to know them, stop by office hours, ask smart questions, talk about your future goals, etc (without brown-nosing, of course). 🙂 Good luck!