Hey everyone,
I will be applying again in the 2021-2022 cycle but I wanted an opinion on the importance of having a former professor writing a letter of recommendation. I've been out of school for a few years now, so the letters I wanted to use were from work colleagues (some holding Ph.Ds) and some from my clinical experience. Do you think obtaining a LOR from a professor is necessary? Should I take a few community college courses just so that I have someone to ask for a letter of recommendation?
Thank you!
It depends upon the school.
Albany says:
How many recommendations are required? Our requirements would be filled by either submitting: 1. a premedical advisory committee letter OR 2. a letter packet from your college letter service OR 3. between 2 to 4 letters of recommendation.
The Admissions Committee prefers letters from a faculty member who speaks to your personal attributes and scholastic abilities. If you are not sending a letter from a faculty member, you may provide a letter from a supervisor from either a paid or volunteer research or clinical experience. The maximum number of letters is four (4).
BUT, NYMC says:
Pre-medical Advisory Committee Letter Instructions
o A single letter of evaluation from the committee is preferred and will fulfill all undergraduate letters of evaluation requirements. o A committee letter does not require the names of individual letter writers but it must be signed by at least one of its members.
Individual Letter Instructions
o If your college does not have a premedical committee, a total of three (3) letters of evaluation from undergraduate faculty are required. The names of the individual letters writers must be listed on your AMCAS application.
o Two (2) letters must be from science faculty who either taught you in a class or supervised independent research for which you received credit toward your science GPA. Acceptable science courses for purposes of letters of evaluation include: biology, chemistry, physics, bio-medical engineering, or bio-engineering, etc. (Math is not considered a science course for purposes of letters of evaluation.)
o The third required letter of evaluation must be from a non-science course. o One (1) of your three letters of evaluation must be from the department in which you majored as identified on your AMCAS application - whether science or non-science.
Most med schools
require LORs from faculty who have taught you.
