question about letter of recs

[bbaek]

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is it ok to have two science letters of rec from the same research lab? one would be from the PI and one would be from the lead researchers right under him. would it make sense to have two letters from two ppl from the same lab even if the stuff that they make talk about is similar? 😕

 

[premedgeek]

I would personally get a letter from just one of them. I would get one from person who knows you the most.

 

[VFrank]

I would personally get a letter from just one of them. I would get one from person who knows you the most.

Agreed

 

[nina512]

I know of a friend who did this because she didn't have anyone else to ask a letter from.

However, I'd try to get an additional letter from someone outside your lab...

 

[virilep]

I think it would make sense. The whole point of it is to get the LORs that make you stand out as a person. if they both can talk about your true character and not just about what you've done (anyone can reach your accomplishments, but not your character). I think it would be ok!

 

[bbaek]

i understand the reasoning to be safe and also have someone from outside the lab for a letter of rec.

so i will go on and do that, but if the two ppl i want letters of rec who both know me well, or will get to know me well 😉, i should be ok if they have good things to say, even if it may seem to overlap a bit content wise (regarding research) but different quality wise (different, unique perception of me)

 

[bbaek]

would a letter from a bio counselor count as a science letter of rec or a extra-curricular letter of rec?

 

[bbaek]

bump

 

[bbaek]

bumpity bump

 

[UCLAstudent]

would a letter from a bio counselor count as a science letter of rec or a extra-curricular letter of rec?

For science letters, most schools specifically want letters from professors of classes that you were enrolled in. I kind of doubt that a bio counselor letter would count for this purpose. To play it safe, get two letters from science professors that you've had, and use the letter from your PI as an "extra" letter (icing on the cake) because some schools are really strict regarding letter requirements.

 

[bbaek]

For science letters, most schools specifically want letters from professors of classes that you were enrolled in. I kind of doubt that a bio counselor letter would count for this purpose. To play it safe, get two letters from science professors that you've had, and use the letter from your PI as an "extra" letter (icing on the cake) because some schools are really strict regarding letter requirements.

is it me or am i just finding it difficult to "get to know" my bio professors who teach 400-500 students per lecture class 🙄

 

[cammy1313]

is it me or am i just finding it difficult to "get to know" my bio professors who teach 400-500 students per lecture class 🙄

I hear ya, I had the same thoughts while I was in undergrad. I actually had to get a letter from a humanities prof that I'd never spoken too before. I got an A in his class and that was about all he could say about me. But some schools require two science and one non-science letter so didn't have much of a choice there. At any rate, the two science prof's I was able to get to know were when I was taking labs. Since they giganto courses get broken down into smaller groups of 20 or 30 when you're in lab, the profs become more accessible and actually watch you during your experiments and things. I made it a point then to try to strike up conversations with them and by the time the quarter was over they would have something substantial to convey about me.

 

[UCLAstudent]

is it me or am i just finding it difficult to "get to know" my bio professors who teach 400-500 students per lecture class 🙄

Yeah, I had the same trouble. My advice: sit in the front. Attend office hours (even if you aren't having trouble with the material ... just so that your professors remember your face). You don't have to know your professors extremely well to get a letter, but if they can recognize you and remember you as a student who was excited about the material, it will make for a more personal letter. Also, upper-division biology classes will have fewer people (100 to 200) than the lower-division pre-med "weeder" courses, so take advantage of the smaller setting. It's best if your letters come from professors whose classes you did well in, so that they can comment on how well you did relative to other students. Hope this helps!

 

[bbaek]

yea, it did. hopefully i'll find some great professors for upper-div. the lower div professors at irvine i did not find very inspiring. 🙁