Question about Providing Info to LOR Writer

[chickenlittle84]

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Hi! So I am getting a LOR from a doctor I did research with for one summer, and have kept in touch with over the last two years. He adores me and thinks I am wonderful, incredibly smart, etc, and is very open about his praise. He has said he cannot imagine me not getting into a top school (which is just not going to happen). BUT he has formed this impression based on getting to know me and hearing about my non-academic accomplishments, not based on my grades or MCAT scores...grades are on the low side with upward trend, MCAT is fine, but nothing to write home about. My "numbers" have never even come up in conversation, and I think he just assumes they are great.

When I give him information for the LOR (by tomorrow morning), do I need to give him my grades? I feel bad not providing them, like I'm hiding something, but at the same time, I don't want him to think less of me. I think very highly of him and his support of me means so much, and I don't want to lose that by showing him what he may see as a serious deficiency. 🙁

Anyone been in this situation? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[nyct]

Hi! So I am getting a LOR from a doctor I did research with for one summer, and have kept in touch with over the last two years. He adores me and thinks I am wonderful, incredibly smart, etc, and is very open about his praise. He has said he cannot imagine me not getting into a top school (which is just not going to happen). BUT he has formed this impression based on getting to know me and hearing about my non-academic accomplishments, not based on my grades or MCAT scores...grades are on the low side with upward trend, MCAT is fine, but nothing to write home about. My "numbers" have never even come up in conversation, and I think he just assumes they are great.

When I give him information for the LOR (by tomorrow morning), do I need to give him my grades? I feel bad not providing them, like I'm hiding something, but at the same time, I don't want him to think less of me. I think very highly of him and his support of me means so much, and I don't want to lose that by showing him what he may see as a serious deficiency. 🙁

Anyone been in this situation? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I've had a similar situation, and when asking the doctor for a LOR, I just gave him the instructions for interfolio, a copy of my personal statement, and a copy of my CV. I also told him that if he needed any more info, I'd be happy to give it to him. He seemed perfectly happy. His LOR probably won't focus around any academic aspects anyways since that isn't the area that he knows you in.

If you feel that he's expecting grades/scores, then I guess I would go ahead and just give them to him. I really doubt he would really pass much judgement. I don't think a few numbers on a piece of paper is all it'll take to change his mind about you.

 

[Jpc984]

Just make a personal statement geared towards him. Say things like... As you can see from my upward trend, I am academically prepared for medschool.

 

[chickenlittle84]

any other thoughts? i am stressing! thanks!

 

[boo-yeh]

I had a similar situation too. I felt like I needed to give him my numbers, so I did. We talked about it a little bit as he looked over them while I was there and, though he pointed out that they were a little low for med school, he went on to say that meant he just needed to make the letter even better. I think it worked out better in the long run since he seemed just as enthusiastic to write the letter and knew that there was something specific to address.

If your LOR writer really likes you that much he/she won't suddenly be turned off about writing a letter after finding out your grades. If anything, I would guess the writer will just compose a stronger one.

And if the writer does say something negative about your grades, you can always explain what you did here.

 

[Chargers]

I had a similar situation too. I felt like I needed to give him my numbers, so I did. We talked about it a little bit as he looked over them while I was there and, though he pointed out that they were a little low for med school, he went on to say that meant he just needed to make the letter even better. I think it worked out better in the long run since he seemed just as enthusiastic to write the letter and knew that there was something specific to address.

If your LOR writer really likes you that much he/she won't suddenly be turned off about writing a letter after finding out your grades. If anything, I would guess the writer will just compose a stronger one.

And if the writer does say something negative about your grades, you can always explain what you did here.

👍

 

[ImmunoNut]

Since he knows you outside of a classroom, is it really important that he know your grades in order to write your recommendation? You will have LORs from professors to explain your academic side. I really think it's ok to leave grades out of it in this case since his experience with you is not from within the classroom anyway. My grades are pretty good but I didn't submit them to my 2 letter writers who were not professors because I felt that that is not where their letters were coming from anyway.

Good luck!

 

[nick_carraway]

Since he knows you outside of a classroom, is it really important that he know your grades in order to write your recommendation? You will have LORs from professors to explain your academic side. I really think it's ok to leave grades out of it in this case since his experience with you is not from within the classroom anyway. My grades are pretty good but I didn't submit them to my 2 letter writers who were not professors because I felt that that is not where their letters were coming from anyway.

Good luck!

Wow wish this thread was up when I was debating giving my PI a transcript of my 3.26 GPA. I finally decided to give it to him because it hadn't occurred to me that he was writing about me outside of the classroom. I don't think it hurt though since he probably didn't even look at it.

 

[voirlesetoiles]

I don't see why you have to provide him your transcript, because he can only comment on the skills from your internship. All three of my non-academic recommenders did not request transcripts because the focus of their recommendations isn't to discuss my academic suitability.

But the doc I shadowed probably saw my transcript anyway because I uploaded it into my portfolio before he submitted my recommendation. Didn't mean to do that, oh well my stupidity is out there now. whoops. But I didn't feel obligated to show my grades to certain recommenders.

 

[chickenlittle84]

Thanks guys! This advice has been really helpful! I just gave him my resume w/activity descriptions from AMCAS and PS (since I talk about the work I did with him/what I learned). No grades, I guess if he really wants to know he will ask, though I am betting he will write it quickly, and at the last minute, when he won't give a thought to getting additional info. Thanks!