Question on LOR Requirement

[metalgearHMN]

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So based on searching, I've realized that you should try and have 2 Science LORs and 1 non-Science LOR. The two science LORs will come from two of my professors, but I had a question about non-science LORs. Does that mean from a class that wasn't scienced based or can it be from an EC? What if it's from a research job? I guess what I'm trying to check is if I can get a LOR from some Dr. I do research for and count that as "non-science" since it isn't from a class per se. Or does it have to be from my english prof or some karate instructor (i'm not in karate but you get what i mean)

 

[Dendrite]

So based on searching, I've realized that you should try and have 2 Science LORs and 1 non-Science LOR. The two science LORs will come from two of my professors, but I had a question about non-science LORs. Does that mean from a class that wasn't scienced based or can it be from an EC? What if it's from a research job? I guess what I'm trying to check is if I can get a LOR from some Dr. I do research for and count that as "non-science" since it isn't from a class per se. Or does it have to be from my english prof or some karate instructor (i'm not in karate but you get what i mean)

The most common type of non-science LOR you are referring to here is from a professor with whom you have taken a non-science course. The letters from the Dr. "X" you do research for, a representative from an EC, etc. would count as a character letter.

 

[decafplease]

The most common type of non-science LOR you are referring to here is from a professor with whom you have taken a non-science course. The letters from the Dr. "X" you do research for, a representative from an EC, etc. would count as a character letter.

I think most of us know that it's the "most common type," but can you omit the non-science professor letter if you have enough other letters? I have a list of schools and their LOR requirements, and it looks like they only real requirements for MOST schools is 2 science LOR, with a 3 letter minimum. I'm personally going to omit the non-science prof LOR in favor of 3 other strong LOR's (research, clinical, international medicine) to stay within the 5 letter max of some schools. If they request an additional letter, I can speak to a humanities prof I know and add it in.

 

[Dendrite]

I think most of us know that it's the "most common type," but can you omit the non-science professor letter if you have enough other letters? I have a list of schools and their LOR requirements, and it looks like they only real requirements for MOST schools is 2 science LOR, with a 3 letter minimum. I'm personally going to omit the non-science prof LOR in favor of 3 other strong LOR's (research, clinical, international medicine) to stay within the 5 letter max of some schools. If they request an additional letter, I can speak to a humanities prof I know and add it in.

I think the key is to get letters from professors you know can write you a strong letter. If it were up to me, I would do the following. Sign up for an Interfolio account, and get two science LOR's (from two different professors with whom you have taken undergrad. courses), one from a non-science LOR (from a professor in a non-science undergrad course), and two character letters from people like an MD, research PI, previous employer (anyone like that). Find out the schools specific requirements for LOR's, and if they require two science + one non-science letter, you'll be covered. If they only require two science letters, then you can elect to only send the others aside from the non-science LOR.

This way, you will have all of your bases covered. I hope it makes sense; if not, I can clarify.

Of course, if your school as a pre-med committee, then things work a bit differently, and they may have specific requirements of their own before they can write you a committee letter.

 

[copingmethods]

I think most of us know that it's the "most common type," but can you omit the non-science professor letter if you have enough other letters? I have a list of schools and their LOR requirements, and it looks like they only real requirements for MOST schools is 2 science LOR, with a 3 letter minimum. I'm personally going to omit the non-science prof LOR in favor of 3 other strong LOR's (research, clinical, international medicine) to stay within the 5 letter max of some schools. If they request an additional letter, I can speak to a humanities prof I know and add it in.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand, a lot of schools require a letter from a professor who is not in the sciences.

It would probably be a good idea to find out which schools these are before you're at the point in your application where they would have to request an additional letter, especially if you have to ask another professor to write one.

 

[Mandek]

Someone else asked this question in another thread. Would LOR from a calculus professor be considered a "non-science" LOR? Thanks.

 

[Vihsadas]

Someone else asked this question in another thread. Would LOR from a calculus professor be considered a "non-science" LOR? Thanks.

No. Faculty of Arts professors would be.

Math, Physics, Engineering, Comp Sci and Science are all considered 'science LORs' (usually anyway).

And to the OP, you should actually be aiming to have FIVE LORs if you want to be safe:

3 Science LORs from profs you have had graded classes with, 1 Science LOR from a PI or supervisor, and 1 non-science LOR.

 

[Mandek]

No. Faculty of Arts professors would be.

Math, Physics, Engineering, Comp Sci and Science are all considered 'science LORs' (usually anyway).

And to the OP, you should actually be aiming to have FIVE LORs if you want to be safe:

3 Science LORs from profs you have had graded classes with, 1 Science LOR from a PI or supervisor, and 1 non-science LOR.

How about LOR from a Spanish professor? 🙂

 

[Vihsadas]

How about LOR from a Spanish professor? 🙂

Yup. That would definitely work.

 

[Mandek]

Yup. That would definitely work.

Do you think it is a bad idea to ask a Spanish professor if she is not fluent in english? I want to ask her because I know she would defnitely write me a strong LOR.

 

[Bacchus]

Do you think it is a bad idea to ask a Spanish professor if she is not fluent in english? I want to ask her because I know she would defnitely write me a strong LOR.

No. Los profesores entienden el importance (the word escapes me). They will have a colleague read the letter if they are concerned about grammar.

 

[Mandek]

No. Los profesores entienden el importance (the word escapes me). They will have a colleague read the letter if they are concerned about grammar.

👍

 

[decafplease]

This attachment was what I was going off of.

And to Dendrite, I have a pre-med letter service at my school, but I'm not allowed to pick and choose which letters go and which don't. Since I believe that any of the three non-science letters I'll be getting (clinical, research, international medicine) will be stronger than a letter from an English prof or the like (all three above experiences are long-term with personal experience with LOR writer), I'm going to skip the non-science faculty LOR. Most of the schools I'll be applying to don't require a non-science faculty LOR.

 

[metalgearHMN]

No. Faculty of Arts professors would be.

Math, Physics, Engineering, Comp Sci and Science are all considered 'science LORs' (usually anyway).

And to the OP, you should actually be aiming to have FIVE LORs if you want to be safe:

3 Science LORs from profs you have had graded classes with, 1 Science LOR from a PI or supervisor, and 1 non-science LOR.

Word? Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Mandek]

This attachment was what I was going off of.

And to Dendrite, I have a pre-med letter service at my school, but I'm not allowed to pick and choose which letters go and which don't. Since I believe that any of the three non-science letters I'll be getting (clinical, research, international medicine) will be stronger than a letter from an English prof or the like (all three above experiences are long-term with personal experience with LOR writer), I'm going to skip the non-science faculty LOR. Most of the schools I'll be applying to don't require a non-science faculty LOR.

Next to Jefferson Medical College, it says "Letters submitted must be from both science and non-science faculty". It does not specify how many we need to submit. Does this mean we can submit one science and one non-science LOR?

 

[Mandek]

Next to Jefferson Medical College, it says "Letters submitted must be from both science and non-science faculty". It does not specify how many we need to submit. Does this mean we can submit one science and one non-science LOR?

bump...

 

[Mandek]

Any Jefferson applicants know this?