Questions about LORs

[99Bullitt]

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I have a few questions about getting LORs that I'm hoping someone could answer for me. First, I was not premed during undergrad and graduated with a bachelors degree in bioengineering. I wasn't particularly close with any of my science profs at that school so I'm hesitant about asking for a LOR from any of them. Will it look bad to potential schools if I don't have a LOR from a professor at the university at which I received my degree? I'm currently retaking a couple classes in addition to a few more than I haven't taken at a CC and I'm sure I can get one of those profs to write me one. They are actually better professors than most of the ones I had at the larger university and I am close with them.

Another question: what is the general process for getting LORs? I'm a bit confused on this. Do I only need to request them after I receive a secondary app from a school? Or should I request them now? If I should request them now, do I have the author send them to the third party or to me? I'm hoping someone can just give me the run down of how this works because I never had a premed advisor or anything like that and am very curious.

Thanks!

 

[NeuroLAX]

Get your letters now. It can turn into a huge problem if you wait until you receive/submit secondaries because some letter writers take a while to write the letter.

A third party letter service is what you need, such as Interfolio. This allows you to organize your letters and compile them together when sending them to schools. The LOR process for DO schools is different than MD schools because AACOMAS does not send letters to schools for you. You have to do the work, but Interfolio makes it easier. Although most schools accept Interfolio, not all accept it. Schools like MSU require the letter writer to fill out their own LOR form and send it to the school themselves, not you.

I recommend you take a hard look at the CIB booklet from AACOM. Do a google search for CIB and you will quickly find the PDF file. It tells you everything you need to know about applying.

 

[99Bullitt]

Much appreciated.

 

[99Bullitt]

Any opinion on the first subject?? I am considering asking my senior design professor for a LOR but I'm worried she will not write a letter that is 100% positive. I got along with her and did well in her class but was never very close to her...Any suggestions?

 

[ShabNasty]

Any opinion on the first subject?? I am considering asking my senior design professor for a LOR but I'm worried she will not write a letter that is 100% positive. I got along with her and did well in her class but was never very close to her...Any suggestions?

I wasn't particularly close with any of my professors either. I asked 2 who I thought would be willing to write a really good letter based on if they were nice, approachable, and I did well in their class. I just sent them an email giving them a little info about my plans, asked if they would be willing to write a STRONG lor, and attached my CV. Both said yes and wrote one with no problems. I wasn't able to see the letters so I have no idea if they are good or bad, but I am guessing they were good seeing how I have an acceptance and multiple interview invites. Just stress to them that it needs to be a strong LOR.

If they agree to write the letter, a small gift card certainly won't hurt! quid pro quo.

 

[dudeliness]

I wasn't particularly close with any of my professors either. I asked 2 who I thought would be willing to write a really good letter based on if they were nice, approachable, and I did well in their class. I just sent them an email giving them a little info about my plans, asked if they would be willing to write a STRONG lor, and attached my CV. Both said yes and wrote one with no problems. I wasn't able to see the letters so I have no idea if they are good or bad, but I am guessing they were good seeing how I have an acceptance and multiple interview invites. Just stress to them that it needs to be a strong LOR.

If they agree to write the letter, a small gift card certainly won't hurt! quid pro quo.

I concur

Plus, remember to ask for a strong letter of recommendation. Don't be afraid to say it, they should be pretty honest as to whether or not they can do that for you. Some of my profs wanted to do a quick little Q&A/interview session to ask me some questions before writing. You could also suggest that to them. Can be helpful.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app

 

[NeuroLAX]

I concur

Plus, remember to ask for a strong letter of recommendation. Don't be afraid to say it, they should be pretty honest as to whether or not they can do that for you. Some of my profs wanted to do a quick little Q&A/interview session to ask me some questions before writing. You could also suggest that to them. Can be helpful.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app

This goes without question- great way to get a better LOR. 👍

 

[dudeliness]

This goes without question- great way to get a better LOR. 👍

I got one right! 😀
Hey how'd your test go? Hopefully well.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[NeuroLAX]

I got one right! 😀
Hey how'd your test go? Hopefully well.


Sent from my iPhone

It went pretty well. Had 16 minutes to do full HPI, vitals, and skin exam. Forgot a few of the questions, but we had to have missed a bunch to fail, which I didn't even come close to doing. I probably missed an A by a point. There will be plenty of others.

 

[cliquesh]

It went pretty well. Had 16 minutes to do full HPI, vitals, and skin exam. Forgot a few of the questions, but we had to have missed a bunch to fail, which I didn't even come close to doing. I probably missed an A by a point. There will be plenty of others.

You probably did better than you think. You'd probably do better than me and I'm a fourth year student. I haven't talked to a patient in 5 months😱