Recommendation LETTERS and DMU Reqs

[irishlaydi]

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Hi all. Just a quick question:
DMU has strict requirements for letters of recommendation, and they say to not submit any extra letters than the 3 required. So, my question is about the Health Professional Letter. They say only submit one letter and am not sure which is better. I could have one from a D.O. or one from my volunteer supervisor. I would say DO letter, but here's the situation:
I met the DO in September and shadowed him for almost 40 hours, I spent 4 full days in the clinic with him. The volunteer letter would come from someone I have known since June, and I have about 60 hours so far on an inpatient peds unit and continue to volunteer there. So, the volunteering was more hands on, and entirely time with patients. While shadowing I of course saw patients all day, but I was observing, not very much interaction allowed, etc...
What do you all think? Any advice would be appreciated on which letter seems like the better choice?!
THANKS!!!

 

[Docgeorge]

Hi all. Just a quick question:
DMU has strict requirements for letters of recommendation, and they say to not submit any extra letters than the 3 required. So, my question is about the Health Professional Letter. They say only submit one letter and am not sure which is better. I could have one from a D.O. or one from my volunteer supervisor. I would say DO letter, but here's the situation:
I met the DO in September and shadowed him for almost 40 hours, I spent 4 full days in the clinic with him. The volunteer letter would come from someone I have known since June, and I have about 60 hours so far on an inpatient peds unit and continue to volunteer there. So, the volunteering was more hands on, and entirely time with patients. While shadowing I of course saw patients all day, but I was observing, not very much interaction allowed, etc...
What do you all think? Any advice would be appreciated on which letter seems like the better choice?!
THANKS!!!

When in doubt call the admissions office. They are very helpfull.

 

[newyorkcougar]

I agree...just call and ask. I personally bombarded them with like 6 letters, and I got accepted anyway. So don't worry about having to be too cautious.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I submitted 6 and got accepted... if you have 6 stellar ones, SUBMIT THEM! If you have 5 stellar and 1 not so good, submit the 5 🙂

 

[Docgeorge]

If I'm not mistaken you have to submit a signed waiver saying that you give up the right to review your letters. A letter of Rec which you have seen carries little weight. Have your premedical comittee pick your strongest letters. Trying to read 5 or 6 letters or rec before an interview is a pain in the butt. 3 unique letters that lets us have a view into your acedemic, social, and clinical activites is better then six letters which esentially say the same thing. Rember the interviewers only have about 45 min or so before your interview to read your file and the files of whome ever else they are interviewing. If you sumbit 6 letters the interviewers have less time to read them in depth, and really get an understanding of who you are and what items of interest they might want to learn a little more about.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

If I'm not mistaken you have to submit a signed waiver saying that you give up the right to review your letters. A letter of Rec which you have seen carries little weight. Have your premedical comittee pick your strongest letters. Trying to read 5 or 6 letters or rec before an interview is a pain in the butt. 3 unique letters that lets us have a view into your acedemic, social, and clinical activites is better then six letters which esentially say the same thing. Rember the interviewers only have about 45 min or so before your interview to read your file and the files of whome everyone else they are interviewing. If you sumbit 6 letters the interviers have less time to read them in depth, and really get an understanding of who you are and what items of interest they might want to learn a little more about.

The authors of my letters let me read their letters and there was no need to throw any out. However, if they don't let you read the letters they wrote, then have your premedical people at your school submit the 3 strongest as the above poster stated.

 

[irishlaydi]

I agree...just call and ask. I personally bombarded them with like 6 letters, and I got accepted anyway. So don't worry about having to be too cautious.

Hi guys, thanks for the input. I have not read any of my letters of recommendation and don't plan to. I would have them all sent to DMU, but I thought that wasn't acceptable as right on the Supplemental Application it says to not submit more than the requested number, and only the ones they require. I am assuming this is not a "rule" since some of you have submitted more? If that is the case then I will not worry about it. I wanted to get some answers over the weekend, I plan to call them monday. THANKS AGAIN!

 

[irishlaydi]

If I'm not mistaken you have to submit a signed waiver saying that you give up the right to review your letters. A letter of Rec which you have seen carries little weight. Have your premedical comittee pick your strongest letters. Trying to read 5 or 6 letters or rec before an interview is a pain in the butt. 3 unique letters that lets us have a view into your acedemic, social, and clinical activites is better then six letters which esentially say the same thing. Rember the interviewers only have about 45 min or so before your interview to read your file and the files of whome ever else they are interviewing. If you sumbit 6 letters the interviewers have less time to read them in depth, and really get an understanding of who you are and what items of interest they might want to learn a little more about.

Hi. I have been out of school for a while and am not working with my undergraduate school's premed committee. And I definately will not have read any of my letters of rec. So, I don't have anyone to pick the 3 strongest for me. However, I have a general idea just based on how long certain recommenders have known me, and the extent of my experience with them. are you saying that I do not necessarily have to have 1 letter from Healthcare Professional, and 2 letters from science faculty? (these are the specific requirements listed with the supplemental app.).
Thanks!!!
ps. how do you like DMU so far???
🙂

 

[Ypo.]

I remember DMU as saying they only accept two letters of recommendation. 😕
Go ahead and send the extra ones if you want to come off as annoying, but if medical schools specifically asked you to not send more than the required number, they discard any extra letters you send. 🙂

 

[irishlaydi]

I remember DMU as saying they only accept two letters of recommendation. 😕
Go ahead and send the extra ones if you want to come off as annoying, but if medical schools specifically asked you to not send more than the required number, they discard any extra letters you send. 🙂

Hi. That's what I thought! That it might seem irritating, and like I can't follow directions. (no offense to anyone who sent more). They accept 2 or 3, depending on whether you have 1 letter from Premed committee or are replacing that with 2 letters from hard science professors. I have been out of school for a while so I am going with 2 science faculty letters.
Thanks for your thoughts 😀

 

[Docgeorge]

Call.

 

[irishlaydi]

Call.

Will Do. Thanks to all for advice/info before monday 😀