Recommendation letters questions

[EndlessEntropy]

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Few questions-

What is the minimum number of recommendation letters an applicant to an M.D school typically needs?

Does it just take one stellar recommendation letter to really boost your application or does the majority or all of them need to be? I know I can count on one at least really good rec from a professor I've been doing research with since the fall semester my first year (and will continue until i graduate) but I'm not so sure about the others when I get to that point.

Are most or all recommendation letters from professors you had a class with or did research? Or can you send one from say a volunteer coordinator at a hospital or a doctor you shadowed?

thank you

 

[qavaler]

2 letters from your college instructor and 1 letter from physician that you shadow. I think this is the standard. You can look it up on MSAR because it varies from school to school.

At my institution, I submitted those 3 letters to my pre-medical advising committee, and they generated one additional "committee letter" for me. That is total of a 4 letter.

The main goal is to NOT HAVE A BAD LETTER.

 

[TheBossDoctor]

1 letter from physician that you shadow. I think this is the standard.

Not true. Most people don't submit a LOR from a physician, and it's hard to get a good letter from a physician who you've only shadowed for a couple days. Several ADCOMs have said that those letters are worthless (seriously...what else do they write about other than how you dressed up nice and showed up on time).

IMO, this is standard:

2 from science profs
1 from non-science prof
1 from research supervisor if you did research
Any letters from supervisors for any of your activities if you worked very closely with them (volunteer coordinator, employer, club advisor, etc)

 

[ashtonjam]

Not true. Most people don't submit a LOR from a physician, and it's hard to get a good letter from a physician who you've only shadowed for a couple days. Several ADCOMs have said that those letters are worthless (seriously...what else do they write about other than how you dressed up nice and showed up on time).

IMO, this is standard:

2 from science profs
1 from non-science prof
1 from research supervisor if you did research
Any letters from supervisors for any of your activities if you worked very closely with them (volunteer coordinator, employer, club advisor, etc)

If you do research for your science professor, does that count for two types of letters or should you find another professor to write one?

 

[qavaler]

You should plan accordingly to shadow the doctor long enough, so he gets to know you better. That is one of the main reasons why you are there.

The list that I posted 2+1 is from my pre-medical advisor at my University.

 

[freakingoutabit]

I've seen a few schools that want 5: two from science faculty, 1 from non-science faculty, and 2 from doctors you've shadowed or research/volunteer supervisors.

When the time comes, make sure to ask people WAY in advance. It's amazing how long people take to write a letter.

 

[TheBossDoctor]

If you do research for your science professor, does that count for two types of letters or should you find another professor to write one?

It should be fine if you double dip there (use him for both). Just make sure s/he addresses both aspects (your performance/character in class and your performance/character in lab) in the letter. A letter from a research supervisor usually isn't required, but it's kind of just expected by schools if you did some sort of research (not sending one will raise red flags about your lab performance). Again, it's fine if you just have your prof talk about both the research AND the class part in the letter.

You should plan accordingly to shadow the doctor long enough, so he gets to know you better. That is one of the main reasons why you are there.

The doctor LOR is easier said than done. It can be hard to talk to doctors a lot if you're shadowing in clinic, so your only hope is getting to know them while shadowing in the OR (and that too, I'd say the same doctor for at least 40 hours). Even if you do that, it's just difficult to get a meaningful letter from a doctor since they can't write about your performance/true character (all you're doing is observing) like your professors/PI/boss/volunteer supervisor can.

One ADCOM (LizzyM) said this herself:

"Don't bother unless a school specifically states you must have a letter from a physician. Most of the letters written by physicians are just a reiteration of your CV (worthless and perhaps total B.S. depending on what you've told the physician) or just a report that you are prompt, well-groomed, appropriately curious, a quick learner, and respectful toward the staff."

I think Medical College of Georgia and Mercer are the only schools that really require a LOR from a physician (technically, it's not even required...just "strongly recommended").

 

[Tappinfool66]

I have a question. I just got a job as a scribe and I'll work for about 9 or 10 months before applying next June. Since I'll be working with physicians for so long, would asking one for a LOR be okay? Or would a physician LOR still be useless even in this case?

 

[TheBossDoctor]

I have a question. I just got a job as a scribe and I'll work for about 9 or 10 months before applying next June. Since I'll be working with physicians for so long, would asking one for a LOR be okay? Or would a physician LOR still be useless even in this case?

It might be OK in that case if they see your performance and work behavior. And if they make you switch off between working with different physicians, make sure that you've at least spent enough time working with one physician before asking for a letter.