Recommendation Letters

[Nachatta]

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Hey everyone, had a question about rec letters as I start scraping mine together for next cycle. I should have 3 strong sciences (2 chemistry, 1 from research professor) but I know my dentist/non-sci will most likely be so-so. So, 4 questions!

If a school does not mention a dentist/non-sci LoR, is it okay if I do the bare minimum and just submit my strong letters?

If schools say dentist/researcher/mentor etc. and I opt for my researcher over a dentist, will that be unfavorable?

I've also been trying to dig things up about interfolio but haven't found much. Should I just have my professors submit to interfolio, in which I'll then submit to AADSAS or mail accordingly based on recommendations?

I'm also trying to compile a nice info packet for my professors as to steps. Correct this if it's wrong, but I believe they should have the university/dental office official letterhead, as well as a signature. Is there anything else that I should note?

 

[Cavity_Search]

Many schools do want a letter from a dentist. Their word does weigh a lot since you are applying to dental school. But go by the requirements. If a school doesn't specifically require a letter from a certain person (certain major professor, dentist, etc) then it shouldn't hurt if you submit your three strong letters. Always read the application guidelines for each school very carefully.

 

[IdleKoala]

Personally, even though some schools don't explicitly say that they require a letter from a dentist, I would still send one. Since the end goal of dental school is to become a dentist, I think a LOR from a dentist holds weight. I could be wrong though, I am sure there are plenty of people who get accepted without a LOR from a dentist.

Yeah I haven't used Interfolio, but I am pretty sure that's how it works. You could even ask the professors to hold on to the letters until you need them submitted, but if they are really busy that might not be a good idea.

Yes every letter has to be on an official letterhead and signed. The professors will probably use the university letterhead, the dentist may use her/his personal letterhead or the office letterhead if they have one, shouldn't really matter. Good job on figuring this stuff out now, it will save you a lot time when applying if you already have your LORs completed.

 

[Cthuluhoop]

I didn't use Interfolio, but I would for sure use it in your case. I would not risk storing the letter with the professor/dentist, and not being able to get into contact with them when you need to. You do have to pay for Interfolio though, but I think they have pretty clear instructions on how to use their services.

I was also in the predicament of not sure if I should submit a dentist letter of rec. I know for a fact my dentist letter was so/so. He's an older guy and a dentist, not a wordsmith, but I submitted it anyway because a dentist recommending you to the profession, even if it isn't a great moving letter, is still a dentist saying you should be a dentist. I don't think it hurt my application, not sure it was super helpful but I still got accepted

 

[Nachatta]

Personally, even though some schools don't explicitly say that they require a letter from a dentist, I would still send one. Since the end goal of dental school is to become a dentist, I think a LOR from a dentist holds weight. I could be wrong though, I am sure there are plenty of people who get accepted without a LOR from a dentist

Just to be sure, are you suggesting sending an additional letter on top of the requirements? Say Penn requires a "minimum of 2 letters from faculty," then in that case I should submit another dentist letter on top of that?

 

[artist2022]

On the application, all the letters you upload will be sent to all the schools you apply to. So your 3 faculty + 1 dentist letters will be sent to all your schools, regardless of if they want a dentist letter or not. Are you planning to only upload the 3 faculty letters to AADSAS and the 1 dentist letter to Interfolio, so that every school you apply to gets the 3 faculty letters, but only the schools you want to have a dentist LOR will get that dentist's letter? You could do this but I think it would be too much of a hassle + waste of money sending that individual dentist letter to the schools who need it. Plus the schools that need that dentist's letter may wonder why you didn't just upload the fourth letter to AADSAS when there was a spot for it (cause they'd be receiving it individually).

I think you should just upload all 4 to AADSAS to save time & money, and if a school doesn't require a dentist's letter, they may not look at it anyways. I agree with Cavity Search & Cthuluhoop with a letter is a letter, and it makes sense to have one from a dentist when you're applying to dental school, even if it may not be as strong as you hope.

 

[Nachatta]

On the application, all the letters you upload will be sent to all the schools you apply to. So your 3 faculty + 1 dentist letters will be sent to all your schools, regardless of if they want a dentist letter or not. Are you planning to only upload the 3 faculty letters to AADSAS and the 1 dentist letter to Interfolio, so that every school you apply to gets the 3 faculty letters, but only the schools you want to have a dentist LOR will get that dentist's letter? You could do this but I think it would be too much of a hassle + waste of money sending that individual dentist letter to the schools who need it. Plus the schools that need that dentist's letter may wonder why you didn't just upload the fourth letter to AADSAS when there was a spot for it (cause they'd be receiving it individually).

I think you should just upload all 4 to AADSAS to save time & money, and if a school doesn't require a dentist's letter, they may not look at it anyways. I agree with Cavity Search & Cthuluhoop with a letter is a letter, and it makes sense to have one from a dentist when you're applying to dental school, even if it may not be as strong as you hope.

I didn't realize that! Thanks for the info, mind if I pm you with a few more questions so I don't keep reviving the thread?

 

[artist2022]

I didn't realize that! Thanks for the info, mind if I pm you with a few more questions so I don't keep reviving the thread?

Sure go for it! 🙂