Recommendation Requirements

[NStarz]

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Hi all. Doing some personal research and I thought I might as well share. If anyone would like to add schools (below are only the schools I will be applying to) or has differing information, please post and I'll edit.

Recommendation requirements vary for a lot of the schools. A list is below. (In other news, how do you please all of the schools?!?!?!)

Colorado: 1) vet, 2) college adviser, 3) employer
Notes: only look at 3; must match eLORs in VMCAS (designated which ones CO to view); all must be electronic; "committee letters cannot be accommodated in an electronic format"
Florida: 1) vet, 2) not specified, 3) not specified
Notes: 2 from veterinarians preferred
Illinois: 1) college professor or adviser, 2) vet, 3) vet, academician, or other
Notes: no more than 5, no less than 3; other is from someone who can "objectively evaluate your potential and motivation"
Kansas: 1) vet, 2) college adviser, 3) other
Louisiana: 1) vet, 2) not specified, 3) not specified
Notes: minimum of 3; more than one veterinarian if possible
Minnesota: 1) vet, 2) not specified, 3) not specified
Notes: minimum of 3, maximum of 6 (adcom will review all up to 6)
Missouri: 1) vet, 2) not specified, 3) not specified
Notes: minimum of 3, maximum of 5 through VMCAS
North Carolina: 1) vet or PhD scientist, 2) vet or PhD scientist, 3) not specified
Notes: minimum of 3 (VMCAS allows 5, but prefer only 3)
Ohio: 1) vet, 2) vet, 3) not specified
Penn: 1) science-related academic source, 2) vet, 3) not specified
Tufts: 1) pre-health committee (or other if not available), 2) faculty in major or one who has taught a required science course, 3) vet or research scientist
Washington: 1) vet, 2) academic, 3) other
Notes: 3, though no max specified; other(s) are from "individuals who can evaluate the oral and written communication skills as well as the scientific background of the applicant"
Wisconsin: 1-3) not specified
Notes: "Letters from veterinarians are very highly recommended, letters from employers, faculty, and academic staff are also beneficial"
Virginia-Maryland: 1-3) not specified

 

[breenie]

Correction on Missouri-- if you submit through VMCAS and their supplemental, they will look at all submitted letters (I had 5).

 

[StartingoverVet]

Tufts will allow a replacement for the pre-health committee rec if you cannot provide one.

 

[NStarz]

Thanks Breenie and SOV. SOV, I included the pre-health committee letter because my school offers that service (Tufts may have mentioned that they accept a different letter, but I had written it down because it was solely for my purposes at the time).

 

[drwildlife]

I guess it should be considered a good thing that so many only require three...but...that's going to be a tough decision for me - deciding which recommendations to actually send in

 

[turnbackhelly]

Thanks Breenie and SOV. SOV, I included the pre-health committee letter because my school offers that service (Tufts may have mentioned that they accept a different letter, but I had written it down because it was solely for my purposes at the time).

Alternatively, I did my pre-reqs at a school that had a pre-med committee but I chose not to interview with them for a letter because I had only been at the school for 1 year and honestly, none of them even knew me. I didn't think the letter would be an asset to my application (really, what would they be able to say beyond "She got a bunch of A's and she wasn't a complete idiot in her interview"), and I had many others options that would be. I was accepted to Tufts so I'm guessing my decision to forgo the committee letter wasn't a deal breaker for them. So at least for Tufts (can't speak for other schools directly), don't feel like you HAVE to submit a committee letter if you have the option to. I know in the med school world it "looks bad" if your school has a committee and you don't submit a committee letter, but in my experience vet schools don't seem to care as much.

 

[NStarz]

Alternatively, I did my pre-reqs at a school that had a pre-med committee but I chose not to interview with them for a letter because I had only been at the school for 1 year and honestly, none of them even knew me. I didn't think the letter would be an asset to my application (really, what would they be able to say beyond "She got a bunch of A's and she wasn't a complete idiot in her interview"), and I had many others options that would be. I was accepted to Tufts so I'm guessing my decision to forgo the committee letter wasn't a deal breaker for them. So at least for Tufts (can't speak for other schools directly), don't feel like you HAVE to submit a committee letter if you have the option to. I know in the med school world it "looks bad" if your school has a committee and you don't submit a committee letter, but in my experience vet schools don't seem to care as much.

Thanks, that was refreshing to hear, actually. I haven't had anyone on the committee in any of my classes (and I generally get to know my professors well) beyond my orgo II teacher with whom I didn't pass. I can't imagine how that would look on a letter! Ha!

That would certainly make my life a bit easier and less worrisome. I'll have to think about that, thanks turnbackhelly.