Recommendations from math professors: science or non-science?

[schrodingershat]

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Hi everyone,

I was a math major and as such have 2 strong LORs from math faculty. However, one of the schools I'm applying to has specifically requested a letter from biology, chemistry, or physics faculty. I contacted an old organic professor of mine, who is more than willing to write me a letter. However, he/she expressed concern that since I hadn't really communicated with him/her on a formal basis since I took the class two years ago (i.e. more than just saying hello, etc.), it might not help my application that much.

So I was just planning on submitting that letter to the one school the requested it. But that got me thinking, should I submit it to the rest of my schools as well? Or are the two math letters (and strong letters from other non-science faculty I know) good enough?

 

[childofmercy]

You should ask those schools to be sure but math courses are included as BCPM/science courses so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Lawpy]

You should ask those schools to be sure but math courses are included as BCPM/science courses so it shouldn't be a problem.

Correct but i wanted to caution that DO schools don't consider math to be science. So a math letter will be counted as science only by MD schools due to AAMC course classification. This may address OP's concern

 

[Catalystik]

Every school I applied to accepted math letters. I actually didn't have any non-math science letters. I figured if math counts toward your sGPA, then it should be considered a science for LOR purposes. Granted, this was 4 years ago, but I doubt much has changed. Of course, it doesn't hurt to check with schools as you are finalizing your school list.

 

[Lawpy]

What AMCAS calls BCPM is not defined as science. It would be up to each medical school and members of adcom but generally it should be actual science. I would considered engineering closer to science than math. More important to any of that is how well the professors know you, strength of letter and if you had a class with them. That last point is most important

Math is as much of science as engineering (it's literally the language of science), though it's a good point why engineering isn't considered BCPM.

 

[Lawpy]

I am not judging whether math is or isnt science; I am giving the perception or culture of an adcom of what they consider science. Some schools may have a more conservative/strict interpretation of what science is and, more importantly, what will fulfill the science faculty requirement of an LOR.

As to why BCPM has in essence become "science" via AMCAS is directly related to the Flexnor report of 1910 which emphasis at least 2 years of basic science and math before medical school. Hence why Calculus still holds on as a requirement by some schools

I realize that and my comment serves to dismiss the traditional aspect of science. Alas, i can't do anything about it but it's a bit upsetting to say the least.

Hm, that's interesting but i hope it gets updated soon.