Regarding LORs

[Brain Whisperer]

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Basically, right now I have 1 science (physics) prof who will likely write a LOR and another non-science prof from a while back who could also write a LOR. However, some places require 2 LOR from science profs, and the PI under which I'm currently volunteering pretty much never sees me since I'm helping her grad student.

Should I just hope that she'll be fine signing off a letter written by the grad student (with whom I have a pretty good relationship with) or should I take some science course in the summer to get to know a prof to get him/her to write me a LOR?

I'm applying this summer and right now I only have my physics class because I took the semester off to redo the MCAT.

Appreciate any replies

 

[Doctor-S]

Short response:

It sounds as if you've been volunteering in the PI's lab for a meaningful amount of time (and not simply occupying a random seat in an undergraduate class).

Have you asked the PI if she would be willing to prepare/sign a strong LOR for you, based on direct input from the graduate student, etc.

In other words, your goal is to obtain a LOR from someone who knows you well and who can articulate your merits/potential/skills as an aspiring medical student.

 

[3toedsloth]

A number of schools need two science professors who have taught you, and specifically state that a PI or research supervisor does not count. That really is more of an extracurricular letter, rather than an academic letter.

Take a science class, get a letter from the prof. Also get a letter from the PI as an extracurricular letter.

 

[Brain Whisperer]

A number of schools need two science professors who have taught you, and specifically state that a PI or research supervisor does not count. That really is more of an extracurricular letter, rather than an academic letter.

Take a science class, get a letter from the prof. Also get a letter from the PI as an extracurricular letter.

The PI was my prof though, that's why I'm hoping she writes one. Since my summer classes go from may to end of july, would a LOR at the end of july be too late if I'm planning on doing my primaries right when it opens?

Short response:

It sounds as if you've been volunteering in the PI's lab for a meaningful amount of time (and not simply occupying a random seat in an undergraduate class).

Have you asked the PI if she would be willing to prepare/sign a strong LOR for you, based on direct input from the graduate student, etc.

In other words, your goal is to obtain a LOR from someone who knows you well and who can articulate your merits/potential/skills as an aspiring medical student.

I've only been in it for just over 2 months at this point. I'm also in the process of trying to convince her to bump me 0.2% so I don't want to ask for a LOR right after so quickly until I do more research. It's more of a backup since I'm not sure why she would say no to signing off a note that she didn't even write.

 

[Cookiess]

The PI was my prof though, that's why I'm hoping she writes one. Since my summer classes go from may to end of july, would a LOR at the end of july be too late if I'm planning on doing my primaries right when it opens?

I've only been in it for just over 2 months at this point. I'm also in the process of trying to convince her to bump me 0.2% so I don't want to ask for a LOR right after so quickly until I do more research. It's more of a backup since I'm not sure why she would say no to signing off a note that she didn't even write.

As another post mentioned, some medical schools require two science LOR from professors that taught you in science classes so the LOR from your PI wouldn't count as a science LOR until you take a class from your PI.

It's ok to ask for your PI to co-sign a letter that your grad student writes since the grad student knows you better.

Submitting a LOR in July would be fine. Most med schools won't need your LORs until after you submit your secondary applications, which would likely be early July at the earliest (if your primary AMCAS application was verified with the initial batch of applications).

 

[3toedsloth]

The PI was my prof though, that's why I'm hoping she writes one.

If you took a class with this person and also did an extracurricular with them, yes, it would be a great person to have write the letter with some input from the grad student.