Required Recommendations

[Nyphool]

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From who do the medical school applications require recommendations from? ie Undergraduate professors, Teaching Assistants, Phd 's, research experience, volunteer experience. I am a non traditional student. I am currently working in the finance industry as a biotechnology analyst. Would my boss be a credible recommender? Its been forever since ive enrolled in science courses.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Two sci professors, one humanities professor, one medical EC person, some other EC's.

That'll cover all your bases, cept maybe for jefferson, since they recommend a bio, physics, and chem letter, whacky school.

 

[notsittinpretty]

Actually, I believe Jeff. only requires one from those subject areas if you are not using a composite/committee letter. Am i mistaken?

 

[runner1979]

I'm non-traditional and the advisor at my undergraduate university highly recommended to include a letter from my current employer. My suggestion (if not utilizing a commitee letter) would be to make a form email (briefly covering your background--been out of school for X years and blah blah blah) and email it to each school you are intending to apply and see what their response is. That way you will have covered all your bases.

 

[Amy B]

It is difficult for non-trads who have been out of school for awhile to get LORs. Adcoms usually recognize that and will accept LORs from your boss or a previous boss. However if you use a current boss, that means they will now know of your plans. I would suggest you call the schools that you are interested in and explain your situation to them and see what they would suggest.

For folks who have been out of school for awhile, it is good to sign up for a science course for two reasons: 1) It gives you the chance to show the adcoms that you can still handle classes in science and, 2) It gives you a recent source to obtain a LOR.

You can get LORs from undergrad and grad professors, places where you have volunteered, preferably from the director or manager, people that you have done research under, should be the lead person.

Do NOT get them from a TA. That isn't a good source.

Good luck.

 

[Amy B]

Our great webmaster Lee, has given us our own non-trad forum. It is located in the general discussion forums. come on over there.