Science LOR Strength

[pinay58]

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I'm an MLS and my strongest science letter will be coming from my clinical chemistry and microbiology instructor who was also an MLS. Although she is not a PHD or MD, she knows me the best. I do (hopefully) have letters from professors with PhDs, but my MLS instructor will most likely be my strongest and I already know she will write me a letter. Is this ok? Will adcoms look down upon this because she is not a doctor?

 

[radian313]

I'm an MLS and my strongest science letter will be coming from my clinical chemistry and microbiology instructor who was also an MLS. Although she is not a PHD or MD, she knows me the best. I do (hopefully) have letters from professors with PhDs, but my MLS instructor will most likely be my strongest and I already know she will write me a letter. Is this ok? Will adcoms look down upon this because she is not a doctor?

I know this for a fact that ad coms do want/prefer letters from a PhD or medical doctor. Every school has different requirements (2 science professor and 1 medical doctor) but rest assured this letter will not count towards this requirement. At best it will supplement your application but it wount move mountains simply because this person is not a professor or medical doctor.

Thats why I didng bother with this part and ensured I had all PhDs and medical doctors.

 

[pinay58]

Is this the case with DO adcoms or just MD adcoms? because my MLS classes count towards the science GPA for AACOMAS

 

[radian313]

Is this the case with DO adcoms or just MD adcoms? because my MLS classes count towards the science GPA for AACOMAS

Its the case for any health professions program, for a class to count into a science gpa doesn't equate to relevancy of weight for a LOR.

Dont get me wrong, I am not saying dont send it but as per the generic LOR requirement for having "professors", it means a Medical Doctor or a PhD.

 

[darkeon]

Though AACOMAS accepts classes from health occupations as Science courses, individual schools may specify that they either want science letters from Bio Chem (orgo,bio), and physics prof or pre-req professors. Look at the schools you are applying to and see what they want.

 

[pinay58]

Its the case for any health professions program, for a class to count into a science gpa doesn't equate to relevancy of weight for a LOR.

Dont get me wrong, I am not saying dont send it but as per the generic LOR requirement for having "professors", it means a Medical Doctor or a PhD.

Well I do have a letter coming from my clinical biochemistry/chemistry professor who is a PhD. will this be more helpful?

 

[radian313]

Well I do have a letter coming from my clinical biochemistry/chemistry professor who is a PhD. will this be more helpful?

Helpful? I dont know since you and I dont know the exact contents? Will it be more valuable because its from a PhD? Yes.

 

[DrMikeP]

Most schools want a committee or 2 sci professor letters and 1 Dr MD/DO letter, they will accept others but the professors are expected to be doctors. So get 2! Some schools want a non sci prof letter, so just be ready.

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[pinay58]

Most schools want a committee or 2 sci professor letters and 1 Dr MD/DO letter, they will accept others but the professors are expected to be doctors. So get 2! Some schools want a non sci prof letter, so just be ready.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Will a letter from a PhD I worked with during my research rotation count towards the science letter?

 

[DrMikeP]

Will a letter from a PhD I worked with during my research rotation count towards the science letter?

Depends on the med school. Some say from required sci class faculty/professors and some just say 2 science professors. Some want a nonscience professor letter as well. Some just was a committee letter IF available instead.

The best idea is look at each school you are interested in and see what they specifically want, then give that to them. It's OK to have more, just not less. All letters go to all schools and they realize that diff schools ask for different things.

Just make sure to ask writer that the letters are on letterhead and have an original signature. That caused a delay in some of my apps as one electronic signed and the other prof didn't use univ letterhead. Some schools just don't care but a few do. Those that cared emailed me and I had fixed letters sent directly to the school.

Good Luck

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