Science Recommendations

[TigerLilies]

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How many science letters of recommendations do you need?

Thanks!

 

[45408]

right now, the ones I've got are asking for two science profs. Some don't need any more, some ask for an additional letter from a source like a research PI, physician, advisor, etc.

 

[Overeducated]

yup, general rule is minimum of 2

 

[anystream]

It really varies with some schools. I was surpirsed that Jefferson wanted one each from a bio, physics, chemistry and humanities professor (unless you have a pre-med committee, which I do not). Unless you are prepared for schools like this, you can get caught in a bind. I had to track down my physics TA from freshman year to get him to write a letter that the prof will co-sign (probably won't be the strongest letter, but I have to go with it!)

 

[Brainsucker]

Unless you're really interested in one of the schools with a more stringent requirement, two science is fine. In nearly every case you encounter, you'll need two science. In addition, you'll usually, but not always, need a humanities/social science letter.

 

[Overeducated]

It really varies with some schools. I was surpirsed that Jefferson wanted one each from a bio, physics, chemistry and humanities professor (unless you have a pre-med committee, which I do not). Unless you are prepared for schools like this, you can get caught in a bind. I had to track down my physics TA from freshman year to get him to write a letter that the prof will co-sign (probably won't be the strongest letter, but I have to go with it!)

Quote directly from Jefferson's "Information for Prospective Students":

"We prefer to receive a recommendation from a preprofessional committee. If there is no such committee, letters should be provided by individual faculty members (one letter each from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Humanities, if possible)."

...so it's not an absolute rule. I have no intention of hunting down my physics professor who hardly knew me. Getting A's in the classes should be enough... I hope.

 

[Crete]

yup, general rule is minimum of 2

2 won't get you anywhere with the more competitive schools. Most people I met had 5 letters, which scared me into getting two more (too lazy to do it before)! Think about it, if everyone in the pool has 4 or more strong letters and you have 2, what will that mean about your interpersonal skills and qualifications to be an MD?

Schools aren't too terribly strict from my experience, but a good rool of thumb is anything significant you put on your application should have a letter as support and proof, since ADCOMS obviously won't be calling to verify all your ecs. You typically want 2 from a science prof (can be PIs) that can stress your academic skills, one from an MD you've volunteered or shadowed with that can attest to your great personal skills and emotional readiness to be an MD, another from a sig ec (football from coach, outreach from dr. or coord, etc), and one from humanities prof. Some schools, like UMich, require that humanities prof but the vast majority don't or aren't strict about it. So if it comes down to a so-so this kid got an A in my class from non-sci or amazing LOR from ec, go for the latter. Good luck!

 

[Brainsucker]

It's a good idea to have more if they're all great, but sometimes that just isn't possible. Shy kids that go to state schools will have more trouble than talkative ones that go to privates. I got my interviews (all very good schools) with only three recs. I submitted more later, but they obviously had to like me a little to give me the interviews.

 

[Dr.Pdizzle]

Think about it, if everyone in the pool has 4 or more strong letters and you have 2, what will that mean about your interpersonal skills and qualifications to be an MD?

This is exactly why I hate the whole idea of mandatory LORs. Having the most LORs does not mean you have great interpersonal skills and are more qualified to be an MD than someone that only has 1 or 2. Saying otherwise could quite possibly be the dumbest thing I've heard this month, which says a lot because I work in a jail with convicts.

So you have a lot of LORs, maybe you do have great interpersonal skills, it also shows that you have great ass-kissing skills. I don't need a bunch of professors that don't really know me to tell a bunch of people that don't really know them that I'm a great guy. Words are cheap, that's what the interview is for. Yes, why yes, it just may be feasible to be quite personable and become a great doc without having 5 LORs from doctors. 😉