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"shortcoming" LOR
- Thread starter Homoochan
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Nothing you can really do now, though I wouldn't say that's a huge problem. Being reserved isn't necessarily a bad thing. Also, though most SDNers will disagree with me, some of the strongest letters of rec I've seen do include some minor criticisms. This can actually give the letter more strength as readers can be more confident that the writer isn't embellishing everything. I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
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I'm actually so worreid to a point that I'm thinking of resubmitting the application without that letter.
I've searched this forum and 99% of the time people are saying one bad LOR = rejection.
Well, the letter is otherwise excellent it makes me look like i'm waking on water EXCEPT for that one single sentence saying I have a "shortcoming of being too reserved" It actually says "shortcoming"
I've searched this forum and 99% of the time people are saying one bad LOR = rejection.
Well, the letter is otherwise excellent it makes me look like i'm waking on water EXCEPT for that one single sentence saying I have a "shortcoming of being too reserved" It actually says "shortcoming"
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I am going to agree with other poster, this will have little to no impact on your admission, and may even help. The review committee at my school actually requires LOR writers to submit three weakeness of the applicant, so if it does matter, I am 12 times more screwed than you are. Especially considering, that it is just a single sentence and an ambigiously negative "shortcoming," I really wouldn't lose sleep over this at all. Though, I don't know who said one bad LOR can kill you, I am willing to bet that by bad LOR they meant one, that spends the entire letter on your shortcomings except for a single sentence about your strengths.
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Just chillax. It makes the letter seem more authentic. If your recommender is going to bring up shortcomings, and the ONLY one they can think of is that you are reserved, then you come out looking pretty good. Adcom people aren't stupid. They aren't going to assume that people with recommendations that don't list any negatives are perfect human beings and will be better doctors than you. Also, I don't know why you think your chances of getting into med school are slim. You seem like you have a solid application.
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Yeah, I don't think it's a big deal. Certainly not enough to actually do an application over again. The "shortcoming" makes the letter sound more authentic, like others have said.
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I would say this will impact your application in no way. And I don't know why you think your chances of getting into school are slim. You seem to be in a situation that most applicants find themselves in. If you are so concerned, I would just say apply to more safety net schools (Seems like your list of schools is pretty stacked) but as far as your LOR is concerned, I think it will make it more sincere and probably benefit you. Best of luck with the application process!
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You have a 3.6 / 34.
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Judging only from this post, your anxiety seems like more of a shortcoming than the reservation.
You'll be fine, Chan. A bad LoR is not great news (though it's for sure not a 99% gamebreaker), but one criticism does not make that letter bad. I'm sure there are a lot of nice things in there too. People do not write LoRs to screw people over.
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And the vast majority of those people have never actually conducted an admissions interview or read an applicant's file. This will NOT destroy your chances. If the letter says you're reserved, just make sure you don't come across that way in your interviews. Be very conversational, friendly, and take all the openings you can get. Nothing is worse than trying to pull teeth out of an applicant who just gives "yes" or "no" answers. These are your opportunities, take them.
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http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=590765&highlight=bad+lor
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=618019&highlight=bad+lor
These (and there are more) are posts that I was looking into.. and it seems like even "mediocre" LOR can be a reasion for rejection.. let alone LOR with negative comments in it.
Well, thanks anyway guys, I mean.. there's nothing I can do now that I've already submitted everything so guess I'll have to just see what happens
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=618019&highlight=bad+lor
These (and there are more) are posts that I was looking into.. and it seems like even "mediocre" LOR can be a reasion for rejection.. let alone LOR with negative comments in it.
Well, thanks anyway guys, I mean.. there's nothing I can do now that I've already submitted everything so guess I'll have to just see what happens
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It's not like the entire letter was ragging about you. It's not a big deal, you're EXTREMELY overreacting.. Some Med schools will even ask you for a weakness in your secondary app. Admitting a weakness and telling them how you've tried to overcome it = adcom gold.
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You often get asked about your weaknesses in interviews. This is a good opportunity to respond in the interview by saying you know you are fairly reserved, but you look forward to pushing yourself in that regard and have been working to overcome it. Find an example that shows the latter.
A lot of med students start off w/ pretty poor communication skills--worse than reserved, they are downright awkward--and then I see them graduating, and they're totally normal professionals. Any physician on the adcom is going to know this.
And as far as criticisms, reserved is pretty minor--much better than a lot of things someone could say about a student 🙂
A lot of med students start off w/ pretty poor communication skills--worse than reserved, they are downright awkward--and then I see them graduating, and they're totally normal professionals. Any physician on the adcom is going to know this.
And as far as criticisms, reserved is pretty minor--much better than a lot of things someone could say about a student 🙂
