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[Imlost]

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I am currently asking Letter of Recommendation from a russian history professor. Yes I know I should get some science, but the reason I am asking from her is because the classroom is small and she noticed me that I attend class/ participate and Aced her class. Well the problem is I asked her for a LOR and she gladly agreed but I don't know how this process works, like where do I tell her to send the LOR etc. Would be glad for any info you guys did with your LOR. Thanks

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Each school may handle this differently. You should talk to your pre-med advisor.

 

[academicMED]

Are you currently an undergraduate student? You may want to contact your pre-med committee, if you have one. At my undergrad, I had all of my letters of recommendation sent to the pre-med committee. You may have to sign waivers for the letters too. If you do not have a pre-med committee, I do believe you can have the letters sent to Interfolio or VirtualEvals, which in turn, forward them to the medical schools.

 

[Jpc984]

FYI, you will need science lors.

 

[Imlost]

Yea, about the science LOR, how many do I need I am currently taking Micro bio and hoping that if I can get an A on it, I will get LOR from him. The thing is that I haven't fairly done well in all my science/ pre req class usually average B. I didn't realize that I would want to become a doctor last semester, fall (JR) and now trying to get everything ready to try and get accepted to DO med school (PCOM) I am hoping. With my avg at 3.27 going to make it around 3.35 this semester and do the best I can in the MCATs, with the volunteer hrs in the ER since Jan 2008. Think it is a little too late for the year of 2010 acceptance to med school. Since I am graduating at 2009. The reason why I am little skeptical, if I am wrong please correct me is that I have done no research, publications, and etc. However, I am taking MCATS in late may or early June and shadow a DO right afterwards and get a LOR from him. Think there is possibility that Med school can see that I really want to become part of their community? Note: I have done a lot of extracurricular activities but just not in the area of health related. Thanks for any input or advice

 

[prionsRbad]

Each school will have different requirements, but I found that overall the magic number is 2 science LOR's, 1 DO LOR (or MD for some schools) and 1 non-science, job related or volunteer LOR. You will need to look up what the requirements are for each individual school, though. You can find this info on the school's websites under admissions.

If your school has a pre med committee you should use them. Med schools will state in their LOR requirement that you need X number of LOR's or a letter from your pre med committee, which is a collaboratively written letter.

I did not have a pre med committee, so I used www.interfolio.com to store all of my individual LOR's. I highly recommend it.

Make sure to get some health care related volunteering hours in. Definitely go ahead with your plan to shadow a DO. Research is not mandatory, but will not hurt either. I think the most important thing is to keep your grades up and study hard for the MCAT. You sound like you have a good plan, so don't worry.

Good Luck

 

[t-funk]

Each school will have different requirements, but I found that overall the magic number is 2 science LOR's, 1 DO LOR (or MD for some schools) and 1 non-science, job related or volunteer LOR. You will need to look up what the requirements are for each individual school, though. You can find this info on the school's websites under admissions.

I agree with this. In order to cover all my bases at all of the schools I applied to, I needed 2 science letters, 1 non-science, 1 from my boss/advisor (same person) because I was non-trad and a graduate student, and a DO letter. I think it worked out pretty good and sent all 5 letters to every school.

 

[Jpc984]

I agree with this. In order to cover all my bases at all of the schools I applied to, I needed 2 science letters, 1 non-science, 1 from my boss/advisor (same person) because I was non-trad and a graduate student, and a DO letter. I think it worked out pretty good and sent all 5 letters to every school.

If your applying to MSU, you need two letters from people who know you well.

 

[Imlost]

Yea, I am planning to get another LOR but the point is its from A medical Terminology & Human anatomy professor, I do not know whether they will consider this as "Science" since I did do mostly about Human anatomy and medical terminology at the same time. Any thoughts about this?

 

[prionsRbad]

Yea, I am planning to get another LOR but the point is its from A medical Terminology & Human anatomy professor, I do not know whether they will consider this as "Science" since I did do mostly about Human anatomy and medical terminology at the same time. Any thoughts about this?

Sounds like science to me. Just make sure the professor has a PhD.

 

[Jpc984]

I don't know if the medical terminology prof will count. Most schools say "hard" science.

 

[prionsRbad]

I don't know if the medical terminology prof will count. Most schools say "hard" science.

If the professor also teaches Anatomy I think it should count.

 

[Jpc984]

If the professor also teaches Anatomy I think it should count.

Oh ok... I misread. I thought there were two different professors.

 

[Imlost]

thats the weird part of the class.... There is a course that is just for human anatomy that is taught by another professor. While the medical terminology talks about human anatomy also but it is not in depth such as no labs and etc. Think they will consider this as "science".

 

[Jpc984]

thats the weird part of the class.... There is a course that is just for human anatomy that is taught by another professor. While the medical terminology talks about human anatomy also but it is not in depth such as no labs and etc. Think they will consider this as "science".

The letter will probably say how the professor knows you, so I would say if you did not have human anatomy with him, it would not count.

I am not exactly sure if the lor has to be from a hard science professor or a professor that taught you a hard science.

 

[prionsRbad]

thats the weird part of the class.... There is a course that is just for human anatomy that is taught by another professor. While the medical terminology talks about human anatomy also but it is not in depth such as no labs and etc. Think they will consider this as "science".

Jpc984, now I'm really confused! Maybe you were right!

OP, I'm not really sure on this one. Is there anyone else you can ask? Maybe a Biology, Chemistry or Physics professor? Might me less complicated that way . . .

 

[Tepi]

Definitely check out the requirements for your pre-med committee! Mine wanted a minimum of 3 (2 from science faculty), but suggested more like 7 from a variety of sources (work, physician, extracurrics, research, volunteer). If a committee letter is not an option, then I will echo everyone here and say check out the individual school's requirements.

PS - Your experiences pre-health is a positive. Don't think about it like "aw shucks, I only did this and this before now, both of which are not health related." Everything you've done up until now says something about you. Sure you weren't volunteering in a hospital before ... but that was because you weren't thinking about healthcare as an option before! All the things you did demonstrate activities that you enjoy and a desire to be involved in your community.

 

[reaton]

For heavans sake why do you care what this forum thinks? WHAT DO THE SCHOOLS SAY THEY REQUIRE!!!!! Read what is required at each school and go from there.

What if you take advice from this forum and it is not what the particular school you apply to wants. "I'm sorry but the SDN Forum told me this is what I need".

Do your own research on the subject (it's very easy) and submit LORs that each school requires.