Taking time off and LORs

[queeneleanor77]

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I posted this on another thread but I really should have started a new thread:

For those that took more than a few years off, how did you handle your LORs? I have been out of undergrad for almost 5 years now and did not get LORs while I was in school (stupid, I know). I know a lot of schools want one science, one nonscience, or something from your school's committee, and that's not really an option for me. I went to a huge state school and there's no way any of my teachers remember me. I did take a postbac science class to refresh for the MCAT so I have a science LOR, but the other ones I get will not be from professors - they will be from bosses and doctors I've shadowed etc. I'm anticipating that this will be a problem. Any advice from people who've been there or are going through something similar? Thanks.

 

[bigdan]

Okay...so you've got some work to do.

There is NO ONE that will remember you from any science class? Bummer. If you've done all of your prereqs, and don't plan on taking any again or any others to "brush up", then you'll be in a pinch. Do you think you could get into someone's lab or do some research or independent study? Maybe he/she could write you a letter then.

Many schools will also want a letter from some prof from your major...the one from your major will be easy, right?

The other thought is to see what 1) your undergrad school premed advisor says...even though you've been away for a while; 2) your preferred medical school admissions committees say.

I called old profs and dropped off a resume, including the grades I got in the class I took from them.

Good luck.

dc

 

[queeneleanor77]

Well I know one or two of my professors would remember me, but I just worry that they wouldn't remember enough about me to write me a good letter. I don't know which is worse - a meaningless letter or no letter at all?? I suppose I can try to contact them and see what they say. How long did you wait after taking the class to ask them for a letter?

 

[nina512]

I'm also in a similar situation.

It's been 4 years since undergrad, and since I didn't do that well, I have no LORs. I'm finishing up my Masters and have 2 science prof LORs, in addition to a previous boss and my thesis advisor.

After reading the fine print for numerous schools, I've crossed off schools that require ugrad letters in addition to grad school letters, and those that require a non-science prof to write an LOR. However, I've found that most schools just ask for a minimum of 2 LORs from science faculty that taught you (without specifying ugrad or grad).

I'm wondering how strict schools are about the letter from a non-sci faculty. Would they forever deem my app incomplete? I guess the only way to know for sure is to call.

Good luck!
Nina

 

[oldtimer]

This is definitely one of the bad things about being a non-trad. It was tough trying to figure out which prof still remembered me and could write a great LOR. I had to swallow my pride and asked profs who I took courses 7 years earlier for those letters. Fortunately for me, 2 of the profs remembered me pretty well and one gave me a deer in the headlights look when I went to see him so it was at best so-so. I got my other 2 letters from work and they were very good.

Before you have them write you a letter, sit down with them and try to sense their enthusiasm for you. If you get a bad vibe, they probably won't write a very strong letter. Most likely, they will do a little interview with you to understand what's your motivation for wanting to go back to medical school after such a long hiatus. This part is critical. Therefore, come prepared with your reasons. LOR's are very important in this process so try to get the best ones you can.

 

[LJoo83]

a question about lor along the same veins--
do the lor absolutley have to be from professors? i attend a large state school and i have yet to establish meaningful relationships with my teachers.

could they be from my boss in which i have a close relationship with, or from the doctor i'm shadowing?

 

[Tippy007]

Hi. It's been 8 years since I graduated and I was able to get an LOR, despite it being a longshot. Here's how... I called and emailed all of the professors in my major (economics). None of them remembered me, but one offered to meet with me to see if it sparked any of her neurons. Sadly, it did not, but she suggested that I speak with the head of the economics department. The thinking was that he might remember me because he was overseeing the department or that he could make some comment about my performance within the major and the classes that I took even if he didn't remember me. Well, it worked. If I can get an LOR 8 years later, anyone can do it. Good luck.

 

[Ames980]

Just a suggestion when looking for LORs from profs who might need some help remembering who you are -- I met with each of them for a bit to talk with them about plans, yadda yadda yadda, and I gave them a resume type thing of all of the volunteering, etc. I've done to give them a more complete view of me. Good luck!

 

[Sweet Tea]

some schools are more lenient in their LOR policy than others, and they understand that for non-trads it may be more difficult to obtain very specific letters. before you start crossing schools off your list, call the admissions offices and see what how strict their policy is. many will let you substitute a letter from a boss or advisor for the non-science letter. best of luck!

 

[pharmgirl]

I;ve been out for 3 yeasrs now, and was really nervous to go back to professors, but it worked out fine. I kind of stretched the defination of a science professor (to me, in pharmacy school, all professors were science professors), but I was fortunate that I has worked for 1 professor after my sophiomore year, then was taught by him in year 4. Another one I had had for numberous classes, then was a TA in year 5. Non-science classes were a challenge. I am currently taking an english class, both to fill the 2 semester requirement some schools have, and also to get the recommendation! I am glad I did this, because professors I had 7 years ago know nothing of my current maturity and communication skills.

It's hard to do, but I think you just have to suck it up and call the old profs. Or, take a new class for the recommendation.

Good luck!

 

[javandane]

some schools are more lenient in their LOR policy than others, and they understand that for non-trads it may be more difficult to obtain very specific letters. before you start crossing schools off your list, call the admissions offices and see what how strict their policy is. many will let you substitute a letter from a boss or advisor for the non-science letter. best of luck!

this is the best advice anyone can offer. most schools will allow some wiggle room for non-trads. with respect to LOR. however, the general rule still applies, and in the case of non-trads, is perhaps even more critical: make sure ANY letter is strong. . . .to quite strong. . . .

 

[leechy]

a question about lor along the same veins--
do the lor absolutley have to be from professors? i attend a large state school and i have yet to establish meaningful relationships with my teachers.

could they be from my boss in which i have a close relationship with, or from the doctor i'm shadowing?

Not all of my letters are from professors. Actually, I think that technically speaking, only 1 of my letters is from a full-fledged tenured professor -and in that case, she was actually my employer, not a teacher of any class I took. The other three are from TAs and vaguely titled people ("instructor"). A few schools specifically say they want letters "from science faculty", but I'm ignoring that because I think a more detailed letter from a TA is better than a bland letter from a hotshot professor who's never met me.

I'm not adhering rigidly to school requirements - I'm hoping they're a bit more flexible than they seem. Honestly, I think that rigid LOR specifications are a bit unfair, since they assume that 1. all applicants have been in school recently, or were collecting LORs while they were in school (even if they didn't know they were doing medicine at that point) and 2. the vast majority of applicants are science majors who'd find it relatively easy to collect 2 faculty science letters.

Anyway, here's to hoping that adcoms are a bit more flexible than they seem

 

[javandane]

Not all of my letters are from professors. Actually, I think that technically speaking, only 1 of my letters is from a full-fledged tenured professor -and in that case, she was actually my employer, not a teacher of any class I took. The other three are from TAs and vaguely titled people ("instructor"). A few schools specifically say they want letters "from science faculty", but I'm ignoring that because I think a more detailed letter from a TA is better than a bland letter from a hotshot professor who's never met me.

I'm not adhering rigidly to school requirements - I'm hoping they're a bit more flexible than they seem. Honestly, I think that rigid LOR specifications are a bit unfair, since they assume that 1. all applicants have been in school recently, or were collecting LORs while they were in school (even if they didn't know they were doing medicine at that point) and 2. the vast majority of applicants are science majors who'd find it relatively easy to collect 2 faculty science letters.

Anyway, here's to hoping that adcoms are a bit more flexible than they seem

i agree with your feelings about the 2-dimensional requirements of medical schools for LOR. however, i suggest you don't blatantly ignore them. rather, if your letters are written by people with titles other than what is requested by the school, contact the individual school prior to submitting to explain/request that you'll be including letters that are outside their guidelines.

 

[queeneleanor77]

A few schools specifically say they want letters "from science faculty", but I'm ignoring that because I think a more detailed letter from a TA is better than a bland letter from a hotshot professor who's never met me.

I've heard people say that a letter from a TA is okay as long as it also gets signed by the professor in charge of the course - you might want to look into doing that.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I'm glad I'm not the only one in this position. I have decided to email one of my old professors (I'm unfortunately half way around the world so I can't stop in and see her) and I'm going to include a picture of myself to hopefully jog her memory. The bad part is that I won't be able to read her body language when I ask, since she'll have to reply over email. Hopefully, she'll be honest - I wouldn't want her to agree to write a letter if she didn't believe in me.
The non-science LOR is going to be almost impossible. I was pretty much a science nerd in college and the only non science classes I took were dance and spanish, so I can't see how any of those teachers would know if I would make a good doctor!

 

[oldtimer]

For non-trads who have been out of school for a long time, I think that the most important LOR's are from work. It is because the person(s) who write these LOR have the most recent experience with you. They see how you've matured, what your abilities are, etc. You're not the same person you were 7 or 8 years ago and those LOR's from the profs probably can't fully capture that because they haven't interacted with you for so long. Adcoms want to know who you are as a person today and I think that's why they put more weight on those work LOR's.

 

[queeneleanor77]

Oldtimer, I agree completely and I will definitely be including a letter from my boss of 3 years now. I do understand that they need to know that I can handle med school curriculum, but they can just look at my transcript/grades and see that. Thanks for everyone's advice. I'll let you know what my old professor says.