Teach for America Alumnus About to Apply

[deleted552406]

Hello everybody,

So, as a prelude, I did a quick search and found broad sort-of-answers to this question, but hopefully you can appreciate the desire for specific feedback in a nerve wracking time of life.

I got my BA in physics from the University of Colorado (3.6 GPA) in 2011, and upon graduation went into Teach for America. I've been teaching physics at a public high school on the south side of Chicago for two years, and will be teaching for one more year.

I love my kids, but ultimately I feel my job doesn't take advantage of my strengths. So I'm applying to medical school. I took the MCAT (35), and I'm looking to have my primary applications sent out in the first week of July.

Here's the actual question: I'm a little uncertain of how to handle letters of recommendation, and most resources are geared towards either traditional applicants, or real-life married-with-children adults.

I'm pursuing letters from my TFA manager, my department head at school, a philosophy professor from college, the coordinator of a long-term medical volunteering effort in Honduras, and a physics professor I did an independent study with. However, I was kind of a shy kid back in college (every ounce of that shyness has been burned out of me after two years of teaching, I assure you), and didn't have any rapport with any other undergrad professors. Is it necessary to seek letters from people who are basically strangers to round out the "2 science, 1 non-science" guideline? And do I really need to bother with a committee letter when my undergrad accomplishments seem so minor compared my performance over the last couple of years?

That was a little long-winded, but thanks very much to anybody who takes the time to give me some insight.

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[reviliver]

You need to follow the guidelines, but as I see it you already have 1 science letter (physics prof) and 1 non-science letter (philosophy prof). You need one more science letter and ideally, a physician letter. My advice would be to ask to meet in person with one of your old science profs or premed adviser. Tell them you are considering medical school and you would like to chat with them about it. Have a nice, long conversation and ask them to write a short letter for you. It would be ideal if your school would still write you a committee letter incorporating all of the letters that you already have, but if not you will still be ok. My undergrad was happy to compile letters for me (I also applied several years after graduating although they knew I was interested in med school while I was still a student).

I really think that you will have NO problem getting in, but part of the application process, unfortunately, is showing them that you can follow directions. Make sure you emphasize your experience with medicine so adcoms see that you are applying because you LOVE medicine, not because you are sick of teaching. Also be sure you are absolutely, 100% prepared. Qualified, wonderful people fall on their faces by applying late and not taking the application process seriously. Best of luck!

 

[Goro]

Those seem OK.

]I'm pursuing letters from my TFA manager, my department head at school, a philosophy professor from college, the coordinator of a long-term medical volunteering effort in Honduras, and a physics professor I did an independent study with. However, I was kind of a shy kid back in college (every ounce of that shyness has been burned out of me after two years of teaching, I assure you), and didn't have any rapport with any other undergrad professors.


If it's a requirement, then yes. You might want to consdier taking a class now (ifn ot already) and using that to get to know some faculty.


Is it necessary to seek letters from people who are basically strangers to round out the "2 science, 1 non-science" guideline?


No.

And do I really need to bother with a committee letter when my undergrad accomplishments seem so minor compared my performance over the last couple of years?[/B]