TMDSAS - Letters of Rec. I'm so confused :(

[Saf1]

I'm trying to figure out how many letters of rec I can send to TMDSAS. I remember my advisor telling me something like 3-5 letters is ok, but reading different places I feel like I'm getting different answers. Here's what I'm planning on sending:

-Letter from Biology Professor. I did well in his class and tutored for him for years.
-Letter from Professor who taught me Human Physiology and Anatomy and Physiology II.
-Letter from physician who headed my hospital research program that I did for 1 year.
-Letter from physician who is the medical director of the hospital I worked at for a year. I scribed for him and got to know him pretty well. He's also a DO.


I wanted to send all 4 but I didn't want to step on any toes about sending too many letters. This'll be my third time applying and I really don't want to screw up 🙁 . It'll all be sent as one big HP Committee Packet, though they won't be reviewing it just sending the letters.

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[NickNaylor]

What are two different physicians going to offer you in their letters? If you're applying to DO programs then send the DO letter, but otherwise I don't see the value in sending two physician letters.

 

[fas376]

Don't send more than 2 LOR. TMDSAS explicitly states any more than 2 is discouraged.

 

[Saf1]

Don't send more than 2 LOR. TMDSAS explicitly states any more than 2 is discouraged.

Really? Where?

Ok so if I do which ones am I supposed to send?

 

[ALMD]

Don't send more than 2 LOR. TMDSAS explicitly states any more than 2 is discouraged.

Not really. I sent 3 individual letters and I was fine. Each letter emphasized one area (academic, research and medicine-related experience)

To OP, don't send letters that you think they will cover basically the same thing. If it was me, I would send one from physician who headed research, from the DO since his letter will cover your medicine related experience and from the bio prof which cover academic and tutoring instead of just academic from human phys prof.

 

[Saf1]

Not really. I sent 3 individual letters and I was fine. Each letter emphasized one area (academic, research and medicine-related experience)

To OP, don't send letters that you think they will cover basically the same thing. If it was me, I would send one from physician who headed research, from the DO since his letter will cover your medicine related experience and from the bio prof which cover academic and tutoring instead of just academic from human phys prof.

Thanks. My thing is is that don't schools in Texas require 2 math/science professors?

 

[ALMD]

Thanks. My thing is is that don't schools in Texas require 2 math/science professors?

http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/medical/application-instructions.html#eval_letters

TMDSAS requires two letters, and will only forward one extra letter. I don't remember reading both of the letters have to be from science/math profs.

 

[fas376]

Not really. I sent 3 individual letters and I was fine. Each letter emphasized one area (academic, research and medicine-related experience)

To OP, don't send letters that you think they will cover basically the same thing. If it was me, I would send one from physician who headed research, from the DO since his letter will cover your medicine related experience and from the bio prof which cover academic and tutoring instead of just academic from human phys prof.

I didn't say sending more than 2 would hurt you. It is just not recommended, so I'm going to go with what they say.

Directly from TMDSAS - " Additional letters are not encouraged."

 

[Saf1]

Wow, I didn't even read how discouraged more than two letters is. Thanks a lot you guys.

Hmm, I think I'll go with my research physician and my DO. Both took a bit more time to make sure the letter was personalized. I'll save the other letters for my AMCAS application.

I was just always under the assumption that I needed 2 letters from a math/science professor, though maybe that's just my school being confused thinking I wanted a committee review. I just want these sent out but the school is an easier central location for that.

 

[ALMD]

Yes I know additional letters are not encouraged. However, it does not meant we can send only two letters either because TMDSAS will forward one extra letter. I just gave my opinion, OP makes the final decision that is best for him/her.

 

[krc22]

Yes I know additional letters are not encouraged. However, it does not meant we can send only two letters either because TMDSAS will forward one extra letter. I just gave my opinion, OP makes the final decision that is best for him/her.

Congrats on your acceptance to UT Southwestern. Your hard work definitely paid off. As a fellow Texan who is applying this cycle, I would appreciate your advice on this matter.

I attend a university in Texas that does not send a letter packet. TMDSAS is quite clear in that it prefers only two letters from science professors, but will send three on your behalf. I am planning on sending two letters from science profs. However, I am hedging on sending a strong extra letter from a MD who is the director of my college's Office of Health Professions. This gentleman has contacts with deans of admissions at med schools in Texas. It seems that you were not penalized from your decision to send three letters. Do you know others who opted to send three letters like yourself and likewise were not hurt by their decision? I would ask around, but I have few fellow Texan premed friends.

 

[DAPI]

I am going to have to agree that it will not hurt you to send three. I say this because if schools only want two they can just trash the "extra" letter which takes no effort or time on their part. It is likely TMDSAS that does not want to deal with the extra letters due to having to scan each letter and evaluation form, match it with the application, and then transmit them to schools.

IMO, I would rather show schools that I HAVE three very strong letters to send them than leave them possibly questioning why I only sent two.

Thats just my 2 cents.

 

[ALMD]

I am going to have to agree that it will not hurt you to send three. I say this because if schools only want two they can just trash the "extra" letter which takes no effort or time on their part. It is likely TMDSAS that does not want to deal with the extra letters due to having to scan each letter and evaluation form, match it with the application, and then transmit them to schools.

IMO, I would rather show schools that I HAVE three very strong letters to send them than leave them possibly questioning why I only sent two.

Thats just my 2 cents.

Congrats on your acceptance to UT Southwestern. Your hard work definitely paid off. As a fellow Texan who is applying this cycle, I would appreciate your advice on this matter.

I attend a university in Texas that does not send a letter packet. TMDSAS is quite clear in that it prefers only two letters from science professors, but will send three on your behalf. I am planning on sending two letters from science profs. However, I am hedging on sending a strong extra letter from a MD who is the director of my college's Office of Health Professions. This gentleman has contacts with deans of admissions at med schools in Texas. It seems that you were not penalized from your decision to send three letters. Do you know others who opted to send three letters like yourself and likewise were not hurt by their decision? I would ask around, but I have few fellow Texan premed friends.

Thank you. My school has a premed committee and I didn't use it because I knew my three individual letters were very personalized and strong. None of the schools questioned me about it during my interviews either. Sorry I didn't ask others if they sent 3 like myself because like I and DAPI said, I seriously never thought it would hurt to send 3 since TMDSAS agrees to forward one extra. They wouldn't do it if we can be penalized. What important is don't send many letters that you know they basically said the same thing about you. If it was me, I would send the strong letter from the MD, connection is important 😀. One of my letter was also from an MD who knows me personally and I even chose to indicate his letter was required and not extra.

If you are worried, maybe you can call the schools and ask if they mind about a strong extra letter? but honestly, I never thought it would be an issue and hurt our chances if we decided to send a strong extra one. I did everything to make sure the schools know me as much as possible and in my case, I needed three. I wouldn't leave anything out if I know it will strengthen my application. TMDSAS might not encouraged the extra one but TMDSAS also doesn't know what is best for me.