Too many recommendations?

[Scubajock92]

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Hello, I was wondering how to apply my recommendations this cycle.

I got a committee review this year (something I never had the first time I applied, which was before grad school), which consists of letters from my (undergrad and post-grad) research PI, my undergraduate academic advisor (also, one of my science professors), a physician that I worked with for a long time, and then a joint letter between the committee members (a total of 4 letters).

I also have letters from my graduate thesis advisor, a humanities professor from my volunteer experiences in grad school, and another physician/mentor who also really wanted to support me (and has known me for a long time) (another 3 letters).

The big dilemma- This totals to seven letters, and I am concerned that even though each know me uniquely, it's overkill. This is further exacerbated by how I also understand that most schools want updates on progress/education (therefore they'd want my thesis advisor) and some schools also want humanities/non-science courses... For schools that only prefer a committee letter (4 letters) but still want an update recommendation and a recommendation from a "non-science professor" how should I go about this? Would med schools even look at either of these individual recommendations? I would also really like to include the second physician's recommendation because we know each other well and he has a big emphasis on research and patient care, but I know I'm probably pushing it...

Besides the committee letter, should I only include my thesis advisor, or could I also include the other humanities prof and physician? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!

 

[anonymoose1640]

So usually schools will combine your committee letter and other LORs into one "letter packet" which counts as 1 letter for all of the schools you apply to. Does your school not do it this way? If they do, there's of course no guarantee that all 7 letters will be read by the committee, but usually your interviewer might read them. I had 7 letters + the committee letter and no one complained and I know they were all read.

So in your situation, if I'm understanding it correctly, you have your committee letter packet (totaling to 4 letters) but 3 more letters. That totals to 4 letters total because that committee letter packet counts as one letter. I think it would be fine if you included them all. At the very least include the committee letter (and it's additional letters) and the humanities prof.

I hope that answered your question, but if it didn't let me know. Good luck!

 

[Scubajock92]

So usually schools will combine your committee letter and other LORs into one "letter packet" which counts as 1 letter for all of the schools you apply to. Does your school not do it this way? If they do, there's of course no guarantee that all 7 letters will be read by the committee, but usually your interviewer might read them. I had 7 letters + the committee letter and no one complained and I know they were all read.

So in your situation, if I'm understanding it correctly, you have your committee letter packet (totaling to 4 letters) but 3 more letters. That totals to 4 letters total because that committee letter packet counts as one letter. I think it would be fine if you included them all. At the very least include the committee letter (and it's additional letters) and the humanities prof.

I hope that answered your question, but if it didn't let me know. Good luck!

You did! Thank you very much! Like the profile picture, by the way!