Undergrad transfer student -- should I get a letter of rec from previous school?

[carpediem22]

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I transferred undergraduate schools after my sophomore year, and my second school is higher ranked than my first. I have enough strong letters coming from profs at the school I transferred to, but am wondering: should I get an additional prof recommendation from my previous school? Is it necessary (i.e. will admissions committees question why I didn't)? My only reason not to is that I already have two science letters and one non-science letter from my current school, so I don't want to overload the committee with academic letters. I'm also applying to MD/PhD programs, so I already have more letters than typical (3-4 research PI letters). My GPA was similarly strong at both schools, so it's not like I need to explain away any issues. I do have a non-science prof at my old school who would write me an excellent letter.

 

[dr.0ne]

you can get it if you want, and later decide if you'd want to use that instead of the other non-science letter you have

having one from a previous school shouldn't make a difference, imo.

 

[Catalystik]

I transferred undergraduate schools after my sophomore year, and my second school is higher ranked than my first. I have enough strong letters coming from profs at the school I transferred to, but am wondering: should I get an additional prof recommendation from my previous school? Is it necessary (i.e. will admissions committees question why I didn't)? My only reason not to is that I already have two science letters and one non-science letter from my current school, so I don't want to overload the committee with academic letters. I'm also applying to MD/PhD programs, so I already have more letters than typical (3-4 research PI letters). My GPA was similarly strong at both schools, so it's not like I need to explain away any issues. I do have a non-science prof at my old school who would write me an excellent letter.

A rare med school might want a PI letter from all your research experiences, in which case you'd want to get one from freshman and sophomore year if you gave time to a lab that early in college. Or you could avoid applying where such LORs are needed.

 

[justadream]

How about the reverse scenario?

What if most of your letters are coming from your old school (the reason being that is where you took the vast majority of your prereqs)?

 

[palatopharyngeus]

I transferred undergraduate schools after my sophomore year, and my second school is higher ranked than my first. I have enough strong letters coming from profs at the school I transferred to, but am wondering: should I get an additional prof recommendation from my previous school? Is it necessary (i.e. will admissions committees question why I didn't)? My only reason not to is that I already have two science letters and one non-science letter from my current school, so I don't want to overload the committee with academic letters. I'm also applying to MD/PhD programs, so I already have more letters than typical (3-4 research PI letters). My GPA was similarly strong at both schools, so it's not like I need to explain away any issues. I do have a non-science prof at my old school who would write me an excellent letter.

do yourself a favor, and get that letter from the non-science prof at your old school. since you spent so much time at the old school (2 years?), a LOR from that school is very appropriate and can only help you.

 

[singergirl18]

Loyola, I believe, asks for one. However, I transferred, and getting a LOR from my first school (fine arts) would have been useless and also not possible. They give you a space to explain why you aren't getting one. I ended up getting in.

Never hurts to get it, esp if it is strong though.

 

[MaybeDr]

A rare med school might want a PI letter from all your research experiences, in which case you'd want to get one from freshman and sophomore year if you gave time to a lab that early in college. Or you could avoid applying where such LORs are needed.

Do you know which schools do this? I have two research experiences I can't get letters from. One due to a fall out between my boss and the practice. The other PI just straight up wont write me one because he doesn't know me well enough.

 

[Catalystik]

If I'm not misremembering, Harvard, I think. Sorry, I don't have a list.

 

[carpediem22]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to probably end up asking anyway.

Harvard requires letters from all PIs.

Justadream -- obviously your situation is very different from mine, but I would try to get at least a letter or two from your new school. I also took most of my pre-reqs at my first school, but am getting letters from upper-division science profs at my current school. Maybe try to get your non-science letter from your current school? Especially if you transferred into a better school.