What letters do I need?

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Hi,

Apologies if this question has already been answered. Exactly what letters do I need for applying to MSTP?

As far as I am aware...
1) all research PIs you have worked under
2) science professors (how many??)


3) non-science professor
4) physician

How crucial are (3) and (4)? How crucial is (2)?

 

[itsallthesame]

The answer to your question is school specific. The only way to know what you NEED reliably is to check each school that you are planning to apply to's website and calling the admissions (md/phd office if available) and asking.

That said, you don't NEED a physician letter to get into an MD/PhD program. I didn't have one. Personally, I would try to maximize the number of people talking about your research potential/skillz and minimize the number of letters not related to research (unless they are both unique and amazing). I had 2 PIs, a science professor from a small class that many of my interviewers knew, and a cog sci professor that I'd worked for.

Your school's pre-med committee might have requirements about rec letters to get their letter as well. If your school offers a letter, many schools will require it.

Lastly, things will also depend on whether or not your PI(s) can also count as a science professor(s). For this to count at some schools you might have had to have been graded by him/her in a science class.

 

[4Me0]

On that note, I have a related question. I've been in only one lab where my research is what I would consider significant. So I'll only have a letter from one PI. Will that be ok? Besides that one, I'll have a committee letter, 2 science professors, and one English professor...😕

 

[not respect]

I have a similar question, I did research in one lab but it wasn't as significant (only a summer), and I was a lab tech in another so I didn't do ANY research basically. I don't NEED recs from that right?? Also I have a pub from some research I did in high school, would I need that guy's recommendation?

 

[magnolia788]

I have the same question! Do we need a rec letter from a high school PI?