What to do about a bad department letter of recommendation?

[chris003]

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I applied to medical school this past year, and I didn't get accepted. I'm doing everything I know to do to strengthen my application, but I do not know how to get around having a bad department letter. There are two faculty members on the committee that do not like me and have smeared my letter. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get around this obstacle?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Don't submit their letter?

 

[chicubsfan]

Ditch the committee letter and just get separate letters of rec from faculty with whom you had good relationships.

 

[Caesar]

I applied to medical school this past year, and I didn't get accepted. I'm doing everything I know to do to strengthen my application, but I do not know how to get around having a bad department letter. There are two faculty members on the committee that do not like me and have smeared my letter. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get around this obstacle?

and if you have to, find out why they don't like you and change it. Are they saying things that are true and you just dislike the statements or are they making things up?

 

[mfrizzo3]

Burn it.

 

[chris003]

Don't most schools require a departmental letter? And I am trying to work things out with the professors, but they have already made up their mind about me.

 

[Arjuna]

I applied to medical school this past year, and I didn't get accepted. I'm doing everything I know to do to strengthen my application, but I do not know how to get around having a bad department letter. There are two faculty members on the committee that do not like me and have smeared my letter. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get around this obstacle?

Correct me if I am wrong, but you probably don't need the committee letter. So don't send it in!

 

[Sesom]

Don't submit their letter?

+ 1 lol

 

[chris003]

I live in a state where there is only one state school which requires the departmental letter. I applied only there since it was my best shot statistically. But next year I am going to apply to as many schools as possible. Perhaps I need a list of schools that doesn't require a departmental letter. Is there a source for this sort of information?

 

[Moose A Moose]

Chris, I don't have much love for the departmental letter either. I'm not going to get into it, but I think the whole process, and all its politics, are rediculous. Unfortunately, a lot of us were too preoccupied with our studies or EC activities than to go and shoot the breeze with faculty. Just pick a few that you got in good with and use them. A lot of schools just need one or two science letters plus a physician.