Who would you Choose??

[AUhopeful]

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Hey everyone, I have started to think about my three letters of recommendations and I am "torn" on my academic reference. I am applying to Auburn (IS), MSU, and Tuskegee. I already plan on using the equine veterinarian I volunteer for (AU alum) and the small animal veterinarian I used to work for (Tuskegee alum), but I have been going back and forth on my third reference.
I have a BA in Psychology and was going to ask my Honor's thesis advisor/psychology professor for the reference but I have not been in touch with him for about a year (at graduation in 2007 he did say he would be more than happy to write a letter).
My other choice is my Biology/Micro professor (AU alum) at the community college I attended for two years, who I still keep in touch with. He had already told me he would write an excellent letter and insisted I find him when ever I needed it.
I guess my question(s) is: Would you go for the University honors prof or the community college bio prof and AU alum? Would it look better to have the Bio prof or Psych prof?
Thanks a bunch.

 

[4paws]

Can you do both? Isn't the rule on vmcas that you have to submit at least 3 letters, but they will email extra LOR forms if you send them more than 3 email addresses?

This is what I remember, but I could be wrong. Do the schools say 3 LOR's (no more, no less)?

 

[meadow36]

You can only submit 3 electronic LOR's on VMCAS; it's really a PITA to do a paper one. Many schools will only except 3 anyway.

My opinion - I would pick the Biology/Micro professor, A.) because he has known you more recently, and B.) the classes are more relevant to vet med then the Psych prof.

 

[AUhopeful]

Thanks, this is my first app cycle and I always thought it was three because on the schools website they say only three? I would love to have both, so I would just list the Univ. prof as a fourth and if the school wants to read it they can? I think I'm just confusing myself LOL!!!

 

[No Imagination]

You can only submit 3 electronic LOR's on VMCAS; it's really a PITA to do a paper one. Many schools will only except 3 anyway.

Uhh, thats 'not' correct.

Well, you are correct about most schools only accepting 3, but you can submit up to 5 electronically via VMCAS. I didn't know if one person would submit in time, so I asked 4 people. MSU contacted me and asked me which 3 I wanted to use (so all 4 got submitted to them).

Not sure if it will be the same for the c/o 2014, but as for 2013, you can submit 5.

BTW, I would go with whoever knows you best, and who you think is capable of writing the best LOR. My best LOR's were from the people who A) Took the time to write stellar ones, and B) Knew how to write a good one. One of the people I thought would have/should have written the best one, was good (praised my virtues), but didn't have the skills to use the best 'words' to convey what I think they were trying to say. In the end it was, alright.

All be even, I'd go with the BS Honors Thesis prof over the CC prof.

 

[Pomona2006]

I was in a similar situation and I ended up choosing 1 vet and 2 profs (one from my previous career in psych and the other for more recent courses at the local CC). Keep in mind I was not required to have 2 vet LORs.

If I were in your situation and I was required to submit 2 vet LORs, then I would call up each school and ask if they would accept an additional letter if you were to mail it separately (or on VMCAS if that is possible). Some schools do allow that (others are adamant that they only read 3). If some schools will allow you to mail an extra letter then that will make things simple.

However, I believe that if they were forced to choose, the adcoms would rather see the letter from the CC prof because he/she:
1) knows you more recently
and
2) can speak of your ability to handle science courses (which as a previous poster indicated, is more relevant)

Hope that helps!

Good luck!

 

[AUhopeful]

Ok, that makes a little more sense. Thanks for the input. I just don't want to send four to a school that was adamant on only having three and then have them think that I did not follow the directions. I am already over thinking everything and the darn app has not even been released yet!

I think at Auburn, correct me if I am wrong, that they will only accept three and I think the same goes for MSU. I am not fond of Tuskegee's website so I am trying to get in touch with them via email (no luck yet) to get more info.

The other option is to have both profs and one vet but I have a feeling that two good vet references would look better. Thanks again everyone!