Who wrote your LORs?

[Lombax]

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Hey everyone. Happy to be posting here finally. I just had a question about letters of recommendation since I'm preparing for the upcoming application cycle.

For the science/non science professor requirement, how long ago did you take the classes from these professors who are writing the LOR?

Have any of you used letters from professors that were your lower division science course professors? And if so, were you just completing your junior year when applying? or were you graduating and taking a year in between undergrad and med school? I ask this because I am a graduating senior, thinking about using letters from professors I took courses with over 2 years ago because I know they would be able to write some glowing, strong letters of rec. I know it's about who can speak the strongest on your behalf, and who knows you well, but it was over two years ago for some of my professors that I made really strong connections with.

What do you guys think? Thanks.

 

[Morsetlis]

Attempt to get a letter from every single professor you take a class senior year with. Ideally, this process should have also started from sophomore year so you'd have the opportunity to take 2 classes with the same professor. The more letters, the merrier.

Then ask a pre-med committee to preview and prune your letters.

 

[Lombax]

There isn't a pre-med committee at my university. I actually went to two different schools and transferred to my current institution from where I will be graduating from. After spending nearly two academic years here, there are no opportunities to take classes with repeating instructors. At my other school I was able to get to know the other professors well such as my organic chem instructor, who I spent a year with for both lab and lecture my sophomore year, and my math professor who I spent all of my freshman year and sophomore year with. (4 semesters because of the calculus series and linear algebra). Both of these professors I have regular contact with even now. I was also thinking of one professor at my current institution, who's class I was in winter 2009.

I guess I still have this quarter, and next quarter to find some professors, but I was wondering if it would be better to have recent, nice LOR vs. older, fantastic ones.

 

[mvenus929]

I used a letter from a History professor I had the semester before I applied the first time in 07. I couldn't get in touch with the professor, so I used the same letter he wrote me for that cycle.

I used a letter from my biochem professor from fall 07. I kept in touch with him, so I got a current letter from him for this cycle.

I used a letter from my physiology and senior seminar professor. He initially wrote me a letter for the 07-08 cycle, after I had physiology with him, but I kept in touch so I got an updated letter from him.

All of these were from upper division courses, but I took very few lower division courses... I graduated in three years and finished most all of my lower division courses my first year.

I also got a letter from my supervisor at work. I had been working for about 5 months at the time I asked her for the letter.

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

I graduated almost 5 years, ago, and got letters from professors I hadn't taken since my junior and senior years. I did not get letters from lower division courses. One writer taught my major and the other did not. I never really made strong connections with either of them while I was in school. Since it had been so long I gave them tons of info on who I was while in their class, and what I've been doing since. They were VERY gracious about the whole thing. And apparently it hasn't hurt me, as I have interviews.

Get letters from whoever you feel can write you the strongest letters, even if they're lower division or not in your major, so long as they fulfill the requirements of the schools you are applying to. You may even be able to 1) ask them to write the letter, post-date it to around an acceptable time, and send it to Interfolio or whatever AMCAS accepts, or 2) have them hold on to it and inform them that you'll call upon them in the future to release the letters to AMCAS. Or 3) don't do either of those, and just contact them a few months before you need their assistance.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

- 1 From my: General Biology/Microbiology Lab/Microbial Ecology/Research PI
- 1 From my: Organic Chemistry I & Lab/Organic Chemistry II/Biochemistry Professor
- 1 From my: Introduction to Religious Studies/Research Writing/World Religion Professor
- 1 From my: Italian I, II, and III professor.

Mainly professors I had really good relationships with, went to their office a lot to talk, etc.

 

[Lombax]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I really appreciate it. 🙂

For me I would be using letters from 2008 for the 2010-2011 cycle, which is my o.chem professor. Its lower division at my school. 🙁 I also wanted to use a math professor who knows me for over 4 semesters, but the last time I took a course with him was Spring 2007. He would definitely write me a terrific one. He has been sort of a mentor for me. Would this be too old? But worth it since it would be a really strong letter? Also, does math always count as a science? I've heard some schools think it's nonscience... Thoughts on that?

For my other letters, I have an option of a nonscience from a history professor I took a summer class with in 2007. He took the students that received A's out to lunch, which was just me and one other student. He would be able to write a juicy letter for sure. My other option for nonscience is my music professor from fall 2008. I definitely didn't make the same relationship with this professor but it is more recent. His letter might just be an okay one. Also, I'm not sure how to ask a non-science professor to recommend me for medical school... Should I ask them to emphasize my people/social skills?

I'm just asking if recent and nice is better than old and glowing, ya know? Form the looks of it, maybe older and strong letter is better than a recent vague one. I think I'll stick to the ones that know me the best.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I really appreciate it. 🙂

For me I would be using letters from 2008 for the 2010-2011 cycle, which is my o.chem professor. Its lower division at my school. 🙁 I also wanted to use a math professor who knows me for over 4 semesters, but the last time I took a course with him was Spring 2007. He would definitely write me a terrific one. He has been sort of a mentor for me. Would this be too old? But worth it since it would be a really strong letter? Also, does math always count as a science? I've heard some schools think it's nonscience... Thoughts on that?

For my other letters, I have an option of a nonscience from a history professor I took a summer class with in 2007. He took the students that received A's out to lunch, which was just me and one other student. He would be able to write a juicy letter for sure. My other option for nonscience is my music professor from fall 2008. I definitely didn't make the same relationship with this professor but it is more recent. His letter might just be an okay one. Also, I'm not sure how to ask a non-science professor to recommend me for medical school... Should I ask them to emphasize my people/social skills?

I'm just asking if recent and nice is better than old and glowing, ya know? Form the looks of it, maybe older and strong letter is better than a recent vague one. I think I'll stick to the ones that know me the best.

Math is the 'M' in your BCPM GPA, or Science GPA. So it counts as 'science' I think. Getting a strong letter from your math professor sounds like a good idea, regardless of the time elapsed.

I agree with your conclusion and would select professors that know you best and have a strong relationship with you, as that will usually translate to a stronger and more personal (less generic) letter.

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I really appreciate it. 🙂

For me I would be using letters from 2008 for the 2010-2011 cycle, which is my o.chem professor. Its lower division at my school. 🙁 I also wanted to use a math professor who knows me for over 4 semesters, but the last time I took a course with him was Spring 2007. He would definitely write me a terrific one. He has been sort of a mentor for me. Would this be too old? But worth it since it would be a really strong letter? Also, does math always count as a science? I've heard some schools think it's nonscience... Thoughts on that?

For my other letters, I have an option of a nonscience from a history professor I took a summer class with in 2007. He took the students that received A's out to lunch, which was just me and one other student. He would be able to write a juicy letter for sure. My other option for nonscience is my music professor from fall 2008. I definitely didn't make the same relationship with this professor but it is more recent. His letter might just be an okay one. Also, I'm not sure how to ask a non-science professor to recommend me for medical school... Should I ask them to emphasize my people/social skills?

I'm just asking if recent and nice is better than old and glowing, ya know? Form the looks of it, maybe older and strong letter is better than a recent vague one. I think I'll stick to the ones that know me the best.

Do that.

 

[loveoforganic]

Assuming all goes according to plan

-Chemistry research PI
-Psychology research PI
-Either physics or organic professor
-OT I volunteered with

 

[gamespeed]

What exactly do you mean by PI? Is a PI the faculty head of the lab or someone you worked under?