will this count as a science LOR

[neuro1986]

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Hello!

I took two courses that are neuroscience related offered by the psychology department. From what I can understand, because their course content was over 50% bio, I can count them as science courses towards my SGPA. The first course is physiological psychology and the second is brain and behavior. Assuming that I am correct and they can be counted towards my SGPA, does that mean that I can use a LOR from one (or both) of these professors? Or, do your science LORs have to come from bio,chem, physics, or math professors?

If a course is counted towards your SGPA is that all you need to be able to get a science LOR from that prof?

Thanks!

 

[Mattabet]

Hello! Assuming that I am correct and they can be counted towards my SGPA, does that mean that I can use a LOR from one (or both) of these professors? Or, do your science LORs have to come from bio,chem, physics, or math professors?

If a course is counted towards your SGPA is that all you need to be able to get a science LOR from that prof?

Thanks!

It depends on the school. Definitions of words like 'science' differ on a school by school basis. It seems like at more places than not, you'll be okay though. As long as the school you're interested in doesn't specifically ask for a BCPM letter (careful, some do though) then the classes you listed seem sciency enough that you'll be able to use those letters.

 

[Brent8927]

I'd ask the schools you want to apply to and ask if the letters will count towards science. I've taken biological psych (a psych course--the same thing as physiological psych) and neurobiology (bio) and there is definitely a huge difference between the two. (Of course, your course may have been different as each instructor/school emphasizes different things).

Keep in mind that the LOR's will have the professor's title/department on them. Generally psych is considered humanities, so I'd recommend asking the medical schools if you really want to use those references towards your science letter requirement. If you do ask, ask via e-mail, so that way at least if a problem arises, you have a "paper" trail.

As far as your sGPA goes, people generally recommend listing courses that could go either way as science courses--if you feel they are science courses--and let AMCAS decide whether to keep them in that category or move them. The negative side is if AMCAS moves them, processing takes a bit longer, which really isn't an issue. The huge plus side is, if you did well in the courses, that they may count towards your sGPA--which is great!