Would an additional LOR help my application?

[BioPsychotic]

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Hello,

I am a current applicant who received 4 interviews and is sitting on 2 waitlists.

I received letters of recommendation from my evolutionary biology professor, my research mentor (post-doc MD/PhD), my supervisor at the center I volunteer for, and a rural internal medicine physician.

I recently left a job as a Patient Transporter at a hospital to start a research position. My old supervisor (RN/PhD unit director) has offered to write me a letter of recommendation. We had developed a strong relationship, and I have all the reason to believe she would write a strong letter.

My question is: at this stage, would this additional LOR help move the needle for the current cycle? Would it help me secure an II and/or secure a post-II A?

I am also preparing to re-apply in case I do not receive an A this cycle.

Thanks in advance! Happy new year.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

I would lean towards it not making too much of a difference at this point in the cycle but could definitely help yield more interviews and As next cycle (but based on your situation, I’m not even sure you’ll have to reapply. Seems schools have been WLing more this cycle and could lead to more movement)

The obvious caveat being if the professor has close ties to a school and or Dean is willing to personally put in a phone call. I’ve heard stories of a phone call making an impact on the margins of A/WL.

 

[LizzyM]

At this point, it is unlikely to move your position on the staircase. Schools are waiting to see where things shake out as they do the last interviews of the season (if they haven't finished that process) and where the superstars who got those early offers (if the school makes those) choose to matriculate. Be patient. The odds are in your favor that one of the 4 interviews will result in an offer. If not, do consider staying in touch with the person who might write a good letter and ask for one when you begin your reapplication cycle.

 

[KnightDoc]

Also, just about all schools require LORs to go through AMCAS. During the cycle, submitting an additional LOR through AMCAS generally means that you lose your place in the review queue and go to the back of the line, OR that it will be ignored once you have met the school's LOR requirement and have been marked complete. Once you have been reviewed, and once a school stops accepting applications through AMCAS, I'm not sure an additional LOR would even be looked at.

As everyone else has said or implied, the fact that you received any IIs at all means that your LORs are likely not an issue, in which case on more isn't going to do anything for you. If you feel strongly, however, it won't hurt to reach out to the schools and seek guidance. Good luck!!