Would this qualify as a Science LOR?

[Wakadaka]

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I have a professor I took Physiological Psychology and Biology of Mental Disorders with. Bother were listed under psychology, but both were basically biology classes.

Do schools go by the BPCM strict guidlines that amcas does, or are they more open to accepting something like that as a science lor?

All of my science classes were 120+ students, and I did well enough that didn't need help from professors. I am going to try to meet with one of them to get a LOR, but it would be awesome if this one could count as a science.

 

[NoDakDok]

Your professor in Physiological Psychology and Biology of Mental Disorders should most certainly cover the science LOR requirements for medical school. You could have also (and should have if they inflated your BCMP GPA) included those courses under the "BIO" section of your coursework. This is mentioned under the AMCAS grade reporting guidelines, you should file classes under the category they most represent.

I believe I even listed my Medical Spanish course (given by the SPAN department) as Biology and it was not edited. I would have filed an appeal if it was changed, as it was essentially 60% Biology and 40% Spanish.

 

[Wakadaka]

I read that before, but unfortunately the classes weren't cross listed or anything. I'm just concerned that its going to cause a problem if they decide its not a science LOR. anybody have experience, or know if schools make their decisions based on AMCAS or on their own as to what they count as science?

 

[looncat]

I think schools decide on their own, example: AMCAS counts math as a science, as do most schools, but some schools specifically state you can't use a math prof as a science LOR. Call the schools you want to send this letter to.

 

[Holmwood]

Some schools specifically state "letter from a faculty of a science department".
🙁
One of my letter writers was also Neuroscience, but was listed as a non-science professor due to his department affiliation in psych.

 

[Wakadaka]

Okay, looks like i'll just try to get one from a science to be safe, and use that as non-science hopefully. Thanks for the info.

Any recommendations for approaching a professor that i did well in their class but don't know them? and how to ask for them to get it done quick? I mean they are basically goign to be writing about our short intereaction where i ask, and my resume, so i can't imagine them spending much more than 30 minutes on it, so is it unreasonable to ask for it to be done in a day or two?

 

[looncat]

A day or two is actually very unreasonable, even if you think the letter is going to be short. At the very least you should give two weeks notice.

 

[Holmwood]

Okay, looks like i'll just try to get one from a science to be safe, and use that as non-science hopefully. Thanks for the info.

Any recommendations for approaching a professor that i did well in their class but don't know them? and how to ask for them to get it done quick? I mean they are basically goign to be writing about our short intereaction where i ask, and my resume, so i can't imagine them spending much more than 30 minutes on it, so is it unreasonable to ask for it to be done in a day or two?

Typically you give a 4 week notice minimum. Professors have TONS of stuff to do, and rarely have time to write letters.
Additionally, they may be writing letters for multiple students at once. Keep these factors in mind.

One of my professors took 2 years to write me a letter. . . I love the guy though, however busy he might've been.

 

[Wakadaka]

Okay, I think 2 weeks is reasonable and respectful, I am just worried that if it is too long they will put it off. I know everyone is busy, but at most 45 minutes to write a letter is not a ton of time.

i doubt your professor took 2 years to write it because that was the first chance he got that he wasn't busy. I'm sure he could have had it to you in a few days without it being too much to ask.

Thanks for the input, I'm hoping that they won't have a lot of letters to write since its so late in the cycle.

 

[looncat]

It kind of sounds like you're underestimating how busy professors are, and it'd probably take more than 45 mins to write a well written letter. 2 weeks is fine, however, I'd mention in your email/when you ask that you know it's short notice (it's more respectful).

 

[Wakadaka]

maybe i am underestimating how busy they are, but people say doctors are busy and i had a lor from one of the physicians i worked with 2 days after i asked.

I'm going to try to catch them in their office to ask in person. I don't know any of the teachers well enough to get an extremely personal LOR, so i imagine they have a pretty generic letter that they write and then fill out a sentence or two about the recent interactions. To put it in perspective, my physics teacher has probably had about 2400 students since i took him, and probably writes letters for a bunch of people who he doesn't know. my point being that i'm sure he has a template to work off, so hopefully it would be pretty quick and easy for him.

I am aware that my LORs are going to be super generic and at best will neither hurt nor help my application.