Would you consider this a weak LOR?

[BrownEMS]

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Please assume rights were waived to see the letter; I am merely using this as an understanding of what constitutes a strong letter, weak letter, or "okay letter". Insight from @LizzyM, @Goro or any ADCOM would be much appreciated!

I have science LORs, but I don't have one from a non-science professor! So I plan on obtaining a letter from a professor I don't know very well--minimal outside of class contact. I found this letter that a friend of mine showed me and I think my letter (from my professor that I don't know very well) is going to be on par with this.

Please don't quote this, if you don't mind.


I don't think I can a stronger non-science LOR unless I to take another non-science class and get close with a professor (I already graduated). Money is obviously another discouragement. But, do you recommend taking another class just for the sake of obtaining a better letter?

Is a letter like this weak considering that I would have have 2 "potentially strong" science-faculty letters (one in which I worked under as a UTA and the other in which I did research under.

 

[whirlpool159]

Doesn't it look better if you waive your right to reading the LOR?

 

[Mclovin0351]

Good on that professor for spinning one email exchange into a positive letter lol

 

[aalamruad]

Hate to break it to you but this is very weak

 

[aldol16]

This isn't particularly strong for several reasons. First, the length is a major issue. Long letters are not necessarily good ones, but short letters are almost universally lukewarm (unless you're John Nash: https://www.aol.com/article/2015/06...ohn-nash-is-the-best-weve-ever-seen/21193564/). This is because of point two, namely detail. Good letters will have vivid examples of the letter writer's impression of the student. A good test of this is to read the letter objectively and think whether it could be for any other student in the class. If it could read the same way for someone else, then it's not a strong letter. Third and finally, the letter's second point, i.e. your grade in the course, tells the reader nothing. The committee has access to your transcript and your AMCAS GPAs. The instructor mentioning your high grade adds nothing to your application.

But don't despair just yet! As you said, this is a non-science letter from non-science faculty who taught you long ago. You have two strong letters from science faculty who know you well/better. And you hopefully have more strong letters from EC supervisors who know you outside of a science/outside of an academic context. It's not the end of the world if one of your letters - and a non-science one at that - is vague-ish.

 

[aalamruad]

This isn't particularly strong for several reasons. First, the length is a major issue. Long letters are not necessarily good ones, but short letters are almost universally lukewarm (unless you're John Nash: https://www.aol.com/article/2015/06...ohn-nash-is-the-best-weve-ever-seen/21193564/). This is because of point two, namely detail. Good letters will have vivid examples of the letter writer's impression of the student. A good test of this is to read the letter objectively and think whether it could be for any other student in the class. If it could read the same way for someone else, then it's not a strong letter. Third and finally, the letter's second point, i.e. your grade in the course, tells the reader nothing. The committee has access to your transcript and your AMCAS GPAs. The instructor mentioning your high grade adds nothing to your application.

But don't despair just yet! As you said, this is a non-science letter from non-science faculty who taught you long ago. You have two strong letters from science faculty who know you well/better. And you hopefully have more strong letters from EC supervisors who know you outside of a science/outside of an academic context. It's not the end of the world if one of your letters - and a non-science one at that - is vague-ish.

lol I bet that "He is a pre-med genius" wouldn't work too well for med school admissions

 

[gyngyn]

It is just as weak as most LoR's.

 

[LizzyM]

A long letter is not necessarily better. This letter is better than most in that the faculty member has not prattled on and on about his course and why he is so great (you'd be surprised at how many do that).

In my opinion, this letter is not too short.
It is hard to write a letter for a student in a lecture hall with 275 students and adcoms know that. Adcoms know that some schools just don't have the small seminars and tutorials and that the best you'll get from students/faculty at that school.

It is true that the grade in the letter is not helpful but noting that the final grade was based on 98%+ is meaningful.

If you have had a class with a small number of students and considerable class discussion or group work, that tends to be a better source for a letter.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Lol at the adcoms stating that this is a typical letter/marginally better because it has less nonsense for them to wade through.

 

[Goro]

I don't read essays or LORs here. I read enough of them in my own job.

Please assume rights were waived to see the letter; I am merely using this as an understanding of what constitutes a strong letter, weak letter, or "okay letter". Insight from @LizzyM, @Goro or any ADCOM would be much appreciated!

I have science LORs, but I don't have one from a non-science professor! So I plan on obtaining a letter from a professor I don't know very well--minimal outside of class contact. I found this letter that a friend of mine showed me and I think my letter (from my professor that I don't know very well) is going to be on par with this.

Please don't quote this, if you don't mind.



I don't think I can a stronger non-science LOR unless I to take another non-science class and get close with a professor (I already graduated). Money is obviously another discouragement. But, do you recommend taking another class just for the sake of obtaining a better letter?

Is a letter like this weak considering that I would have have 2 "potentially strong" science-faculty letters (one in which I worked under as a UTA and the other in which I did research under.

 

[MareNostrummm]

lol I bet that "He is a pre-med genius" wouldn't work too well for med school admissions

His grasp of introductory biology is phenomenal!