Reference letters (Queens, U of T)

[Montoya]

I noticed the deadline for some schools for reference letters is a lot later than the OMSAS submission deadline (Oct 1). Does that mean I can send in the referee forms mid October and not be penalized (for those schools in question)? Their deadline is Dec 1st, as opposed to the deadline for OMSAS, which October 1st. Also, how would it work, since my application would already be submitted, will OMSAS still forward the reference letters? This question has been raised in another thread, but my question relates only to those two schools ( I know there is some confusion about the other schools), who definitely state Dec 1st as the deadline (not mac etc).

Completely as a side note, I was told I received the highest mark in Biochemistry by my professor. Would I include that in the "awards" section, because there is no official award for it, she just told me (I don't want to make a new thread about this, might as well just ask here).

Thanks.

[Panda eyes]

I read somewhere on the OMSAS booklet that reference letters for UofT, Queens and Ottawa are due Dec.1st - I'm not sure about the confidentiality forms though because I just saved one of them and it says that they are to be sent back by Oct.1st.

Coincidentally, my biochem prof announced that I was the only student to get 100% on the exam in 12 years...it seems kind of desperate, but I'm in dire need of one more reference letter. Should I ask this prof? - I'm worried he would only be able to comment from an academic sense. The other prof I'm considering is the one whom I'm TA-ing for this semester. I also did well in his class, but otherwise he doesn't know me much better than the biochem prof except perhaps seeing me more in the lab this semester.

Both of them don't really know me personally because these are huge classes - but I'm at the stage where having a reference letter is better than none.

[rmorelan]

I read somewhere on the OMSAS booklet that reference letters for UofT, Queens and Ottawa are due Dec.1st - I'm not sure about the confidentiality forms though because I just saved one of them and it says that they are to be sent back by Oct.1st.

Coincidentally, my biochem prof announced that I was the only student to get 100% on the exam in 12 years...it seems kind of desperate, but I'm in dire need of one more reference letter. Should I ask this prof? - I'm worried he would only be able to comment from an academic sense. The other prof I'm considering is the one whom I'm TA-ing for this semester. I also did well in his class, but otherwise he doesn't know me much better than the biochem prof except perhaps seeing me more in the lab this semester.

Both of them don't really know me personally because these are huge classes - but I'm at the stage where having a reference letter is better than none.

You can do what I friend of mine did - track the prof down, buy him/her lunch and talk about what you want and your life in general :) Sounds maybe a bit strange but boldness can really help with those. Obviously you need another letter and it has to come from somewhere - see if you can help make it a better one.

[future_doc]

And bring your CV and have a motivational letter or Essay available to give ot the prof, either the Essay you prepared for U/T or a letter to the prof. expressing your motivation as to why med school, etc., which would be useful as a basis for a LOR.

[Cnussey]

And bring your CV and have a motivational letter or Essay available to give ot the prof, either the Essay you prepared for U/T or a letter to the prof. expressing your motivation as to why med school, etc., which would be useful as a basis for a LOR.

Yup--I always attach my CV with the application forms.

[Cnussey]

I noticed the deadline for some schools for reference letters is a lot later than the OMSAS submission deadline (Oct 1). Does that mean I can send in the referee forms mid October and not be penalized (for those schools in question)? Their deadline is Dec 1st, as opposed to the deadline for OMSAS, which October 1st. Also, how would it work, since my application would already be submitted, will OMSAS still forward the reference letters? This question has been raised in another thread, but my question relates only to those two schools ( I know there is some confusion about the other schools), who definitely state Dec 1st as the deadline (not mac etc).

Completely as a side note, I was told I received the highest mark in Biochemistry by my professor. Would I include that in the "awards" section, because there is no official award for it, she just told me (I don't want to make a new thread about this, might as well just ask here).

Thanks.

OMSAS will forward the late letters, but they claim it may cause a hold up on processing your application.

Not sure about the grade...

[AdamP]

You may not see it has been accepted by omsas for a while. Just because they get so many near the end of the month. From what I remember they mark the date as soon as it comes in, and process it as they can. It took till i believe near the end of the month (oct) to get the last one in for me.

I don't think it will hinder things too much, they understand letters are coming from busy docs and profs, who can leave things till the last minute at no fault of the applicant.

[magiman]

For OMSAS... is it a letter + the confidential assessment form?
or is it just an assessment form?

[future_doc]

Both, LOR is optional as I understand it.

[sv3]

Both, LOR is optional as I understand it.

Seriously? haha......ya optional like it's your choice if you choose to breathe or not

[thatonekid]

Both, LOR is optional as I understand it.I hope you didn't tell this to your referees!

You need both the assessment form and a letter of reference.

[magiman]

I hope you didn't tell this to your referees!

You need both the assessment form and a letter of reference.

So its not optional??

[thatonekid]

So its not optional??No, it most certainly is not!

When you print the assessment form, there are instructions for your referee that tell them to write a letter as well as fill out the form.

[Cnussey]

It's written on the printout.

[thatonekid]

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7487/tothereferee.png

I made a screen cap for you. (I'm actually very proud of myself for this)

[magiman]

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7487/tothereferee.png

I made a screen cap for you. (I'm actually very proud of myself for this)

Thanks for the visual! haha

[sv3]

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7487/tothereferee.png

I made a screen cap for you. (I'm actually very proud of myself for this)

Is #2 referring to the contents of the actual letter? What questions ("...questions below") are they talking about in #2?

I guess it sucks if you were in a classroom full of geniuses since it seems the boxes are checked based on relative comparisons...

thanks
sv3

[Cnussey]

Thanks for posting that--I'm still waiting for OMSAS to email me the updated pdf. for my new reference....he has it written and ready to send (and was going to send it express post--I'll tell him not to).

[thatonekid]

Is #2 referring to the contents of the actual letter? What questions ("...questions below") are they talking about in #2?

I guess it sucks if you were in a classroom full of geniuses since it seems the boxes are checked based on relative comparisons...

thanks
sv3The "questions below" are the part where they ask how you would rank the applicant, how long you knew them, in what capacity... It's basically the check boxes. I guess if you say the person is in the top 5% for whatever category, you should comment on that trait in your letter to help explain why you're ranking the candidate so highly (or something like that).

[Cnussey]

The "questions below" are the part where they ask how you would rank the applicant. It's basically the check boxes. I guess if you say the person is in the top 5% for whatever category, you should comment on that trait in your letter to help explain why you're ranking the candidate so highly (or something like that).

The rankings are also based on the number of people within the organization...so if you are in the top 2% out of a class of 100 students, that's great...but that position would have you as the top 10% of a smaller group rather than 2%.

[thatonekid]

The rankings are also based on the number of people within the organization...so if you are in the top 2% out of a class of 100 students, that's great...but that position would have you as the top 10% of a smaller group rather than 2%.Maybe I just am worn out from working on my app, but I don't follow you when you say "that position would have you as the top 10% of a smaller group rather than 2%". What's the smaller group that you're referring to?

[Cnussey]

Maybe I just am worn out from working on my app, but I don't follow you when you say "that position would have you as the top 10% of a smaller group rather than 2%". What's the smaller group that you're referring to?

LOL. Sorry...if you look at the pdf. file that you sent your references, it is a ranking of *you* compared to other people in your group. So if your ref is a professor...he's going to check those blocks by comparing you to other students. On of my refs is a member of the town council (as am I) so I'll be compared with 6 other members. So if you are in the top percentile of your class it is defined through numbers--you cannot be top 2% out of a group of less than 10ppl.

It really depends on how your referee interprets it.

[thatonekid]

LOL. Sorry...if you look at the pdf. file that you sent your references, it is a ranking of *you* compared to other people in your group. So if your ref is a professor...he's going to check those blocks by comparing you to other students. On of my refs is a member of the town council (as am I) so I'll be compared with 6 other members. So if you are in the top percentile of your class it is defined through numbers--you cannot be top 2% out of a group of less than 10ppl.

It really depends on how your referee interprets it.Oh, I see! You're looking at it through a statistical standpoint.

For some reason I was thinking that the prof would take you (as the top 2% of the class of 100) and then compare you to the best students he's ever had (thus making a potentially smaller group) and you may not have been the top student of the smaller group, so you wouldn't be the top 2% anymore.

My thinking was much more confusing than yours. lol.

[Cnussey]

Oh, I see! You're looking at it through a statistical standpoint.

For some reason I was thinking that the prof would take you (as the top 2% of the class of 100) and then compare you to the best students he's ever had (thus making a potentially smaller group) and you may not have been the top student of the smaller group, so you wouldn't be the top 2% anymore.

My thinking was much more confusing than yours. lol.

That's my fault...I'm taking stats this term. LOL. Who knows, the ref may ignore that and just place *us* in the top category based on the fact that it's the *top* category. (Or the last category....lol).

[sv3]

The "questions below" are the part where they ask how you would rank the applicant, how long you knew them, in what capacity... It's basically the check boxes. I guess if you say the person is in the top 5% for whatever category, you should comment on that trait in your letter to help explain why you're ranking the candidate so highly (or something like that).

Ah thanks. Was worried there was even more stuff I'd have to get my referees to take care of. I still think all this LOR stuff is just a hurdle - who really gets bad references?

[Montoya]

I noticed the deadline for some schools for reference letters is a lot later than the OMSAS submission deadline (Oct 1). Does that mean I can send in the referee forms mid October and not be penalized (for those schools in question)? Their deadline is Dec 1st, as opposed to the deadline for OMSAS, which October 1st. Also, how would it work, since my application would already be submitted, will OMSAS still forward the reference letters? This question has been raised in another thread, but my question relates only to those two schools ( I know there is some confusion about the other schools), who definitely state Dec 1st as the deadline (not mac etc).

Completely as a side note, I was told I received the highest mark in Biochemistry by my professor. Would I include that in the "awards" section, because there is no official award for it, she just told me (I don't want to make a new thread about this, might as well just ask here).

Thanks.

I quoted myself just to clarify that it was the final mark (transcript grade), not an exam mark or something like that.

Also, the reference letter/referee form go together, at least that's my understanding. It might say it's due Oct 1st because only a few schools have a Dec 1 deadline.

Lastly, since no one gave me answer, I thought I'd ask again. How would I classify the term after my graduation? I stayed for an extra semester after I graduated taking some research courses (undergraduate though). How would that be classified in OMSAS? Would it still be "undergraduate" or does this now fit into the "other" category. Any ideas?

[Cnussey]

I quoted myself just to clarify that it was the final mark (transcript grade), not an exam mark or something like that.

Also, the reference letter/referee form go together, at least that's my understanding. It might say it's due Oct 1st because only a few schools have a Dec 1 deadline.

Lastly, since no one gave me answer, I thought I'd ask again. How would I classify the term after my graduation? I stayed for an extra semester after I graduated taking some research courses (undergraduate though). How would that be classified in OMSAS? Would it still be "undergraduate" or does this now fit into the "other" category. Any ideas?

Supplementary--and some schools won't even count them :(

[Montoya]

Supplementary--and some schools won't even count them :(

Well, the GPA isn't taken into account for that term if I classify it as "other" category (as opposed to "undergraduate or "graduate") so I don't think any schools look at it. In this case I don't really care, just want to classify it correctly simply for the sake of propriety.

Strange though, because I remember reading at one point that Western considered 1 year (and no more) of "non-degree" coursework. But alrighty.

[PastaInhaler]

Both, LOR is optional as I understand it.

http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww300/seanachie/NotSureIfSerious.jpg