.

[coscos]

/

[peace2014]

Well. in your opinion, how is he as a person? If he is a decent human being and a MD, then I do not see a problem asking him for a LOR. I usually assume most people are decent and would not sabotage your career for personal gain.

[JohnGrisham]

You're overthinking it. 

The real question is, are you even competitive to apply this upcoming cycle as a 3rd year? Before embarking on an application cycle, make sure you are first. 

[Edict]

10 hours ago, JohnGrisham said:

You're overthinking it. 

The real question is, are you even competitive to apply this upcoming cycle as a 3rd year? Before embarking on an application cycle, make sure you are first. 

Do you know his stats already? 

[Edict]

11 hours ago, coscos said:

Hi everyone,

I'm in my second year of undergrad and am currently working with an extremely motivated (and strict) PI in his clinic as well as in his wet lab. I also have pending publications with him. I am planning to apply to medical schools in the next application cycle. I was going to ask my PI for an LOR, as I thought that he knew me well and could attest to my academic abilities, among other things. However, he recently brought up the topic of wanting me to complete a masters student (in passing) ('you can work on X in the next two years, and then work on Y for a masters with me'). He knows that I would like to apply to medical school next year, similar to all other undergrads in our lab of which many will be asking him for LORs too. However, he hasn't offered any other students future projects or proposed doing other degrees with him as their supervisor, and it caught me off guard when I was suddenly given these new projects. I am now unsure of whether you all think that it would be advisable for me to ask for an LOR from him? He seems to want to keep me in his lab and I'm worried that he won't write as good of a letter for me because of this? Has anyone been in a similar situation and have any suggestions? What might be the best way to bring this up to him?

If he has a clinic, is he an MD? MDs have been through the whole process, they probably won't sabotage you in that way. Not saying other staff will, but you have to go by the kind of person he is. If you are sufficiently concerned he will do that, then avoid a reference from him. 

[PremedToronto]

On 4/2/2018 at 9:49 AM, coscos said:

Hi everyone,

I'm in my second year of undergrad and am currently working with an extremely motivated (and strict) PI in his clinic as well as in his wet lab. I also have pending publications with him. I am planning to apply to medical schools in the next application cycle. I was going to ask my PI for an LOR, as I thought that he knew me well and could attest to my academic abilities, among other things. However, he recently brought up the topic of wanting me to complete a masters student (in passing) ('you can work on X in the next two years, and then work on Y for a masters with me'). He knows that I would like to apply to medical school next year, similar to all other undergrads in our lab of which many will be asking him for LORs too. However, he hasn't offered any other students future projects or proposed doing other degrees with him as their supervisor, and it caught me off guard when I was suddenly given these new projects. I am now unsure of whether you all think that it would be advisable for me to ask for an LOR from him? He seems to want to keep me in his lab and I'm worried that he won't write as good of a letter for me because of this? Has anyone been in a similar situation and have any suggestions? What might be the best way to bring this up to him?

Book a time to sit down with him and talk to him and bring up the points you brought up here.  See how the vibe of the conversation goes to better judge.