lemmethink

I didn't submit part 1 or part 2 yet but I gave one of my teacher the third recommendation form and i think it was mandatory if i wanted to do PLME (i really don't remember). What should i do?

asterstar

Perhaps you could include a short letter in your app that tells them to disregard that recommendation.

purpletransience

recommendations can't hurt, if they're good. i applied for the b.a. but i sent in three recs. so unless you think the third rec isn't going to be great, don't worry about it.

asterstar

isn't the third rec form quite specific to PLME though?

lemmethink

How do i do that if i'm applying online?

jamimom

You can just stop the PLME part of your app. The Brown part of app stands independently, and you can get accepted there and not accepted to PLME which frequently happens. Just continue with the Brown portion of the process and drop the PLME. You should let your teacher who wrote the rec know that you are not going to continue with the PLME and it is entirely appropriate to give him a nice basket for his troubles and a kind note.

lemmethink

but my teacher already sent it in and i already gave her a gift basket lol

jamimom

If I remember correctly, Brown will look at your app independent of your PLME situation. As I said, I know many kids accepted to Brown, very few to PLME when they applied to both. You do have to get accepted to Brown in order to get into PLME, the reverse is not so. You can just send PLME a postoffice card letting them know that you are not applying to that program. That is all you have to do. If an integral part of your Brown app was referring to the PLME program, you may want to call the adcoms there and ask what the best thing is to do. A letter explaining your change in mind might be in order. If little mention was made, then you don't have to do a thing. You are not the first who has done this.

lemmethink

thanks so much...i really appreciate your help! id give you a gift basket too if i could hahaha lol

purpletransience

the third rec is specific to math/science, but if you're still applying for an A.B. in, say, biology, then it can't hurt to have the extra rec. in fact, if you're still applying for an sc.b., just not PLME, then the third rec is still mandatory. what program / major are you applying as?

lemmethink

i'm doing biochem Sc.B. u?

purpletransience

i'm doing math, creative writing, and either poli sci or sociology or anthropology or some social science. all A.B.

but the reason i asked was because, you definitely should /not/ retract that second rec - as a sc.b. applicant, you need it too.

lemmethink

i'm not exactly sure what the difference is between scb and ab. care to explain if youve got the time?

suburbian

ab is for the pure sciences: physics, chemistry, biology
scb is for sort of interdisciplinary sciences: engineering, neurology, biochemistry, sciences that are a mix of physics, chemistry or biology

I have a question, too: If my Science Statement or PLME Statement is not good, do you think it will hurt my chances for admission? If my Personal Statement is fine, though?

lemmethink

oh i see....i really like chemistry and biology a lot! should i do ab or scb?