There is a surgical vet tech that got me into shadowing a surgical vet she works for and they are both super awesome and we talk a lot and I actually help around with basic things like making surgical packs and cleaning up. The vet tech is teaching me a lot and sharing a lot of her wisdom and we are really starting to get to know each other.
Would getting a recommendation from a surgical vet tech with 10+ years experience be good? I don't see that a lot so I wasn't sure.
Also, do schools like to see a variety in recs? I work in a 2 doctor practice and work equally with both doctors. Should I only choose one?
In general, you should lean toward getting a dvm recommendation over a tech recommendation. No offense to people who work as SA GP techs, but it just doesn't carry much weight. That said, some techs with advanced training and many years of experience are well-positioned to give recommendations. I volunteered at the teaching hospital for the school I went to, and the department I volunteered in was largely run by a technician (there was veterinarian oversight, but the normal day-to-day operations were run entirely by the technician). I did have her write me a recommendation, but she was a) within the system, b) very experienced, c) had advanced training, and d) had some operational/managerial responsibilities.
So. Bottom line - sure, you could get a tech recommendation, but you should be very cautious about making sure it is worthwhile and will be compelling to people reading your application. From what you've posted above, I would lean away from a recommendation from that tech. But I don't know all the details like you do.
I don't know if schools like to see variety. I'm sure lots of people could give you an uninformed opinion.
🙂 I know that if
I were reading applications, what I would look for is consistency. I would want to see three (or whatever) recommendations that all painted a consistent picture of a person that had the qualities I thought were important. If one person talked about one trait, and another talked about something completely different, and I felt like all three letters were describing different people - that would be a big red flag
to me.
How many of you chose the option to review the letters of recommendation after they were submitted? Personally, I had waived my right to see them because I had though that it shows that you trust that your writer will be completely honest. But now that this topic has come up, I'm very curious as to whether I received mediocre or very good letters.
I did not opt to review them. I realize there is some anxiety in asking someone to speak for you and then not being able to find out what they said. But the way to alleviate that, in my opinion, is to work with them ahead of time so that you are confident they are saying great things. Show some confidence and trust in them by giving them some rope. If you did an adequate job of picking appropriate letter writers, you shouldn't be questioning whether they are going to say good or bad things.