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Started by AlphaStudent
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I’m not sure how schools go about figuring out who’s family and who’s not. But does she have any coworkers who are DOs, or if she has classmates she can refer you to?
 
Off course they can't tell but one has to be honest. Wife of one of your cousins is not your relative, really? I think she is your relative.
Try to find someone else.
 
AlphaStudent said:
Hi guys,

I have a potential DO rec letter writer, who is not directly a family member, but the wife of one of my cousins. Is it OK to get a rec letter from her? Also, I will be shadowing her probably a week before I apply to med schools, is it looked down upon to shadow someone that soon before applying or will I be ok? I was just struggling to find DO's to shadow and I finally got a link to one.
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It's OK. BUT she has to disclose the family connection.

IF not, and the school finds this info out, that will not only be a rejection, but AACOMAS would get notified as well.
I have seen this happen.
 
Goro said:
It's OK. BUT she has to disclose the family connection.

IF not, and the school finds this info out, that will not only be a rejection, but AACOMAS would get notified as well.
I have seen this happen.
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Thank you. What if I ONLY shadow her instead of get a rec letter from her? Would I still need to disclose that she has a relation with me or would it not matter in that case?
 
Sorry I can't help you specifically AlphaStudent, but I'm sort of in the same situation. She's the wife of my literal 4th cousin and I had never met her/associated with her before I shadowed her, so she only knows me in a clinical setting. It was just my mom who ran into her at some baby shower and she had mentioned that I could reach out to her to chat, and then I took the initiative to meet up with her and shadow her. Do you think I should still not get a letter of rec from her or do you think I'd be okay?
 
sad_student_ said:
Sorry I can't help you specifically AlphaStudent, but I'm sort of in the same situation. She's the wife of my literal 4th cousin and I had never met her/associated with her before I shadowed her, so she only knows me in a clinical setting. It was just my mom who ran into her at some baby shower and she had mentioned that I could reach out to her to chat, and then I took the initiative to meet up with her and shadow her. Do you think I should still not get a letter of rec from her or do you think I'd be okay?
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I think it would be OK to get a rec letter from her, but just be sure to mention the connection as Goro stated above! I'm probably going to end up doing the same thing
 
check with your schools LOR requirements, I notice some schools specifically outline it should not be family.
 
wildcherry said:
I already have a DO letter from a physician I scribed with, and I can potentially get a second DO letter but the physician is related to me (2nd cousin). I have seen you say that having two DO letters is a big advantage, however is it worth it in this instance? Not sure if the benefit of a second DO letter outweighs the stigma against LORs written by relatives.
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Just have your cousin state the familial connection!
 
AlphaStudent said:
Hi guys,

I have a potential DO rec letter writer, who is not directly a family member, but the wife of one of my cousins. Is it OK to get a rec letter from her? Also, I will be shadowing her probably a week before I apply to med schools, is it looked down upon to shadow someone that soon before applying or will I be ok? I was just struggling to find DO's to shadow and I finally got a link to one.
Click to expand...

Hi Alpha!

I would not recommend getting a letter of rec from anyone that you have family links to. Some schools will not accept this as a letter from a DO. If you decide to follow through, ask the school before you spend money applying because they may turn you down!
 
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