Advice for who to ask Letters of Recommendation from?

[Chrisg120]

Here is my quandary:

I am currently looking to begin my Applications to Med School (MD) and want to determine who I should reach out to to write my LOR. I talked to a counselor at one of the medical schools and he said either science professors or medical professionals had to write my LORs.

My clinical experience is 1 year (2008-2009) in Outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (developing Ex. Prescriptions for post-op patients) and 2.5 years working in an outpatient Physical Therapy clinic as a Rehabilitation Specialist.

In my Cardiac Rehab job, the two MDs who signed off on everything probably wouldn't remember me 6 years later, so the RN who was my direct supervisor would be the only person I would feel appropriate to have write a LOR. Is having an RN (MS, RN, FCN) as one of my LORs appropriate or helpful?

For my Physical Therapy job, I worked with two Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPT) and two Doctors of Chiropractic (DC). The CEO/owner was a DC, but my immediate supervisor was a DPT. Would a LOR from a DPT carry more weight than a LOR from a CEO who happens to be a DC? Should I get one from each or should I scratch even thinking about submitting anything from a DC (due to the stigma/bias in the medical community).

Last, but not least, I have a friend who is graduating DO school this week and he has known me for almost 20 years ( I was a groomsman in his wedding!). We've never worked together, but he would be a great personal reference who just so happens to be a doctor (albeit a very fresh one). Would a LOR from him be helpful, or should I stick to established, long-term, medical professionals?

To list my options again:

1) Well established RN and former direct supervisor 2) DPT and Clinical Director 3) DC and CEO 4) Fresh DO school grad who would be good personal reference but lacks experience.

I have two LORs guaranteed, one coming from my Father in law who happens to be a ENT Surgeon and a chairman at his hospital, and another from my chemistry professor. Want to know how to round out the other 3.

Thanks guys!

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[Cawolf]

-The direct supervisor will be useful, the RN is not important, but a direct supervisor is.

-The DPT, same as above.

-The DC/CEO letter is likely not useful.

-The fresh DO grad is not useful.

-Unfortunately, the letter from your Father In-Law should be avoided. Many schools will state that letters from relatives are not allowed.

-The chemistry professor is good.

I would suggest trying to find a second science professor letter if possible. A good packet would be your supervisor and two professors. If you want a fourth letter and the DPT is a supervisor, you can use that one.

 

[gyngyn]

Physician letters are generally considered fluff (at MD schools).
Letters from a relative are way worse than fluff.
A work supervisor can be a good choice.
A Chiropractor LOR is not a good choice.

A DO letter is a good choice for DO schools.

 

[vellez]

Granted, I am not a doctor, but I did get into three med schools, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Ask people who know you well enough to comment on your character, personality, strengths and weaknesses. Don't be concerned with the letters after their name.

For me, I worked in an ED...the doctors I worked with knew me, but the nurses knew me better. So, I had the nurse write it. I feel that was a better choice since she interacted with me more, and could shed light about my character and personality. For the people saying the RN is not important...I believe they are very wrong. Usually interacting with doctors is minimal in many activities that premeds do (and adcoms know this). Nurses, on the other hand, often get to know volunteers/premeds quite well. In my opinion, and this could depend on the school, adcoms want to learn about you as a person, not read a letter from another doctor.

The DO letter is a very bad idea, in your case. Most schools require that the letter writer explicitly say how they know the applicant, and if the DO was honest, he'd have to say he is a personal friend. You should ask another DO, if you require a DO letter.

Please do not use any letters from any family member. I cannot stress this enough. It is a terrible idea.

 

[Cawolf]

For the people saying the RN is not important...I believe they are very wrong.

I did not say the RN as a person was unimportant, I said that they were a good letter due to their supervisory role (as opposed to their title).

 

[vellez]

I did not say the RN as a person was unimportant, I said that they were a good letter due to their supervisory role (as opposed to their title).

Oh, yeah. I misread. I'm sorry for that! I agree that you are absolutely right about the direct supervisor being important.

 

[NucleusO]

When should rec letters be turned in? I want to give the writers enough time because they're all busy.

 

[Shadowade]

Physician letters are generally considered fluff (at MD schools).
Letters from a relative are way worse than fluff.
A work supervisor can be a good choice.
A Chiropractor LOR is not a good choice.

A DO letter is a good choice for DO schools.

I thought poor physician LORs were usually associated with shadowing. I've asked docs that I worked with as a scribe for LORs. Would those carry more weight?

 

[gyngyn]

I thought poor physician LORs were usually associated with shadowing. I've asked docs that I worked with as a scribe for LORs. Would those carry more weight?

Maybe a little, but we have grown accustomed to the usual bland praise.
Anyone more objective and accustomed to evaluating the qualities we are looking for would be preferable.

What can he really say? "Shadowade types really fast and doesn't get in my way that much."

 

[taco.cat]

Physician letters are generally considered fluff (at MD schools).

Would my experience be an exception to that? I shadowed an MD over a year for 80 hours. She is also the head of a sister lab that my PI oversees. Through this collaboration I was a co-author on a paper that was published.

I've seen that advice a lot on SDN so I've been a tad worried that her LOR won't hold much weight just based on the fact its from an MD I've shadowed.

 

[gyngyn]

Would my experience be an exception to that? I shadowed an MD over a year for 80 hours. She is also the head of a sister lab that my PI oversees. Through this collaboration I was a co-author on a paper that was published.

I've seen that advice a lot on SDN so I've been a tad worried that her LOR won't hold much weight just based on the fact its from an MD I've shadowed.

A professor or PI with a significant supervisory or teaching role who happens to be a physician will be afforded the same respect as a PhD letter writer.
Someone you shadowed would not meet this criteria

 

[Chrisg120]

My main issue is that I am many years removed from undergrad, and am currently still in the process of completing my pre-requisites. My undergraduate GPA was quite poor but my graduate school (MBA) GPA was a 3.8. I currently work in the technology business and haven't worked in a clinical environment since 2013 (the physical therapy place). Essentially, I'm hoping my LOR convey my maturity as a student and professional in the intermittent years from graduation (2008) to now, as my undergrad GPA will be a significant detriment to my application. Outside of the people I have mentioned, I can't think of anyone else that would be able to write strongly on my behalf for the sheer fact that it's been a long time. So more letters=more people vouching for my maturation as a student.

 

[Chrisg120]

I just completed Chem 2 (got a B) and Physics 1 (Got an A) this Spring, I'm taking Orgo 1 this summer, and Orgo 2 and Physics 2 in the fall, and I got a 25 on the MCAT (which I took without having taken the pre-reqs). Because of my undergraduate GPA (2.2), I'm relegating myself to one of the top 4 Caribbean MD schools (most likely SGU or AUC though). All of the people that I'm pondering having write my letters are people I have strong Professional relationships with (I was very hard working while I was there and I believe they think very highly of me). Essentially, knowing that they'll write positively of me, I needed to wittle down who would be considered more "credible" when compared against eachother. My current boss at the technology company that I work at would write very highly of me, but his credibility to the medical industry would be lacking. As far as my father in law, I have shadowed him at his practice and wasn't planning on having him disclose that he was my father in law. As far as my DO friend, I was hoping that he would round out my "professional" references with a "personal" reference relating our studies together over the years and our long-standing interest in the health sciences (we took many courses together in high school and in undergrad together).

Do you still think I should stick with just the DPT and the RN and the chem professor, and scratch everyone else? Essentially, I have limited resources on who can write the letters and I want to overcome my poor UG GPA with them demonstrating my work ethic and intelligence.

 

[Cawolf]

Ultimately you can elect to submit whatever letters you please.

I simply provided my opinion, which has not changed.

As mentioned above, the DO letter may be useful if you applying to osteopathic school, but I personally would not use a letter from a friend.

 

[vellez]

I just completed Chem 2 (got a B) and Physics 1 (Got an A) this Spring, I'm taking Orgo 1 this summer, and Orgo 2 and Physics 2 in the fall, and I got a 25 on the MCAT (which I took without having taken the pre-reqs). Because of my undergraduate GPA (2.2), I'm relegating myself to one of the top 4 Caribbean MD schools (most likely SGU or AUC though). All of the people that I'm pondering having write my letters are people I have strong Professional relationships with (I was very hard working while I was there and I believe they think very highly of me). Essentially, knowing that they'll write positively of me, I needed to wittle down who would be considered more "credible" when compared against eachother. My current boss at the technology company that I work at would write very highly of me, but his credibility to the medical industry would be lacking. As far as my father in law, I have shadowed him at his practice and wasn't planning on having him disclose that he was my father in law. As far as my DO friend, I was hoping that he would round out my "professional" references with a "personal" reference relating our studies together over the years and our long-standing interest in the health sciences (we took many courses together in high school and in undergrad together).

Do you still think I should stick with just the DPT and the RN and the chem professor, and scratch everyone else? Essentially, I have limited resources on who can write the letters and I want to overcome my poor UG GPA with them demonstrating my work ethic and intelligence.

I think that having your current boss is a very good LOR. Many, many students will not have even had any sort of boss (because they are younger than you), and the character comments a boss could provide would be really valuable to your application, if your boss spoke highly of you. Ideally, the letters should comment on your ability to be a doctor, but character comments (which can be derived from letters from any professional) are also useful.

Not including that this doctor is your father in law is dishonest, in my opinion. Many schools require that the letter writer says how s/he knows the applicant, and if your father in law were writing an honest letter, he'd need to say he is your father in law. If you insist on having an MD letter, perhaps ask your father in law if he has any colleagues he can hook you up with to shadow. Maybe ask a letter of them? Plus, having more shadow hours is always a bonus.

The DPT, RN, chem prof and your current boss seem like a really good variety of letters. Definitely scratch your father in law and the DO. If anything, I'd recommend one more science prof and non-science prof, if possible.

Good luck.