Advice on charming doctors to write letter(s) of recommendation?

[DaymanNightman]

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So far, I've been shadowing a few doctors up to now and it has been very beneficial to me up to this point. However, the part I'm worried about when it comes to shadowing doctors is asking them to write letters of recommendation. In my past experiences, instructors/supervisors wrote letters of rec for me just because I talked to them more about things not related to what they specialized in (such as sports, current trends, etc.).

I know most doctors aren't really too generous when it comes to letters of recommendation, but can someone give me some advice into "charming" at least one doctor into helping me write a recommendation letter?

If it matters, all I have been doing while shadowing (the doctors) is ask a bunch of questions, get acquainted with the staff, and stand in the corner with or without a notepad while Dr. [Insert Name] asks more about the patient. Sometimes, however, one of the doctors would explain to me more about what they're doing, but that's pretty much it.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Doctor letter of recommendations are usually horse fodder when it comes to admissions, so I wouldn't even bother.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

What could a guy you shadowed honestly say about you that would help? "Did not wear ratty jeans or a WWE shirt to clinic. Kept mouth shut as appropriate. Highly recommend."

 

[fluorescing]

So far, I've been shadowing a few doctors up to now and it has been very beneficial to me up to this point. However, the part I'm worried about when it comes to shadowing doctors is asking them to write letters of recommendation. In my past experiences, instructors/supervisors wrote letters of rec for me just because I talked to them more about things not related to what they specialized in (such as sports, current trends, etc.).

I know most doctors aren't really too generous when it comes to letters of recommendation, but can someone give me some advice into "charming" at least one doctor into helping me write a recommendation letter?

If it matters, all I have been doing while shadowing (the doctors) is ask a bunch of questions, get acquainted with the staff, and stand in the corner with or without a notepad while Dr. [Insert Name] asks more about the patient. Sometimes, however, one of the doctors would explain to me more about what they're doing, but that's pretty much it.

Ask the nicer ones to write you letters. Have a detailed CV ready with your request. Ask them to highlight certain characteristics you think will make you a good medical student and a good future physician. You said you asked a lot of questions. Ask them to highlight your inquisitiveness. You said you got acquainted with staff. Ask them to highlight your ability to communicate and work well with others. If you did many hours of shadowing, have them highlight your commitment into matriculating into medical school and being involved in healthcare.

 

[LizzyM]

Don't bother unless a school specifically states you must have a letter from a physician. Most of the letters written by physicians are just a reiteration of your CV (worthless and perhaps total B.S. depending on what you've told the physician) or just a report that you are prompt, well-groomed, appropriately curious, a quick learner, and respectful toward the staff.

 

[BillrothI]

Don't bother unless a school specifically states you must have a letter from a physician. Most of the letters written by physicians are just a reiteration of your CV (worthless and perhaps total B.S. depending on what you've told the physician) or just a report that you are prompt, well-groomed, appropriately curious, a quick learner, and respectful toward the staff.

Lizzy -

Would you recommend submitting an LOR from a physician if the school "strongly recommends" one? I have several very strong LORs from professors and former employers. Would it be preferable to only send my strongest LORs in this scenario or should I send a "weaker" LOR from a physician per the recommendation.

Thank you.

- Bill R.

 

[LizzyM]

Lizzy -

Would you recommend submitting an LOR from a physician if the school "strongly recommends" one? I have several very strong LORs from professors and former employers. Would it be preferable to only send my strongest LORs in this scenario or should I send a "weaker" LOR from a physician per the recommendation.

Thank you.

- Bill R.

If a school strongly recommends one, then it might be a good idea to have one.

 

[pepes1lv1a]

So far, I've been shadowing a few doctors up to now and it has been very beneficial to me up to this point. However, the part I'm worried about when it comes to shadowing doctors is asking them to write letters of recommendation. In my past experiences, instructors/supervisors wrote letters of rec for me just because I talked to them more about things not related to what they specialized in (such as sports, current trends, etc.).

I know most doctors aren't really too generous when it comes to letters of recommendation, but can someone give me some advice into "charming" at least one doctor into helping me write a recommendation letter?

If it matters, all I have been doing while shadowing (the doctors) is ask a bunch of questions, get acquainted with the staff, and stand in the corner with or without a notepad while Dr. [Insert Name] asks more about the patient. Sometimes, however, one of the doctors would explain to me more about what they're doing, but that's pretty much it.

Saw your username and had to respond.


Asking one of the attendings at my ER terrified me for some reason. I'm an ER tech, and they rarely interact with us. Since I was new I was worried they wouldn't even know my name. I just chose the nicest one I had talked to the most and he said yes right away. He doesn't know me that well, but what do you expect? It's not like other pre-meds are going to be turning MD recs in saying "So and so is such a shining beacon of humanity, I would trust him/her to operate on my child. blindfolded." I think what's more important is that you made a favorable impression and actually were in a position to request the rec.

 

[pepes1lv1a]

If a school strongly recommends one, then it might be a good idea to have one.

Hi Lizzy,

On a semi-related note, for shadowing, how important is it that one of the experience be with family/general practice, particularly for rural medicine-oriented schools? I've shadowed GI/emergency med/general surgery/orthopedic surgery, but I'm applying to a lot of schools that purport to have a primary care focus. The specialty breakdowns didn't seem that remarkably skewed towards internal medicine/GP, but I am no adcom expert. I also don't know many GPs at the hospital I work at, and got most of my shadowing opportunities through networking with the specialists swooping in and out of the ED...

I guess what I'm getting at is, how high of a priority should filling that gap be before interviews? Working 40 hours/week, class, and secondaries won't leave much time, but if it's a dealbreaker, I'd find a way I suppose

 

[kiwisryummy]

It can be tricky to get a good LOR just shadowing a physician. I would highly recommend actually working with a doc in a clinical setting (ie med assist in a low cost clinic, work as an EMT, volunteer at a hospital) where they can actually see you in action with patients. I am a non-traditional student, I worked for a couple of years at a low cost clinic that does outpatient surgery and med assisted with one of the docs for a few years. she wrote a stellar letter, emailed it to me several times for editing and then sent it to interfolio (which I printed out a mail request form and addressed envelope, (much easier for babyboomer docs than uploading. 🙂 ) When I asked for the letter originally I mentioned how she was a huge inspiration to me (a little flattery never hurts, right?) Might not be worth it for you specifically if you are already applying now, but if you have a gap, I would recommend it.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi Lizzy,

On a semi-related note, for shadowing, how important is it that one of the experience be with family/general practice, particularly for rural medicine-oriented schools? I've shadowed GI/emergency med/general surgery/orthopedic surgery, but I'm applying to a lot of schools that purport to have a primary care focus. The specialty breakdowns didn't seem that remarkably skewed towards internal medicine/GP, but I am no adcom expert. I also don't know many GPs at the hospital I work at, and got most of my shadowing opportunities through networking with the specialists swooping in and out of the ED...

I guess what I'm getting at is, how high of a priority should filling that gap be before interviews? Working 40 hours/week, class, and secondaries won't leave much time, but if it's a dealbreaker, I'd find a way I suppose

Are you interested in family medicine or practice in a rural area? How do you know this is a good fit for you? If you can answer those questions, you might be a good fit with the schools that focus on family medicine in rural areas. If not, they may not see you as a good fit. Act accordingly.

 

[stargate16]

The doctors I shadowed were mentors to me, that I really got to know well. They insisted on giving me LOR's, I gained a lot from my time with them and it wasn't just typical shadowing. I really hope their letters will be taken into account..

 

[rosaceae]

The doctors I shadowed were mentors to me, that I really got to know well. They insisted on giving me LOR's, I gained a lot from my time with them and it wasn't just typical shadowing. I really hope their letters will be taken into account..

Same here. He wrote a really great letter of recommendation about my organization and leadership skills (since I was working with him as the President of a pre-med organization) and in that letter also included his opinion about my bedside manner while working at a medical clinic with him. In my opinion this letter is really strong and doesn't just say "oh she shadowed me" because it was a lot more than that.. just because he is a physician would adcoms immediately scoff at it without fully reading it? I really want to send it to schools if they allow additional letters.

 

[LizzyM]

We do read these letters... the first thing is how long as the writer known you and in what circumstances. If the letter writer has known you for six weeks while you were shadowing, that's a short time and a rather superficial opportunity for observing you.... the same goes for the doctor who lives next door who has known you for your whole life but has never had any interaction with you aside from being a kid in the neighborhood. (Nice kid, good family, always shoveled the walk for the widow who lived across the street)

If the writer has known you for fifteen years because he is your best friend's dad and you shadowed him for six weeks, we may have some concern about whether the letter is really an unbiased assessment.... (the one that takes the cake in that regard was a doc who wrote that the applicant had been dating his daughter and "I hope one day to call him my son-in-law").

The best letters are from someone who has known you in an academic or professional capacity or through a long-term extracurricular activity such as research or a service organization.

 

[lall]

We do read these letters... the first thing is how long as the writer known you and in what circumstances. If the letter writer has known you for six weeks while you were shadowing, that's a short time and a rather superficial opportunity for observing you.... the same goes for the doctor who lives next door who has known you for your whole life but has never had any interaction with you aside from being a kid in the neighborhood. (Nice kid, good family, always shoveled the walk for the widow who lived across the street)

If the writer has known you for fifteen years because he is your best friend's dad and you shadowed him for six weeks, we may have some concern about whether the letter is really an unbiased assessment.... (the one that takes the cake in that regard was a doc who wrote that the applicant had been dating his daughter and "I hope one day to call him my son-in-law").

The best letters are from someone who has known you in an academic or professional capacity or through a long-term extracurricular activity such as research or a service organization.

LizzyM, say you have an open spot for a letter, and the chair of your department who knows your work, and you but hasn't worked directly with you (research, top 20 university, and top 20 department) offers to write you a letter. Does the letter carry weight? Should it be used instead of a volunteer one or something of that nature? Or does it really not matter?

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM, say you have an open spot for a letter, and the chair of your department who knows your work, and you but hasn't worked directly with you (research, top 20 university, and top 20 department) offers to write you a letter. Does the letter carry weight? Should it be used instead of a volunteer one or something of that nature? Or does it really not matter?

If he knows your work and can speak to it in a way that has not been covered by any other letter writer, then go for it. If not, use a different letter than will express information that isn't other wise in your packet of letters.