Can you get a LOR from your parents employer?

[dank204]

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My dad's boss is a doctor who graduated from a school I want to go to. He actually teaches there too. Can I use him as a LOR?

 

[TexasPhysician]

Do you have experience shadowing him or do extensive work with him?

 

[dank204]

Do you have experience shadowing him or do extensive work with him?

No, he's an opthalmologist and I am not interested in his line of work. I've known him for years and he said he'd write me one if I was ever interested in going to med school.

 

[BushidoBrown]

I'd say no. He probably won't be able to write anything meaningful about your education and your experience in a clinical setting; what's more, it's expected in a LOR to mention how he knows you, and if he mentions that he's known you for many years, it's likely to raise some eyebrows at an adcom meeting.

 

[TexasPhysician]

No, he's an opthalmologist and I am not interested in his line of work. I've known him for years and he said he'd write me one if I was ever interested in going to med school.

Theoretically you could ask him, but I'd be very wary of this. What exactly would he write an LOR about? He wouldn't be able to mention how he knows you, he can't attest to any clinical experience with you, etc. He would either have to lie throughout the letter or say something like "I know applicant X through a friend. Applicant X seems intelligent when we've met for coffee randomly. Etc. Etc."

You could always ask for a letter and just be sure to read it before you send it anywhere. Maybe you both have more experience together than you are telling me, but it just feels like it would be a REALLY weak letter.

 

[dank204]

I would only want to use him as a LOR to this one school. I wouldn't use his LOR for another school. It's a networking thing.

 

[BushidoBrown]

What applies for all schools would necessarily apply for 'this' school.

 

[deleted357625]

go for it if you think he can write you a good one

 

[TexasPhysician]

I would only want to use him as a LOR to this one school. I wouldn't use his LOR for another school. It's a networking thing.

Instead of an LOR, I would ask him if he could put in a good word for me with the Dean of Admissions.

 

[dank204]

Instead of an LOR, I would ask him if he could put in a good word for me with the Dean of Admissions.

Can they do that? That's really what I meant by asking him for a LOR. Just to put in a good word.

 

[LEUNIT]

Instead of an LOR, I would ask him if he could put in a good word for me with the Dean of Admissions.

This. But don't say it like I would:

"Say mayne, can you hook a brotha up?!"

 

[TexasPhysician]

Can they do that? That's really what I meant by asking him for a LOR. Just to put in a good word.

Why not? If the guy teaches at the institution, he surely runs into other faculty/admissions at some point or another. A personal talk between the two would likely go further than a piece of paper.

 

[dank204]

Why not? If the guy teaches at the institution, he surely runs into other faculty/admissions at some point or another. A personal talk between the two would likely go further than a piece of paper.

Interesting. A LOR and a good word is kind of like a 1-2 punch for my application.

 

[Sunny29918]

No, he's an opthalmologist and I am not interested in his line of work. I've known him for years and he said he'd write me one if I was ever interested in going to med school.

In spite of not being interested in the line of work, I would suggest you actually shadow him anyways, just for more experience and the LOR. He can legit say you shadowed him and then you know positively that you are not interested in his work and you get more clinical experience. It is possible the put good word in could work too, but some doctors might object to that/ it might backfire with an adcom not liking someone to do that.

 

[LizzyM]

A better use of your connection would be to see if he would be interested in having you help with some clinical research project, maybe even have you do some small chart review study. If you are too far away for that to work, at least shadow him.

I wouldn't put much weight on a LOR from a faculty member who employs the applicant's parent (too likely to be biased) but sometimes a phone call from such a faculty member to the admissions office will bump an application into the interview pile. In truth, a phone call from a faculty member can be more powerful than a simple LOR.

 

[dank204]

A better use of your connection would be to see if he would be interested in having you help with some clinical research project, maybe even have you do some small chart review study. If you are too far away for that to work, at least shadow him.

I wouldn't put much weight on a LOR from a faculty member who employs the applicant's parent (too likely to be biased) but sometimes a phone call from such a faculty member to the admissions office will bump an application into the interview pile. In truth, a phone call from a faculty member can be more powerful than a simple LOR.

Interesting. Would two phone calls from two different faculty members help me out even more? I shadowed another faculty member several years ago and I might try to work with him again. Do these phone calls/recommendations really put you at a higher advantage?

 

[IlDestriero]

A more useful letter of recommendation would be from someone employed by your father. That's how it's done.👍
You premeds have so much to learn.😉

 

[dank204]

A more useful letter of recommendation would be from someone employed by your father. That's how it's done.👍
You premeds have so much to learn.😉

I like my idea better.

 

[apumic]

A more useful letter of recommendation would be from someone employed by your father. That's how it's done.👍
You premeds have so much to learn.😉

Hahaha....so true. No bias there at all.

 

[apumic]

My dad's boss is a doctor who graduated from a school I want to go to. He actually teaches there too. Can I use him as a LOR?

Won't be of much value unless he's worked with you. For an LOR to be effective, it must contribute something and a family friend (incl. dad's boss) is unlikely to have much to contribute unless he's actually supervised YOUR work. See if you can do a project w/ him or for him. Even if it's something mundane, you could get an LOR of it. For instance, volunteer to help with menial tasks at the clinic for no pay for awhile or something -- or do some research for him (the latter would be better, but oftentimes the best opportunities come to those willing to "pay their dues" first).

 

[aSagacious]

I actually just had my mom write the dean a letter and tell him how wonderful and special I was. 😛

JK, yeah you should be fine with that letter (just don't mention that he has any relation to your dad).