Clinical LOR?

[FireTop]

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hey guys

ive shadowed an anesthesiologist for about a year and i was wondering would it be a good thing if i received a LOR from this doctor? i already have 4, i was just wondering if a "clinical" LOR from an actual physician is looked highly upon?

thanks guys and sorry if this has been asked

 

[FlowLimited]

I'll tell you what I tell everyone who asks this question.

Would it hurt to get the letter? No. Would it have any profound effect on your application? Probably not.

Under most circumstances, letters from MDs that you've shadowed are fairly useless. They can comment on your walking skills, your ability to be quiet when necessary, and your expertise in feigning comprehension by nodding eagerly as they explain to you something you're clueless about.

Unless you've really gotten to know them and worked with them closely, there's not a whole lot that they can offer you in terms of a letter.

By all means though, if you want to get the letter, go for it. It can't hurt.

 

[angeladav]

I'll tell you what I tell everyone who asks this question.

Would it hurt to get the letter? No. Would it have any profound effect on your applica

tion? Probably not.

Under most circumstances, letters from MDs that you've shadowed are fairly useless. They can comment on your walking skills, your ability to be quiet when necessary, and your expertise in feigning comprehension by nodding eagerly as they explain to you something you're clueless about.

Unless you've really gotten to know them and worked with them closely, there's not a whole lot that they can offer you in terms of a letter.

By all means though, if you want to get the letter, go for it. It can't hurt.

Exactly, get it anyways. Its always good to have options and extra LOR.

 

[shemarty]

Unless you've really gotten to know them and worked with them closely, there's not a whole lot that they can offer you in terms of a letter.

True, but if you *have* gotten to know them pretty well over the course of the year, and they observed your curiosity, eagerness to learn, empathy, dedication, etc, they can write about these traits.

I put my "shadowing" letter at the top of my letter packet.

 

[scattun]

I agree with the first reply this will most likely have no bearing on your application, and no letter is looked highly upon, just because an MD wrote it. If this is your only character letter, I say what the hay, go for it. But if not, don't bother.

 

[FlowLimited]

True, but if you *have* gotten to know them pretty well over the course of the year, and they observed your curiosity, eagerness to learn, empathy, dedication, etc, they can write about these traits.

I put my "shadowing" letter at the top of my letter packet.

Absolutely.

 

[Blesbok]

If it is an academic physician, I would definitely include it at least for the school that he works with.