Doctor recommendation, professor or shadowed?

[MaddieBear123]

Hi everybody,
In the process of applying and wondering if a letter of rec from an MD that I've shadowed is more important than an MD who was my grad school ethics professor. I know the rec from the ethics professor is going to be strong, but the letter from the MD I shadowed might speak to my patient interaction skills more. I hate having to choose between them but I'm afraid I'm at my letter limit so I need to make a choice.
Here's who's writing letters:
1. Science faculty from undergrad
2. Science faculty from grad school
3. Science faculty from grad school/PI
4. Former supervisor for my work as a teacher abroad
5. Non-science faculty from grad school (research methods professor)

I've been agonizing over this and I just want to get it done and not worry so much about the optics, but unfortunately students have to worry about that for med school admissions.
Thanks!

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[Monkeymojo]

I think it is really good to have a letter that speaks to your aptitude to provide patient care so I would include the shadowed physician one. Have you considered dropping your undergrad science faculty letter for the ethics one? You already have 2 science from grad school that can speak to your scientific curiosity and learning capability, not sure if you need 3.

 

[GreenDuck12]

You have 4 academic letter writers so far. How will having 5 improve your application? Go with the shadowing letter. That being said, don’t agonize over this decision, it is unlikely to impact your application.

 

[gyngyn]

For MD, shadowing letters are the weakest form of endorsement.
Some schools request a "clinical" letter. It's apparently fine for that.
Whatever you do, check the MSAR before blasting all those letters out!

 

[Goro]

Have mercy on those of us who have to read all these things. More =/= better.

 

[jhmmd]

Pick the best 3-4 letters. 'Nuff said.