Family member writing LOR?

[Plue00]

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Would it look bad if a family member (uncle) wrote your LOR?

My uncle is a pretty well known radiologist in his area and he used to be a professor of radiology at one of the med schools that's in my state. I've shadowed him a lot and he offered to write my a LOR for when I get ready to apply.

I've heard that physician LORs don't really matter much but I don't want adcoms to think he only wrote it because he's my uncle. Even if they don't matter much, I'd rather it not hurt me in anyway.

Should I take him up on his offer or should I ask another physician that I'm shadowing? Also, we don't have the same last name and I could ask him to leave out the relation between me and him.

Thanks for the help

 

[olecranon4]

Ask another physician you're shadowing.

 

[phikapdoctor]

Some schools either look down on it or say its not allowed.


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[mystifire]

It is never appropriate or professional to use a family member or spouse as a reference. Period.

 

[dbeast]

My dad wrote my entire AMCAS. Worked out fine for me.

 

[phikapdoctor]

Can your dad write me a LOR?


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[mimelim]

A LOR written by a family member has no credibility. Asking someone to hide the true nature of your relationship is dishonest.

 

[rubisco88]

Ethically I don't think it's right and it looks bad if it's obviously from a relative. But Its sad to say you can probably easily get away with it. Especially if your uncle doesn't share the same last name.

 

[Plue00]

I guess I'm not taking my uncles offer for that LOR then haha

 

[dbeast]

Can your dad write me a LOR?


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He's a plumber so I'm not sure it'll help, but I'll ask.

 

[Irish Football]

Not a good idea.

 

[gyngyn]

Skanky.

 

[occams_razor]

no, don't do it

 

[Mehd School]

It's certainly frowned upon.

If he has a different last name than you, lying is certainly a sketchy option, but you wouldn't be the first.

 

[Irish Football]

Your uncle can always make a call to someone he knows in that school's admissions office. Just don't use a letter from him.

 

[Mehd School]

Your uncle can always make a call to someone he knows in that school's admissions office. Just don't use a letter from him.

This is the better option. 👍

 

[def1]

Here is my take.

If you shadowed your uncle, put in the work and he truly has unbiased good things to say about you and his letter would have merit, then I'd possibly say its okay to use the letter.

If you don't think your uncle can be unbiased in his opinion of you, then no.

Its probably safer to not use it at all tho.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Here is my take.

If you shadowed your uncle, put in the work and he truly has unbiased good things to say about you and his letter would have merit, then I'd possibly say its okay to use the letter.

If you don't think your uncle can be unbiased in his opinion of you, then no.

Its probably safer to not use it at all tho.

In this situation, I think the uncle's actual bias is far less important than the appearance of possible bias. I say that it is never appropriate to have a relative write a recommendation for you, regardless how much work you've done with them.