How many hours before asking for a LOR?

[ckd816]

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How many hours of experience do you think should be had with a vet before asking for a LOR?

 

[rachroo]

I think instead of needing an actual number of minimum hours, you should instead focus on your relationship with the person/people in question. Make sure the individual knows you well enough to comment on your personality, motivation, dedication, work ethic, etc. Put a lot of thought into who you decide to ask...this is a major part of your application that you are putting into someone else's "hands", so to speak.

I asked:
1) an emergency vet who I volunteered/shadowed with for 3 months (but didn't work with her the entire time since Dr's were on rotational basis)
2) one of my vet bosses (who I consider my mentor) for 7 years at time of application
3) my physics prof who I had a year worth of lab/classes with; I also met with him several hours a week in office hours

 

[GellaBella]

I agree, I think it has to do more with how well you think the person you are asking for a LOR from knows you and can vouch for your good qualities.

I've been shadowing a vet twice a week since Oct...about 250 hours now. I am confident that when I ask him for a req he will be able to write me a good one.

I will also be shadowing a fertility specialist vet for 2 weeks this summer (every day). I don't think I will ask her for a LOR...I just don't feel that 2 weeks (about 80 hours) is long enough for someone to be able to talk about me more than in just a superficial 'she seems interested in the work' kind of way.

 

[ckd816]

Thanks for the responses. I agree that it should depend more on the quality of the relationship over the quantity of time spent with the person, but I guess I'm just trying to find out what people feel the average time would be to establish a relationship like that. I know it's kind of a weird question that totally depends on each person, but I have also heard some people say that you should never ask for a LOR without spending x amount of hours with someone. I'm sort of trying to predict the future here because I'm looking to start something new over the summer, but I may only be able to devote 10 hours per week, leaving me with roughly 120 hours at the end of the summer. Then, I'd have to ask for a LOR relatively soon if things went well in order to give them enough time to write it before the VMCAS deadline. Again, I know it depends on the circumstance, but I just thought that number of hours sounded small.

 

[GellaBella]

Is it possible, once you start working with the person a bit, to ask them if they think they would be able to write a POSITIVE (always need to include that in there...I do know people who have written negative LORs) recommendation for you by the end of the summer?

Not only does that give them the option of saying whether or not they think they will know enough about you by then but also will put it in their mind that you will be asking them for a LOR..then they can kind of pay more attention to what you do so they have some specific instances to write about.

 

[cowgirl in MO]

ditto what everyone else says about the vet needing to be able to comment on your motivation, work ethic, etc...

In total, I didn't rack up tons of hours but I spent good quality time with the vets who I shadowed and made sure that I talked with them a lot so they had a chance to get to know me. You could spend two weeks shadowing a vet and as long as you talked to them a lot and they got to know you then I think they can write a LOR for you.

 

[cowgirl in MO]

I may only be able to devote 10 hours per week, leaving me with roughly 120 hours at the end of the summer. Then, I'd have to ask for a LOR relatively soon if things went well in order to give them enough time to write it before the VMCAS deadline. Again, I know it depends on the circumstance, but I just thought that number of hours sounded small.

You're fine. I had only 95 hours with one vet and he wrote an excellent LOR on my behalf.

 

[sumstorm]

Sometimes quality will matter more than quantity. One of the vets that I worked with at the zoo as another animal professional (ie I wasn't his employee, but my charges were under his veterinary care) references a few examples of when he knew I would make an excellent vet. A few extremly challenging/stressful situations did more to form his opinion of me then lots of hours. So it may be situational. I think it is easier to 'know' someone and how they perform by how they act towards clients near the end of a long 12 hour shift then I feel like I know about some of our PT staff that I never see how they are when exhausted and frazzled.

 

[StillDreaming]

as some others have said.... don't focus on the number of hours, but rather the skills the vet has seen you perform and improve. think about what they can say about you in a positive way (hopefully). Can they honestly reccomend to the ad comm that you will be a good vet? I asked a vet after only knowing her for about 4 weeks (very unconventional), but she had seen me perform a variety of tasks those 4 weeks on large, exotic and small animals (it was a study abroad experience). in those 4 weeks i only had about 200-300 total hours, but she said she was very confident she could write a strong letter and didn't think the fact she had known me for such a short period of time would hinder the reccommendation. So it's all situational. The question is not how many hours, but do you think they can write a strong letter, and then don't be afraid to ask them if they feel comfortable enough with you to write a strong letter.

Good luck!

 

[sumstorm]

Something else to consider is what you need the ELOR to say. I needed one from a prof that addressed my ability to handle an intesive academic load. I needed the SA vet to talk about my skills with people and the zoo vet about my ability to handle preventive and emergency care. If there are areas that are potentially weak on your application that your ELORS can (and are willing) to address, it can be helpful to discuss those areas with them.

 

[BrumleyVet]

I thought I'd comment on this thread. I am applying this year, but have only been working at my multiple vet clinic for about a month. I am working full time, but not with each vet every day.

Regarding my LORs, I know they are due by the first of October, but am torn between the fear of asking for one too soon and not having much time on, or waiting until I've been there longer and not giving them a long time to write them.

By the way, do we only need one from a vet?

 

[david594]

By the way, do we only need one from a vet?

Depends on the school. Some specifically require 2 to be from vets.

If you have vets in mind you plan to ask, I think its a good idea to give them a head ups early that you would like a recommendation. Ask if they would be willing and just point out that there is no rush yet. This way they can at least have it in the back of their mind while working with you. Then as you get closer to the deadline remind them again.