How many of you have clinical letters of recommendation?

[DoctorWannaBe]

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My premed advisor told me the other day that I was at a disadvantage because I didn't have a LOR from my clinical experience, even though I have great stats. I didn't get to know anyone well enough at my hospital volunteer experience because I only worked with each person once or twice, and they were all nurses. What are your thoughts on getting a LOR from a clinical experience? Is a letter worth it if it is from a nurse or volunteer coordinator instead of a doctor? I know this has been discussed before, but everyone has different opinions, so I thought I'd get some new perspectives.

 

[Neuronix]

I had a glowing letter from the volunteer coordinator, but none from doctors or nurses. I don't think it hurt me any. True, I was a MD/PhD applicant, but I did get into some good MD programs that had sepearate MD/PhD and MD admissions.

 

[rgporter]

I got a job working for a pathologist in a laboratory. He wrote me a letter that is outstanding. I would recomend trying to find employment, as an EMT, med tech, nurses assis., etc.
Most of those are both great experience and a better source of LOR than traditional "what do I do now" hospital volunteer work.

 

[jlee9531]

i have an awesome letter from my many hours at the children hospital oakland.....over the two+ years ive been there ive gotten to know many people and it was great to know that i had at least one LOR that was awesome and really express why i loved to work there and my potential contribution to medicine...

so yeah clinical letters can kick ass....i hope admissions feel the same way 😉

 

[TravellinDoc]

I work as a med tech/med assistant running the clinic lab at a family med clinic and have been working here for 4 months; however, when I needed the letter, I'd only worked here for a month and didn't really know any of the doctors well, couldn't really ask a resident to do it, but knew the nurses pretty well. My strategy was to put it in the nurses' lap that I DID know pretty well and see what she had to say. Basically I said, hey, if I wanted somebody to write me an LOR from here, who do you think I should talk to, and she got all excited about it and ended up talking to the medical director physician here at the clinic. He may not have KNOWN me that well, but she wrote the letter about my personality and he did it on my work and what it meant to the clinic etc, they both signed it, and it turned out to be my best LOR (most likely the admissions people will know the doc because this clinic trains med students and residents from the UW med school). Moral of the story: just ask and see what comes up cuz I didn't expect a hell of a lot after working here for a month, but I ended up with a letter that I think would get me in all by itself! Good luck!

 

[taehong81]

I think that getting a clinical LOR would be a great if you can get them (I don't think it matter if it comes from doctors or nurses) and the person writing it knows you well. But I don't think it is necessary or put you in a disadvantage. I have no clinical LOR in my application. My best LOR came from a high school teacher that I worked with during my teaching internship (which was non-medical). On one of my interview, my interviewer specifically mentioned that I had excellent recommendation. So as long as you can get LOR, rather it be clinical or non-clinical, from someone that knows you well, you should be fine.

 

[Lux Aeterna]

Originally posted by taehong81
I think that getting a clinical LOR would be a great if you can get them (I don't think it matter if it comes from doctors or nurses) and the person writing it knows you well. But I don't think it is necessary or put you in a disadvantage. I have no clinical LOR in my application. My best LOR came from a high school teacher that I worked with during my teaching internship (which was non-medical). On one of my interview, my interviewer specifically mentioned that I had excellent recommendation. So as long as you can get LOR, rather it be clinical or non-clinical, from someone that knows you well, you should be fine.

I have to echo this sentiment. It really is more important that the letters be strong and personal, instead of trying to fit a certain mold like, oh one from a random clinical experience, another generic one from some bigshot professor etc. And LORs can really help. My grades aren't the strongest part of my application, and the interviewer at my state school asked me what happened. It was my first interview, and I was kinda internally groaning, cuz even though I knew I would have to explain some of my grades, it just feels so awkward when you delve into it. But the coolest part was after my explanation, he literally said, no joke, "Well don't worry cuz you kicked ass on the letters, so that definitely helps your standing." My letters were just written by people who may not hold the highest position in said organization, but know me really well and can vouch for my integrity. So it can definitely help!

 

[greggth]

I'm applying to about 40 schools.
I have gotten 7 interviews so far. I have very little clinical experience. I have been shadowing a doc in the ER for about 5 months (4 hours per week). I have helped him out on really small things once in a while, and we get along really well. He is a really nice guy, he is well-respected in the ER, and he gets along well with almost everyone. I got him to write me a letter of recommendation for 4 schools. Should I ask him to send the letter of recommendation to the other schools too? Or would it just annoy him and not significantly strengthen my application?

 

[charityj]

I think that clinical experience and LOR are very important. I went to an application workshop held by the Dean of admissions at the U of A (AZ), and he said that the admissions committee prefers clinical/experience letters. I don't know if this is true for all schools, but it makes sense to me.

However, I would reiterate what others have said in this thread: It's better to get a recommendation from someone who truly knows you. If it's possible that they are clinically related, that's even better.

😉