How to Get Physician Letter of Recommendation ASAP

[TheBossDoctor]

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So one of my secondaries asks for a LOR from a physician. I shadowed doctors a while ago, but I don't think they remember me. What would you guys recommend I do to obtain a LOR from a doctor? Would it be best to ask them even though they don't remember me? Or should I try to find another doctor to shadow either this week or next? I need this letter really soon, and at the very least, I need to know at least who it is that will be writing this letter before I turn in the secondary.

 

[Toss]

So one of my secondaries asks for a LOR from a physician. I shadowed doctors a while ago, but I don't think they remember me. What would you guys recommend I do to obtain a LOR from a doctor? Would it be best to ask them even though they don't remember me? Or should I try to find another doctor to shadow either this week or next? I need this letter really soon, and at the very least, I need to know at least who it is that will be writing this letter before I turn in the secondary.

1. Just go up to that doctor and ask if he/she would feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for you. Worst case scenario, he/she refuses and you're back at square one.

2. Generally speaking, physician LORs aren't required nor very influential unless you really got to know the other person. As LizzyM says:

DO schools want to see that you've become familiar with osteopathic medicine and have one of their own endorse your candidacy. MD schools do not have the same requirement.

If a pre-med committee wants to assure that every student has clinical experience, they may require the MD letter as a way of documenting that clinical exposure.

Some med schools may like to see a MD letter but my (unnamed) school does not require one and I've never heard anyone comment favorablly about one.

Most MD letters from someone you have shadowed are bland and minimally informative. Typically the applicant was well groomed and dressed appropriately, showed up on time, was respectful, asked good questions, was curious,and learned quickly (didn't have to be told twice). Most have nothing negative to say and the positives are usually so bland (because the shadow hasn't been asked to demonstrate any skills such as the ability to carry on a conversation, calm a distraught child, maintain a professional demeanor during a challenging encounter) as to be meaningless.

 

[October88]

If it were me unless it was one of the schools you arevreally hoping for and have a great shot of acceptance at I would just not complete the secondary or contact the admission.office and see if there is an alternative.

None of my schools required this so it would only be most likely for that school.

 

[TheBossDoctor]

@Toss- I know that they aren't that influential. That's why I haven't bothered getting one so far haha. It's just that the secondary "strongly recommends" that we submit a LOR from a physician.

@October88- Yea it's my state school so I do need to fill out this secondary. Otherwise I probably wouldn't care so much about it.

This is for Medical College of Georgia's secondary btw.

 

[Amazingmuzmo]

That's a pretty ****ty secondary requirement.

 

[LizzyM]

So one of my secondaries asks for a LOR from a physician. I shadowed doctors a while ago, but I don't think they remember me. What would you guys recommend I do to obtain a LOR from a doctor? Would it be best to ask them even though they don't remember me? Or should I try to find another doctor to shadow either this week or next? I need this letter really soon, and at the very least, I need to know at least who it is that will be writing this letter before I turn in the secondary.

You might be surprised about how well they remember you. And your job now is to jog their memory by providing at least your resume and/or your personal statement and if you are very proud of your record, your entire AMCAS application. The kind of doc who thought you were ok is likely to write a bland letter and might just repeat stuff he sees in your file such as you are a x major at y university and you have been involved in z volunteering or research and that you were polite and curious and prompt when you shadowed back in '09 That's all you need.

Frankly, no offense to you but it seems to me that this is a good ole boy requirement meant to keep a certain element of the population out of medical school. (not necessarily by race but it does seem like it would be discriminatory against a class of people who are unable to arrange a shadowing opportunity.)