important LOR question - please help?

[sunnex3]

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i have been working as a vet assistant at a practice for summer 2008, winter 2008-2009, and so far this summer. one of the vets at the practice joined the practice last summer, but is leaving for another practice this summer (in august) however, i have found that we get along great and i think she respects me as a person so far. she knows some of my personal goals (such as specializing in surgery) and a lot about the tough academics at my school, etc. - so i feel like she knows me pretty well (or so i'd like to hope) she's a recent vet school grad, but i would REALLY love to ask her for a LOR before she leaves the practice.

my main question is, she hasn't even known me a full year or anything - would admissions people look down on this fact?

and even if i did ask her for a LOR would i ask her this summer? i'm not applying until NEXT summer so would i wait a whole year or just ask her now?

thanks for everyone's advice in advance.

 

[aspiringDVM]

i have been working as a vet assistant at a practice for summer 2008, winter 2008-2009, and so far this summer. one of the vets at the practice joined the practice last summer, but is leaving for another practice this summer (in august) however, i have found that we get along great and i think she respects me as a person so far. she knows some of my personal goals (such as specializing in surgery) and a lot about the tough academics at my school, etc. - so i feel like she knows me pretty well (or so i'd like to hope) she's a recent vet school grad, but i would REALLY love to ask her for a LOR before she leaves the practice.

my main question is, she hasn't even known me a full year or anything - would admissions people look down on this fact?

and even if i did ask her for a LOR would i ask her this summer? i'm not applying until NEXT summer so would i wait a whole year or just ask her now?

thanks for everyone's advice in advance.

I was in sort of a similar situation with the associate vet at my clinic. She left to clinic back in the winter, and I asked her then if she'd write me a recommendation when I applied this summer. I would go ahead and ask your vet now, then when your application time rolls around you can call her up, send her a copy of your personal statement, etc (whatever helps her be more familiar with your application/ comfortable about writing you a letter). Unless, of course, you start working with someone else in the meantime who you would prefer to get a LOR from, as in my case .

 

[ORvetgirl]

I would ask her now...I got a LOR from an associate vet that I'd only known for 3 months. She was an ambulatory vet at the equine practice I was doing a school internship at, and I spent the whole summer riding with her, except for her days off. She definitely knew me well enough to write a letter. You should always ask for LORs immediately after ending a job/volunteer opportunity, so that you are still fresh in the evaluator's mind and they can be as specific as possible. You can keep a copy of it in your personal files. In the case of the VMCAS, where the LOR must be submitted electronically, make sure you get the evaluator's contact info, and ask if they'd mind keeping an electronic copy of the letter they write you. That way, you can contact them to submit their letter electronically when you are ready for it. If they've misplaced the letter, you have a copy you can send them. Then they just have to make any edits they want to and upload it.

 

[sunnex3]

would it be an issue that she's a recent graduate of vet school and hasn't been practicing for a while?

we get along really well but i'm a little concerned about the fact she just graduated like a year ago from school.

 

[david594]

would it be an issue that she's a recent graduate of vet school and hasn't been practicing for a while?

we get along really well but i'm a little concerned about the fact she just graduated like a year ago from school.

Thats a good question.

For my 2 vet letters of recommendation I went with one from a vet with 25 years experience, and the other working her first job after graduating(1 year in). Each definitely gives you a different perspective on the field. I actually talked about them both in my personal statement to demonstrate my understanding of the field. Where I want to be latter on in my career, and the challenges I am expecting to face along the way.

 

[twelvetigers]

I just thought, 'gosh, that sounds like David...'

I hate avatar changes, they confuse the crap outta me!

But, I'm glad to see blenderkitten go...

...sorry. Continue thread!

 

[sunnex3]

Thats a good question.

For my 2 vet letters of recommendation I went with one from a vet with 25 years experience, and the other working her first job after graduating(1 year in). Each definitely gives you a different perspective on the field. I actually talked about them both in my personal statement to demonstrate my understanding of the field. Where I want to be latter on in my career, and the challenges I am expecting to face along the way.

yeah there are two other vets at the practice who i am also considering asking for a LOR (i don't think they know me as well as the recent grad does, but i've been working at this place for a while now) who've been out of school for 10+ years and are the ones who opened the practice.

also, another question to add - how long is long enough before asking for a LOR? for me it's kind of tough because i am only able to work at the clinics/hospitlas for hands on vet experience during my winter and summer breaks - so even afte ra couple years, i've only really worked at the hospital for about 8 months or so. i get a lot of research experience while i'm at school, but it's nearly impossible for me to get vet experience at school, so i'm stuck with this for now. i'm just worried that the vets haven't seen me in a long enough continuous period of time in order to writeme a great letter ofreccomendation.