Is getting a recommendation letter from a physician going to significantly impact my application?

[deleted947805]

A physician that I worked on a project with agreed to write me a letter of recommendation for medical school. The project is something I started at a mental hospital, and I worked under close supervision of this psychiatric doctor. Would it make a significant impact on my application if he writes me a letter of rec?


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[deleted1001426]

Well do you think the doctor knows you well and can write a letter which will accurately portray your capabilities/strengths to an adcom? Bonus if said project is a substantial experience which you bring up on your app. If so then yes, of course it’ll have an impact on your app, I don’t know why you would think otherwise. Is there a reason why youre concerned about said physician writing you a letter?

 

[deleted947805]

Well do you think the doctor knows you well and can write a letter which will accurately portray your capabilities/strengths to an adcom? Bonus if said project is a substantial experience which you bring up on your app. If so then yes, of course it’ll have an impact on your app, I don’t know why you would think otherwise. Is there a reason why youre concerned about said physician writing you a letter?

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, the doctor knows me very well to write me a strong recommendation letter. The reason I got concerned was because on the application, it says recommendation letters that focus on your academic strengths. It concerned me a bit since he’s not my professor.

This is not a medical school application for through AAMC.


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[deleted480308]

Everyone will have a letter too, it’s a box that needs to be checked

 

[kellyk12]

Pretty sure the mean number of letters an applicant applies with is 5. Usually 2 BCPM professors, 1 non sci professor, 1 Physician, 1 Misc (Volunteer coordinator, PI, another professor/physician). In my opinion having a physician letter doesn't put you at an advantage, moreso it keeps you from being at a disadvantage.

 

[LizzyM]

This is not a medical school application for through AAMC.

This is the pre-med MD forum so the advice you'll get relates to applications through AAMC. Maybe one of the sub-forums would get you an answer that is more tailored to your situation.

 

[Goro]

Only at schools that require MD or DO LORs.

In general, doctors aren't very good at writing LORs. We want letters of evaluations, and all we get from them are glowing, unhelpful testimonials.

 

[deleted947805]

Thank you guys so much!


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[Blueprint Med School]

A physician that I worked on a project with agreed to write me a letter of recommendation for medical school. The project is something I started at a mental hospital, and I worked under close supervision of this psychiatric doctor. Would it make a significant impact on my application if he writes me a letter of rec?


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It is pretty much a requirement. However, its impact will be wrapped up in its content. If you shadowed them, it checks a box. If you did something more substantive like research it will be very strong. My med school roommate worked at a start-up in NYC and got a letter from the head oncologist in the project, that was a strong letter!

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
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[deleted947805]

It is pretty much a requirement. However, its impact will be wrapped up in its content. If you shadowed them, it checks a box. If you did something more substantive like research it will be very strong. My med school roommate worked at a start-up in NYC and got a letter from the head oncologist in the project, that was a strong letter!

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

Would you say that the Rec letter will be strong if he talks about the project I started with him?



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[Blueprint Med School]

If you are saying that on AMCAS/MD applications that letters from physician are a "requirement" I would disagree. Only a small minority require a clinical letter and the vast majority of other schools make no indication of recommending them at all, mostly for the reasons that you alluded to. That is shadowing, the experience that most premeds have, has little basis to develop a good LOR. I would agree that if you have a more indepth relationship with a physician, particularly as an employment supervisor (eg scribe or PI)

You make a good point. For DO it seems to be more of a requirement, but MD it's not as much. At least that's how I interpreted it.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
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