Is it inappropriate to ask my psychiatrist for a letter of recommendation?

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Modonnell121

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I used to see a psychiatrist (saw him for around 1.5 years, I think) until I stopped seeing him in August 2015. I wasn't seeing him for anything that serious (it was for social anxiety, though nothing too severe). Unlike with my family doctor I've always felt comfortable talking to him and he greatly encouraged me to apply to med school. I sort of need a letter fast as I decided to just apply to some schools at the last minute this cycle just to see if anything pans out. Is this an inappropriate person to ask to write me an LOR?
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I'd be a bit cautious and personally I wouldn't write one for a patient because the relationship/exposure clinically is different than when someone shadows. You probably haven't shadowed so it could make writing the letter a challenge. What does he say, XYZ was a good patient?

The bigger question is why are you trying to apply this late in this current cycle or do you mean the next? It takes weeks to get transcripts and all in and done. Many schools are no longer even accepting new apps, is AACOMAS still allowing new applications? Wouldn't it be better judgment to wait until this coming cycle and shadow a DO? Some questions you may want to consider.

What you might do is ask your psychiatrist if there is someone he could refer you to for shadowing experience.
 
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Sorry for not being more clear on my situation. I actually sent out my primary application a long, long time ago, but I've been discerning a different vocation since then. I just decided recently that that's not for me, and medical school is still what I want, so now I'm trying to get out secondaries before March deadlines. I talked to a LECOM admissions office person who told me that they're definitely taking new secondaries and giving out interviews so I'm just gonna submit as many as I can even though it's late (I already submitted the secondary to LECOM, because it doesn't have a physician LOR req.).
 
Modonnell121 said:
Sorry for not being more clear on my situation. I actually sent out my primary application a long, long time ago, but I've been discerning a different vocation since then. I just decided recently that that's not for me, and medical school is still what I want, so now I'm trying to get out secondaries before March deadlines. I talked to a LECOM admissions office person who told me that they're definitely taking new secondaries and giving out interviews so I'm just gonna submit as many as I can even though it's late (I already submitted the secondary to LECOM, because it doesn't have a physician LOR req.).
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Then back to my first paragraph. Consider what should be in a letter and if he could speak to those things. I don't see how I could and if he wrote you were a patient then that would bring up a HUGE list of questions from an adcom about boundaries and appropriate relationships.

IMO not worth messing up chances for next cycle when the odds are already tremendously against you to begin with.
 
DrMikeP said:
Then back to my first paragraph. Consider what should be in a letter and if he could speak to those things. I don't see how I could and if he wrote you were a patient then that would bring up a HUGE list of questions from an adcom about boundaries and appropriate relationships.

IMO not worth messing up chances for next cycle when the odds are already tremendously against you to begin with.
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Yeah, I see your point about the problem with asking him for a letter, that's why I posted this thread.

So you're saying the odds are tremendously against getting accepted when applying this late in the cycle? That's not the impression I got from the LECOM admissions officer. Are you saying that applying late in this cycle would mess up my chances for next cycle? Or you mean only if I used such a letter?
 
Do some reading on SDN about applying this late in the cycle.

Yes, the odds are tremendously against you (using letter or not)! Most classes are nearing full and some are from what I hear full, so they are only taking outstanding candidates or soon be starting on wait listed applicants. Quite a few schools I'm sure are happy getting a free $50-$75 for a secondary they'll never look at, so it's a potentially big money waster for you. Depends a LOT on your stats, MCAT, sgpa, EC's, etc if you are that outstanding.

Some schools ask on secondaries if you've ever applied at that school. One to memory asked if so how have you improved since last applying (I thought at the time glad I didn't apply there before). If you haven't done anything to improve since last application then a couple of months later they review you again it just isn't the best first impression. Also, you need to look at the cut-off dates for specific schools, as some have already stop accepting applicants.

If you have avg stats then applying early in the next cycle and having a DO letter from a couple of months shadowing can mean massively increasing chances of getting in. It's up to you. Best of Luck!

Modonnell121 said:
Yeah, I see your point about the problem with asking him for a letter, that's why I posted this thread.

So you're saying the odds are tremendously against getting accepted when applying this late in the cycle? That's not the impression I got from the LECOM admissions officer. Are you saying that applying late in this cycle would mess up my chances for next cycle? Or you mean only if I used such a letter?
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Yes.

Modonnell121 said:
I used to see a psychiatrist (saw him for around 1.5 years, I think) until I stopped seeing him in August 2015. I wasn't seeing him for anything that serious (it was for social anxiety, though nothing too severe). Unlike with my family doctor I've always felt comfortable talking to him and he greatly encouraged me to apply to med school. I sort of need a letter fast as I decided to just apply to some schools at the last minute this cycle just to see if anything pans out. Is this an inappropriate person to ask to write me an LOR?
Click to expand...
 
LECOM is still accepting applications, true, but the odds aren't in your favor since so many seats are taken. Better to apply early in July than late in March.

While there's nothing totally wrong with getting a letter from your own physician, I think it helps if you've shadowed them or have some sort of relationship outside of doctor-patient that they can comment on.
 
It depends. If you did a decent amount of time shadowing him and your prior relationship was as pre-med shadow...then I say yes. If he is still actively treating you and you haven't shadowed the guy. Hell nah.
 
Modonnell121 said:
I'm just gonna submit as many as I can even though it's late (I already submitted the secondary to LECOM, because it doesn't have a physician LOR req.).
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Are you really sure about that? They absolutely required a DO letter when I applied. And if there were any school that isn't likely to back down from that requirement, it would be my beloved LECOM.
 
Promethean said:
Are you really sure about that? They absolutely required a DO letter when I applied. And if there were any school that isn't likely to back down from that requirement, it would be my beloved LECOM.
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LECOM does not require a DO letter this cycle. They have changed the rules.
 
I'm really surprised this is a question. *no offense* I've seen my doctor for a long time, but I've never ever thought of asking them for a LOR. Like the others have said, I don't think it would be one of the most ideal things.
 
I think it comes off as lazy. If the only capacity you know him is as your personal doctor, an LOR from him wouldn't say much. Schools want to see that you're passionate enough about medicine to spend time around a physician solely for the purpose of understanding medicine. My psych has also given me a lot of advice and tips for med school, I mean we talk about EVERYTHING.

But I would never entertain the thought of asking him for an LOR.
 
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