Letter of rec from doc?

[OnASkitsMission]

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Hi quick question I shadowed a primary care doc for about 40 hours and I’m planning on shadowing a couple more, do I need letters of rec from them?

 

[candbgirl]

Only a few MD schools require a clinical letter at all. Several DO schools expect a letter from a physician. If you are applying DO and one of these docs is a DO get a letter for sure. If you are applying DO and none of the docs are DO get a letter from the MD to use. I’ve read that DO schools will accept a MD letter.

 

[LizzyM]

No, you do not unless you are shadowing a DO and intend to apply to DO schools. MD schools tend to find letters from pre-med advisors/committees and faculty who have taught you or supervised your work in the lab more informative.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

A general rule of thumb for rec letters is that how 'useful' they are depends on how much the person can actually speak about you/recommend you. If all you did was shadow a doctor, there's not much for them to really say, so it's not needed very much.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Tenk]

No, unless you want a letter that says: this person shadowed me and they seem like they are cool.