Letter of Rec from pharmacist

[angelil_yu]

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Hello,

For those of you who already get acceptances to several colleges, does it matter very much that you have a letter of rec from a pharmacist? Does it also come from the volunteer work/employment that you have?

I have a relative who is a pharmacist and my plan is to ask her for a letter of recommendation. But I still have to volunteer in some place, don't I?

Thanx 🙂

 

[pharmd-08]

No it does not. But it does matter to have a LOR from a health professional. I got mine from the clinic manager where I volunteer and she's a RN.
But I guess it will be beneficial to try to get a letter from a pharmacist.

 

[Shoplifter]

I applied to CA schools this year. I was unable to get a letter of rec from a pharmacist but still got in somewhere. UOP does require a pharmacist's letter though. They won't look at your application otherwise. You should try to volunteer or work in a pharmacy if you can. You'll be able to talk about your experiences in pharmacy at your interviews and it shows the schools that you're serious about the profession.

 

[jemc2000]

That is going to be one of my problems. I plan on enrolling as soon as enrollment opens this year, but I do not have a pharmacist I can get a LOR from, and UF specifically asks for a pharmacist and a teacher. I spent weeks and weeks trying to get a job in a pharmacy and was unsuccessful. So I had to get a job somewhere else. I won't be volunteering until next summer, since I am working full time and going to school almost full time.

 

[dgroulx]

That is going to be one of my problems. I plan on enrolling as soon as enrollment opens this year, but I do not have a pharmacist I can get a LOR from, and UF specifically asks for a pharmacist and a teacher.

It's okay. I used teachers for both of my letters. UF flagged one as a teacher and one as a pharmacist. When I got my acceptance letter, they sent back a summary sheet where all my info was entered on the computer. That's where I saw that one had a "Y" next to RPH and one had an "N". I have a feeling that they don't look at them that closely.

 

[bananaface]

Hello,

I have a relative who is a pharmacist and my plan is to ask her for a letter of recommendation. But I still have to volunteer in some place, don't I?

Thanx 🙂

A letter from a relative is usually prohibited. Especially if you do not have a professional relationship.

A letter of recommendation from a professor who knows you may go further than a letter from a pharmacist who doesn't know you well. But a pharmacist's letter would be great to have.

I wonder if it would be possible to volunteer at your relative's job site for a week and have one of his/her co-workers recommend you?

Anna

 

[ucdbiochem]

or ask your relative to refer you to another pharmacist who you can volunteer for.
good luck.

 

[angelil_yu]

well, thanx guys for the answer.

Actually, my relative who is a pharmacist does not have the same last name as I have, so I believe people won't know. But I'll try to contact her because I don't live nearby her.

I'll try to volunteer nearby san bernardino county area.

 

[28657]

well, thanx guys for the answer.

Actually, my relative who is a pharmacist does not have the same last name as I have, so I believe people won't know. But I'll try to contact her because I don't live nearby her.

I'll try to volunteer nearby san bernardino county area.

Unfortunately, the last name thing and "being caught" is not the point. It's considered unethical to have a relative write a recommendation letter. 🙄

Why don't you just have the pharmacist write you a letter where you plan on volunteering. It would be the RIGHT thing to do and they would be able to offer valuable skills insight to the adcom.

 

[ucdbiochem]

yeah, i would get a letter of rec from somone who can evaluate my skills rather than one from my relavtive who might just be able to say i'm good or what not.
sure, it's considered unethical to have a relative write a recommendation letter, but it's your choice. only you can decide what to do. good luck.

 

[jdpharmd?]

well, thanx guys for the answer.

Actually, my relative who is a pharmacist does not have the same last name as I have, so I believe people won't know. But I'll try to contact her because I don't live nearby her.

Aside from the obvious ethical issues, the letter should say some things about how/when/why the recommender knows you. If she doesn't even live nearby, why would the adcom believe that you know her? Obviously you wouldn't have been working in her store if she's nowhere near your college/home address. Letters of rec usually start out "During the two years that I've worked with ______ in __________..."

 

[EarlyEditionDude]

That is going to be one of my problems. I plan on enrolling as soon as enrollment opens this year, but I do not have a pharmacist I can get a LOR from, and UF specifically asks for a pharmacist and a teacher. I spent weeks and weeks trying to get a job in a pharmacy and was unsuccessful. So I had to get a job somewhere else. I won't be volunteering until next summer, since I am working full time and going to school almost full time.

Jemc2000, you should call pharmacists around your areas and ask if they would interview you and write up a LOR based on that. It might work!!! It worked for me! 🙂