Letter of Reference Question

[dunkmoonX]

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Hi guys,

I have a question regarding whether or not I should ask this person a recommendation letter. I know her through my father's co-worker's daughter and I have been emailing her since high school about my progress in school and such in trying to become a better candidate in getting in pharmacy school. She answers any questions I have and helps advice me/kind of a mentor. She is a pharmacist, but I have not shadowed her or worked with her. I've known her 4 years now. Would it be appropriate to acquire a letter of reference from her? Thank you.

 

[PharmacyWarrior]

Hi guys,

I have a question regarding whether or not I should ask this person a recommendation letter. I know her through my father's co-worker's daughter and I have been emailing her since high school about my progress in school and such in trying to become a better candidate in getting in pharmacy school. She answers any questions I have and helps advice me/kind of a mentor. She is a pharmacist, but I have not shadowed her or worked with her. I've known her 4 years now. Would it be appropriate to acquire a letter of reference from her? Thank you.

I would not ask her, even though she is a pharmacist, because you have only talked to her through email so she cannot give you a good LOR based on what you have told her. It would be better to get a LOR from someone who knows you, witnesses your work ethics, etc to have a more personalized letter. But you could try if it is difficult to get a letter from a pharmacist.

 

[kcwang]

Sounds like you had talk to her through emails a lot. If you absolutely need a LOR from a pharmacist, then try asking her. Just in case you don't know what LOR request look like, it basically ask the recommender how he or she met you. What are the rating of communication, leadership, as well as other personal attributes of the applicant. [EDIT] I added the link here:

http://www.pharmcas.org/applicants/evalquestions.htm


So you can imagine that your pharmacist probably won't be able to answer some of the questions on the LOR request, which would end up being a bad LOR. I would try asking if you can shadow or volunteer for her. Explain to her that you would like some experience in the field of pharmacy. After interacting with her in person, then you can ask her for an LOR, which would be a lot stronger.

Try reading this post by a dean of a pharmacy school on LOR:
http://pharmdadmissions.ucsf.edu/2008/09/are-letters-of-recommendation-really.html

 

[xtsukiyox]

Try reading this post by a dean of a pharmacy school on LOR:
http://pharmdadmissions.ucsf.edu/2008/09/are-letters-of-recommendation-really.html

Great link! 👍