Letters of Rec?

[Wisco]

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So I am currently doing an internship this summer but I am not planning on applying to vet school till next year, but I have gotten to know my supervisors and really want a letter of rec from them for vet school. What did you guys do? Do you ask now or wait a year till you apply and ask? The only thing is that I feel if I wait a year they will not really remember my work ethic and what not. Any suggestions?

 

[QTkitty]

I'm not sure if other people found a way around this, as I was not in this situation, but I think you have to wait until you apply. I think there is a specific format and questions on the LOR form that they wouldn't know unless they have the VMCAS form. Also, some schools (like CSU) only accept electronic LORs. You could talk to them and let them know that you'll be coming back in a year for a LOR, and explain why you can't ask for it now. I really don't know what to tell you other than that. Good luck!

 

[Spartanvet4cows]

You would be surprised how well people remember you if you do a good job. One of my letters of rec was from a veterinarian that I spent a summer riding with. The first letter she wrote me was over a year after the fact, the next 2 years. Just ask before you leave if you can use them as a reference. If you mention to your employer that you're applying to vet school within a couple years I'm sure they'll happily do an evaluation for you.

 

[kate_g]

You should definitely mention now that you'd like to get a LOR from them, so they'll at least think about what they'd say about you. They're more likely to remember later how they felt about you if you ask them to think about it now. If they're super-organized types, then you could consider asking them to write up some notes on you now (or print the paper form from VMCAS, I can't imagine it changes much year to year) and hold onto them until next year when you apply. If they'll most likely misplace the notes between now and then, this is not so useful a suggestion. 🙂

 

[cyrille104]

Basically I asked for my LORs ahead of time and told them I'd let them know a few months ahead of when I actually apply. I got their emails, and when it was time for them to write the LOR I wrote a very nice email asking them again and included my resume to update them on what I've been doing since. I personally kept in touch with them at least a few times a year through email right up to the application process, but it's up to you if you want to put forth that effort.

 

[rexosaurus]

not to steal the thread, but i have a quick question about LORs. I am getting an LOR from a vet in an experience that is ongoing, and in my opinion a fantastic experience. so, is it inappropriate to get an LOR from my direct supervisor or manager as well? One thing to understand is that in this facility, the vet and my boss(es) don't exactly have the same perception of me. the vet sees me working with the animals and in high stress situations, while my boss sees how hard i try, how well i work on a team, what i do for others to make their lives easier, how well i prepare for the next day's work, etc. so, is it a go?

 

[pressmom]

I would get them both because a lot of schools want a rec from your employer as well. So it would help to diversify your application.

 

[cyrille104]

Hmm...I would think that getting LORs from the same experience would do the opposite of diversifying your application. I see where you're coming from, but I personally would avoid it if I could get another LOR from a different experience. But, your description is brief so you know the sitch better than I do - good luck either way.

 

[pressmom]

Cyrille, I tend to disagree. People at the same job can see you in completely different light. A supervisor and a vet would probably see the impact of your performance differently. I got a LOR from a boss and a vet at the same job and things worked out fine for me. The boss may have a better idea of how rex's performance helps the bottom line of the business, non-profit or lab. Rex could even suggest including this in LOR.

 

[Emio]

not to steal the thread, but i have a quick question about LORs. I am getting an LOR from a vet in an experience that is ongoing, and in my opinion a fantastic experience. so, is it inappropriate to get an LOR from my direct supervisor or manager as well? One thing to understand is that in this facility, the vet and my boss(es) don't exactly have the same perception of me. the vet sees me working with the animals and in high stress situations, while my boss sees how hard i try, how well i work on a team, what i do for others to make their lives easier, how well i prepare for the next day's work, etc. so, is it a go?

even if they do see you differently, i'd pick one and go for that. or better yet, can you get a compilation letter out of them? get one to write it and add quotes from the other to get both sides into one letter. your number of LORs are limited at some schools, and you'd be better off getting varied experiences in rather than varying perspectives from one experience. imo.

edit: just read pressmom's second post. whatever works, works!

 

[ri23]

I also got a letter from a boss and vet at the same job. I had over 5000 hours of experience at the zoo, some animal and some vet. Both people had different experiences with me and could write strong LORs in their own way. I know some people that got two vets from the same clinic to write letters. I really don't think this is looked down upon at all.

 

[cyrille104]

I see what you're saying, pressmom. Honestly, it probably won't matter that much either way if they're strong LORs. If you have a choice between two strong LORs from the same experience and one strong LOR from this experience and one average LOR from another experience, go for the strongest LORs. If you want to be safe, you could always call one of the schools - a lot of them offer "admissions advising appointments" by phone. I'm not sure where you're applying, but I think Penn and CSU do it, and I'm sure Patty Finger at Tufts would help you if you called her.

 

[Pigsfoot]

I too am getting 2 recommendation letters from similar places-one is my direct employer, my boss, and one is from the vet that I work with at this place. Thing is-the vet I have also been shadowing at her own private practice outside of what she does here (at the research lab). So in a way-the boss gives the perspective of my work ethic, and the vet gives the perspective of my vet experience, knowledge, understanding and skills. Its funny, I didnt even consider those 2 coming from the same place because I assumed they were different perspectives. I'm not worried about it, tho.

 

[rexosaurus]

thank you everyone for your input, i appreciate your advice!

 

[kate_g]

I too am getting 2 recommendation letters from similar places-one is my direct employer, my boss, and one is from the vet that I work with at this place.

I think some schools are pretty strict in their LOR requirements, and say you must have letters from two veterinarians and one professor (to "attest to your academic ability").

So you should probably also check the reqs for the schools you're applying to, to make sure they'll even read a letter from a boss. If you're a non-trad type, it wouldn't be unreasonable to call and ask, but they still might insist on something academic.

 

[Pigsfoot]

most of the schools i'm looking at said specifically an employer, a vet you work with, or have worked with, and a professor. In my case my boss and the vet I work with are both from the same institution. I've already looked into this.

 

[pressmom]

Most of my schools were the same as pigsfoot. But kate is right, others require two vets. I ended up with 4 LORs because of this.

 

[Angelo84]

Just as a heads up some schools will also only take three evaluations. In my case at Illinois they only took the three electronic evaluations and wouldn't even look at the fourth paper one even though that vet had known me for 5 years whereas the vet that did electronic I only worked with for two months. So try to have your three strongest letters be electronic just in case those are the only ones the school looks at.

Good luck!

 

[kate_g]

I ended up with 4 LORs because of this.

And then you've gotta be careful which one of the four you choose to submit last, because there are those schools that explicitly promise to *not* look at anything other than the first three letters...

EDIT - Clearly Angelo and I were on the same wavelength, there... 🙂