LOR from a Dentist

[Graphire]

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Okay I've been shadowing a dentist for a few weeks now (once per week) so I am obviously not close enough with them.

However, wanting to get my application ASAP I asked the head dentist ( a periodontist) at the clinic to write me a LOR. When he gave it to me it was open to read and it basically read I shadowed him for X hours. Which does not help me at all.

Thus, I asked one of the new dentists there if I could write a draft and if he could look at it. And he said yes. However, he is a recent graduate and only started working for only a few weeks.

Which LOR should I submit?

 

[dudeman]

The LOR wont have how long he has been a dentist, so i dont think him being a new dentist would matter. I could be wrong, but I dont believe adcomms do background checks on the letter writers.

 

[doc toothache]

Okay I've been shadowing a dentist for a few weeks now (once per week) so I am obviously not close enough with them.
However, wanting to get my application ASAP I asked the head dentist ( a periodontist) at the clinic to write me a LOR. When he gave it to me it was open to read and it basically read I shadowed him for X hours. Which does not help me at all.Thus, I asked one of the new dentists there if I could write a draft and if he could look at it. And he said yes. However, he is a recent graduate and only started working for only a few weeks.

You want him "to look at it" or you want him to just sign it since you believe he is not capable of writing it himself?

 

[Graphire]

You want him "to look at it" or you want him to just sign it since you believe he is not capable of writing it himself?

A little bit of both as I will be providing my resume and PS as well as a draft of a LOR.

 

[Polk]

A little bit of both as I will be providing my resume and PS as well as a draft of a LOR.

I see this a lot, dentists having shadows draft letters. It is ridiculous. It is, in a way, cheating.

Your nervousness about the quality of the letter is reasonable. However, you should not have waited until the last minute to shadow dentists. Then they would have been able to write you something about you, with their knowledge.

Good luck.

 

[Graphire]

I see this a lot, dentists having shadows draft letters. It is ridiculous. It is, in a way, cheating.

Your nervousness about the quality of the letter is reasonable. However, you should not have waited until the last minute to shadow dentists. Then they would have been able to write you something about you, with their knowledge.

Good luck.

It wasn't really a choice. I wasn't planning to apply to the states until later this year of the school year.

Since I did not plan it I did not know that I required shadowing + LOR from a dentist.

 

[spoog74]

It wasn't really a choice. I wasn't planning to apply to the states until later this year of the school year.

Since I did not plan it I did not know that I required shadowing + LOR from a dentist.

the letter from the new guy would be best. Do your thing, i know thousands of applicants who never even shadowed a dentist once in their lives and got away with it. Im not encouraging it, but im glad you actually DID some shadowing. As long as you keep shadowing your dentist and learn from him/her, you'll be fine.

 

[Graphire]

the letter from the new guy would be best. Do your thing, i know thousands of applicants who never even shadowed a dentist once in their lives and got away with it. Im not encouraging it, but im glad you actually DID some shadowing. As long as you keep shadowing your dentist and learn from him/her, you'll be fine.

Thanks so much. This kind of encouragement was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[doc toothache]

the letter from the new guy would be best. Do your thing, i know thousands of applicants who never even shadowed a dentist once in their lives and got away with it. Im not encouraging it, but im glad you actually DID some shadowing. As long as you keep shadowing your dentist and learn from him/her, you'll be fine.

You are one well informed/connected son of a gun.

 

[DrDSA]

One important point when getting a letter from a dentist: be sure it focuses on your potential as a clinician. I've seen lots of letters from dentists (especially when they're from the person's family dentist) that simply talk about seeing the applicant as a patient and commenting on that person's demeanor. While that's not the end of the world, a more helpful letter would focus on your qualities as a future practitioner and possibly even a few comments about your competency in clinic if you have any responsibilities.

LORs are an important part of the app, so be sure they say something useful about you.

You are one well informed/connected son of a gun.

 

[doc toothache]

One important point when getting a letter from a dentist: be sure it focuses on your potential as a clinician. I've seen lots of letters from dentists (especially when they're from the person's family dentist) that simply talk about seeing the applicant as a patient and commenting on that person's demeanor. While that's not the end of the world, a more helpful letter would focus on your qualities as a future practitioner and possibly even a few comments about your competency in clinic if you have any responsibilities.
LORs are an important part of the app, so be sure they say something useful about you.

And you think shadowing makes it possible to render judgement on "potential as a clinician"?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=792000