LOR from an MD That You Didn't Shadow

[BillrothI]

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Hey Everybody,

Quick question:

I've been volunteering at a clinic for a little over a year and have become friendly with many of the MDs there. One has offered to write me an LOR. I have not shadowed him, but he does know me well and I trust that he would write me a very strong letter.

Should I pursue this opportunity, or would it be preferable to get an LOR from a physician I shadowed? I don't feel like the MD I shadowed knows me very well - we really didn't chat much during my few days of shadowing - but I think he would be willing to write me a generic LOR if I asked.

Thanks for any input!

-Bill R.

 

[deleted307836]

Take it! Definitely. I feel that a letter from a physician you've worked with would actually be stronger, in general, than a letter from someone you've shadowed. Sounds like it will be a great letter for you.

 

[bollywoodlover]

I'd get a letter from someone you've shadowed/volunteered with, not just anyone who offers to write you a letter because they've seen you around. It's hard to put content in a letter when you haven't conversed and worked with that person. It would probably end up being very generic.

 

[chenzt]

As long as you think he knows your character well and can write a strong letter about who you are and why you would make an excellent physician, go for it! Letters from doctor shadowing can be really generic as well, so it's your call.

 

[Stillworking93]

Maybe you could also ask him if you could observe him for a few hours.

 

[deleted307836]

I'd get a letter from someone you've shadowed/volunteered with, not just anyone who offers to write you a letter because they've seen you around. It's hard to put content in a letter when you haven't conversed and worked with that person. It would probably end up being very generic.

I don't see how this applies to the OP's situation, as he stated that this physician knows him well. If a physician offers to write an LOR for you, I'd bet that it would NOT be generic.

Maybe you could also ask him if you could observe him for a few hours.

Again, if this physician knows him well and offered to write an LOR (an indicator of a strong LOR), I don't see why shadowing would be necessary or even beneficial at all at this point.

 

[487806]

Hey Everybody,

Quick question:

I've been volunteering at a clinic for a little over a year and have become friendly with many of the MDs there. One has offered to write me an LOR. I have not shadowed him, but he does know me well and I trust that he would write me a very strong letter.

Should I pursue this opportunity, or would it be preferable to get an LOR from a physician I shadowed? I don't feel like the MD I shadowed knows me very well - we really didn't chat much during my few days of shadowing - but I think he would be willing to write me a generic LOR if I asked.

Thanks for any input!

-Bill R.

Definitely take it.

I'd get a letter from someone you've shadowed/volunteered with, not just anyone who offers to write you a letter because they've seen you around. It's hard to put content in a letter when you haven't conversed and worked with that person. It would probably end up being very generic.

Garbage advice. Read the OP's post carefully. Also shadowing letters are useless.

 

[BillrothI]

Thanks very much for the feedback, everyone!

To clarify, my conflict was whether it would be preferable to get a weak letter from a physician I shadowed or a very strong letter from one who I have not shadowed. It sounds like the majority of you think that the latter would be my best bet, so I'll go ahead and follow-up with him.

Thanks again!

-Bill R.