LOR from client’s family

[sl33p]

I worked at an in-home caregiving agency and I would take care of people alongside their families. One of the wives of a resident who passed offered to write me a letter, and I know it would be a very strong one. It’s kind of strange but technically she was my direct “supervisor” in a way.

The owner from the caregiving agency also offered to write me a LOR. However, they will not know me as well as the client’s family.

I am debating between whether a letter from the client’s family will be considered legitimate and whether to have both write a separate LOR, or perhaps finding a way for them to cowrite one letter.

I appreciate any insight to this!

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[LizzyM]

I've been doing this (reading med school applications) for 25 years and I haven't seen a letter from the widow of a patient the applicant cared for. I suppose if your ability to be an empathetic listener and a reliable caregiver were in doubt, such a letter could be helpful. More often, adcoms are looking for your ability to pull your weight in the classroom/laboratory, be reliable in keeping deadlines for assignments, and being willing to ask for help when struggling with material, or showing intellectual curiosity to go beyond what is taught in the classroom and engaging in fruitful discussions during office hours... that sort of thing.

You can thank her but let her know it is not necessary.

 

[LunaOri]

Perhaps she could send a letter to your supervisor, who could include some of her comments in their own letter.

 

[sl33p]

I've been doing this (reading med school applications) for 25 years and I haven't seen a letter from the widow of a patient the applicant cared for. I suppose if your ability to be an empathetic listener and a reliable caregiver were in doubt, such a letter could be helpful. More often, adcoms are looking for your ability to pull your weight in the classroom/laboratory, be reliable in keeping deadlines for assignments, and being willing to ask for help when struggling with material, or showing intellectual curiosity to go beyond what is taught in the classroom and engaging in fruitful discussions during office hours... that sort of thing.

You can thank her but let her know it is not necessary.

Thank you for clarifying this. It is helpful to know what they are looking for in a LOR and I can understand now why, for example, professor LORs are generally required. I did not realize it yet but I was looking at LORs as a way to demonstrate my character rather than to show my ability to succeed in the medical school environment.

I'll just write about the experience well instead, and perhaps implement some of their comments into my supervisor's letter, as LunaOri suggested.