LOR from MD: Screwed without one?

[elephunt]

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I've read a couple of threads that talked about getting LOR from an MD that you shadowed, or one that knows you. Some posts on these threads said that people were actually waitlisted or rejected because they didn't have a LOR from an MD. What has everyone heard about this?

 

[dmk724]

I've read a couple of threads that talked about getting LOR from an MD that you shadowed, or one that knows you. Some posts on these threads said that people were actually waitlisted or rejected because they didn't have a LOR from an MD. What has everyone heard about this?

Hmm...definitely news to me.... I don't think I sent one to the school that I'm going to be attending. If you did shadow an MD, or work closely with one on a research project, then it wouldn't hurt to send it, but I've never heard that it would affect the application one way or another.

 

[IndyZX]

I've read a couple of threads that talked about getting LOR from an MD that you shadowed, or one that knows you. Some posts on these threads said that people were actually waitlisted or rejected because they didn't have a LOR from an MD. What has everyone heard about this?

what post did you see this in?

 

[meanderson]

It will affect your application in a negative manner at some schools. The school I'm going to said that a lor from a physician is "strongly preferred but not required". I'm not sure how much of a negative this was, but it was clearly a negative to some degree based on the language. I got the sense that UAB is another school that sort of values that. At some schools it will make no difference at all. For people with a lor from a physician, I'd probably use it at some schools and not at others. I'm sure just by asking people who have interviewed at schools in the past where it would apply.

 

[Lion-O]

Never had one, didn't affect my application.

 

[DrThom]

Many DO schools require a physician letter of rec from...get this...a DO!!!

 

[paranitroxide]

I provided LOR's from physicians this past year and did not get in.....

















however, I have a 2.9 GPA and scored a 21 on the MCAT

 

[principessa]

I did not have a letter from an MD and I did fine.

 

[Medikit]

I provided LOR's from physicians this past year and did not get in.....

however, I have a 2.9 GPA and scored a 21 on the MCAT

It sounds like you are ready for this next mcat, though. Good luck 🙂.

 

[elephunt]

what post did you see this in?

Here's the thread where I saw this most recently:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=134406

What freaked me out was the couple of posts about "my school waitlisted/rejected me and told me it was because I didn't have a LOR from an MD." 😱 I've shadowed docs, but never for more than a few weeks, not long enough for me to feel comfortable asking for a recommendation...so if I really wanted one, I'd have to get on the stick now try to shadow some more and get a letter in ASAP.

But it's nice to hear from the folks who say that it's not required, or that they did fine without one. Principessa, you're going to Yale, right?

 

[UCLAMAN]

Here's the thread where I saw this most recently:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=134406

What freaked me out was the couple of posts about "my school waitlisted/rejected me and told me it was because I didn't have a LOR from an MD." 😱 I've shadowed docs, but never for more than a few weeks, not long enough for me to feel comfortable asking for a recommendation...so if I really wanted one, I'd have to get on the stick now try to shadow some more and get a letter in ASAP.

But it's nice to hear from the folks who say that it's not required, or that they did fine without one. Principessa, you're going to Yale, right?

i got in without a letter from an MD

 

[elephunt]

Bump...anyone else want to weigh in on this?

 

[HydroxylGroupOH]

not screwed at all without one

osteopathic is different though, if you're marginal or cannot articulate a reason for going into osteopathy then you are screwed witout a letter

 

[btchance]

It will affect your application in a negative manner at some schools. The school I'm going to said that a lor from a physician is "strongly preferred but not required". I'm not sure how much of a negative this was, but it was clearly a negative to some degree based on the language. I got the sense that UAB is another school that sort of values that. At some schools it will make no difference at all. For people with a lor from a physician, I'd probably use it at some schools and not at others. I'm sure just by asking people who have interviewed at schools in the past where it would apply.

I did not have any problem getting into med school without a LOR from an MD. Actually, I did not shadow any MD's, mainly because of HIPPA regulations, and people in my state going overboard about it. (Instead I used a LOR from a highly respected vet that was on admissions committees) It definately did not affect me getting into the schools, including UAB (as mentioned earlier) as an out-of-state student. If you have the opportunity to get one, great, if not, don't worry about it.