LOR from shadowing, few questions

[panbimbo]

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So I need an LOR from an MD physician for my committee letter; no way around that. I know MD letters aren't that great but it is what it is.

I contacted my family physician and he will try to get me in touch with another doc to shadow (my adviser told me not to try to get LOR from my family doctor as there would be conflict of interest).

How many hours with someone completely new? A few full days (24 or 32 hours)? I feel like I would have to really connect with the person and shadow at least more than once to have him or her get to know me, no?

 

[Catalystik]

So I need an LOR from an MD physician for my committee letter; no way around that. I know MD letters aren't that great but it is what it is.

I contacted my family physician and he will try to get me in touch with another doc to shadow (my adviser told me not to try to get LOR from my family doctor as there would be conflict of interest).

How many hours with someone completely new? A few full days (24 or 32 hours)? I feel like I would have to really connect with the person and shadow at least more than once to have him or her get to know me, no?

As shadowing is an unwritten expectation, even for most schools that don't specify a minimum number of hours, you need to get this done regardless of the committee requirements. I'd suggest that 40 hours are the minimum. About 50 hours is the average listed on an application.

Is there a deadline approaching soon, by which time the letter needs to arrive? In which case, some binge shadowing is OK, to get it done fast, instead of spacing it out to a weekly opportunity.)

 

[panbimbo]

As shadowing is an unwritten expectation, even for most schools that don't specify a minimum number of hours, you need to get this done regardless of the committee requirements. I'd suggest that 40 hours are the minimum. About 50 hours is the average listed on an application.

Is there a deadline approaching soon, by which time the letter needs to arrive? In which case, some binge shadowing is OK, to get it done fast, instead of spacing it out to a weekly opportunity.)

Thanks for the reply. I already have 30 hours from a surgical specialty that included rounding on patients. Deadline for the LOR is in March, so I am just planning to do once a week for a full day. I am also planning to shadow another specialty, but am making Primary Care my #1 priority right now.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks for the reply. I already have 30 hours from a surgical specialty that included rounding on patients. Deadline for the LOR is in March, so I am just planning to do once a week for a full day. I am also planning to shadow another specialty, but am making Primary Care my #1 priority right now.

Sounds good.

 

[panbimbo]

Sounds good.

Question: I am starting soon with the shadowing. Would I ask for the letter at the end of shadowing, during shadowing, or well after shadowing? It will be a primary care doc, one day a week.

 

[Catalystik]

Question: I am starting soon with the shadowing. Would I ask for the letter at the end of shadowing, during shadowing, or well after shadowing? It will be a primary care doc, one day a week.

Ask toward the end of shadowing.

 

[The Deep]

So I need an LOR from an MD physician for my committee letter; no way around that. I know MD letters aren't that great but it is what it is.

I contacted my family physician and he will try to get me in touch with another doc to shadow (my adviser told me not to try to get LOR from my family doctor as there would be conflict of interest).

How many hours with someone completely new? A few full days (24 or 32 hours)? I feel like I would have to really connect with the person and shadow at least more than once to have him or her get to know me, no?

Why is It bad to shadow your family doctor? My FD agreed to let me shadow him over winter break.

 

[stubblesmcgee]

Thanks for the reply. I already have 30 hours from a surgical specialty that included rounding on patients.

Is there any reason you can't get the letter from whoever you rounded with already? I mean you seem set regardless, just curious tbh.

 

[Catalystik]

Why is It bad to shadow your family doctor? My FD agreed to let me shadow him over winter break.

It isn't bad or a "conflict of interest," IMO, but apparently the OP's advisor has a variant opinion. See original post.

 

[panbimbo]

Is there any reason you can't get the letter from whoever you rounded with already? I mean you seem set regardless, just curious tbh.

The experience with that MD as to be within a year and a half of applying... that one was freshman year.

 

[The Deep]

The experience with that MD as to be within a year and a half of applying... that one was freshman year.

Is that medical school policy or that specific office’s policy?

 

[panbimbo]

Is that medical school policy or that specific office’s policy?

My specific undergrad committee letter requirements

 

[panbimbo]

-The vast majority of MD schools, with just a couple of exceptions, do not require any sort of clinical letter
-virtually all shadowing letters have little if any impact on an adcom. They are usually highly positive with absolutely no evidence supporting such claims. They are definition of fluff and are useless
-premed commitees ask for them just as evidence for their own letter

What do you mean by this? That they ask to see if you actually shadowed?

 

[The Deep]

What do you mean by this? That they ask to see if you actually shadowed?

I think that’s what he meant. I was told It was common knowledge that shadow letters are nearly worthless.