LOR From Step-Parent?

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Ok, I have seen numerous posts on having MD parents write you LORs and how it is looked down upon. However, am I correct in my impression that this has more to do with an adcom's preference for non-family LORs rather than a rule/law? If so, what about having a physician step-parent with a different last name write the letter?

I am thinking of this in a "tell only if asked" manner, where under no circumstances would any incorrect/false information be told, simply that the family tie would not be advertised.

First, would this work during the application process and interviews? Second, would there be any issues if the family tie was discovered later on (I would think not as long as you are honest the whole time)?

 

[BlueElmo]

I really don't think a LOR from someone in your family or relative, biologically related or not, would be taken seriously by adcoms.

 

[Sauce1]

I really don't think a LOR from someone in your family or relative, biologically related or not, would be taken seriously by adcoms.

They wouldn't know if it was from a family member b/c of the different last name

 

[BlueElmo]

They wouldn't know if it was from a family member b/c of the different last name

Don't you report your parents' names/biographical info on the AMCAS.

 

[LAman10]

Don't you report your parents' names/biographical info on the AMCAS.

yeah, that's the thing. maybe if it was an uncle/aunt from your mother's side (with your mother's maiden name) that might work, but even then, there's ways of figuring it out. Chances are, if you have step-parents in the medical field, they have doctor friends who you could shadow and who could write one for you. it'd be much safer.

 

[EconFootball]

Interesting....

 

[TooMuchResearch]

It's better to not have one than to get caught trying to explain it. Letters from relatives/friends of the family (I've heard) aren't given much weight, and trying to cover one up...well, I shouldn't have to explain the repercussions.

 

[Jolie South]

I think it's inappropriate. What will you say when you are asked how this person knows you? Also, how will your step parent explain that he/she knows you? Will he/she lie about it?

 

[redsquareblack]

I wouldn't do it. Won't help, could hurt.

 

[brooklynblunder]

you dont even need a MD letter

 

[flip26]

Ethically, the writer would need to disclose the relationship, thus rendering the letter useless. Letters from physicians are pretty useless to begin with.

I sound like a broken record on this issue, but you simply do NOT need letters from physicians you have shadowed (exception: Univ of Utah requires it, and many if not most DO schools require them, and in that case, the LOR should be from DOs).

Focus on building good relationships and excellent grades with college professors (the standard is 2 sci, one non-sci), and also building strong relationships via any research or work / volunteer experiences from which you could draw a strong letter.

 

[Jolie South]

Ethically, the writer would need to disclose the relationship, thus rendering the letter useless. Letters from physicians are pretty useless to begin with.

I sound like a broken record on this issue, but you simply do NOT need letters from physicians you have shadowed (exception: Univ of Utah requires it, and many if not most DO schools require them, and in that case, the LOR should be from DOs).

Focus on building good relationships and excellent grades with college professors (the standard is 2 sci, one non-sci), and also building strong relationships via any research or work / volunteer experiences from which you could draw a strong letter.

This is good advice, especially since a physician hasn't even seen you do anything. You're not doing a job or turning in work.

 

[greatnt249]

Letters from physicians are pretty useless to begin with.

I disagree; shadowing experiences don't have to be just you sitting in the corner observing whatever it is they do without you saying a word. Asking poignant questions and demonstrating insight into the field can help develop a good rapport with the shadowing physician and give him/her a good idea of your motivations and interest in the field.

This is good advice, especially since a physician hasn't even seen you do anything.

So what? You're not applying for a residency; you're applying to get into school.

 

[flip26]

I disagree; shadowing experiences don't have to be just you sitting in the corner observing whatever it is they do without you saying a word. Asking poignant questions and demonstrating insight into the field can help develop a good rapport with the shadowing physician and give him/her a good idea of your motivations and interest in the field.

Dude, I am not the enemy here: take up your beef with the vast majority of allo medical schools that do not ask for letters from physicians you shadowed.

Every med school I applied to had specific kinds of letters it wanted, and most of them also capped the total number of letters they wanted to receive. If med schools valued physician LORs, they would ask for them, or so it seems to me...

Letters from shadowing experiences are useless fluff, basically "filler" material for applicants who lack other more highly valued letters.

 

[brooklynblunder]

i agree that shadowing letters are fluff. but you would be surprised at how much doctors put other doctor's words on a pedestal. anyway, a letter from a step-parent, urgg no. not much discussion needed here

 

[BlueElmo]

shadowing letters aren't necessary.

 

[Jolie South]

I disagree; shadowing experiences don't have to be just you sitting in the corner observing whatever it is they do without you saying a word. Asking poignant questions and demonstrating insight into the field can help develop a good rapport with the shadowing physician and give him/her a good idea of your motivations and interest in the field.

So what? You're not applying for a residency; you're applying to get into school.

As a pre-med, there is only so much you can get out of shadowing. Yes, you can ask questions and show interest, but frankly that's not the same as conducting a research project or working as an EMT or scribe or in any other significant academic pursuit or position with responsibility.

The idea of admissions essays is to tell the adcoms what your motivations and interests are, and your LORs should be there to back up your ability to succeed in those ambitions. I don't know how well a physician that you're simply shadowing for a few days would be able to comment on that. I think applicants would be much better served by getting the requisite academic letters and using someone that has seen them function in some sort of EC capacity for a significant period of time to provide another.

 

[EconFootball]

The pre-professional advising committee at my school actually requires a letter from an MD/DO for their packet that they send to AMCAS. It's one of the factors that my advisor bases her letter on.

 

[Sauce1]

I do not agree. Physician letters can be very good if the physician knows you in a personal way. Sure if you just shadowed him a few times a letter from that individual would be useless. I obtained a letter from a physician I shadowed and have known a long time and he has been like a mentor to me. I bet his letter is better than a couple of my academic letters because I have known him for a while and he can attest to my attributes that would make me a good doctor. How can you say a letter like this is useless? Physicians know better than professors the kind of physician you would make (granted they know you as a person). That is all, carry on.

 

[greatnt249]

Dude, I am not the enemy here: take up your beef with the vast majority of allo medical schools that do not ask for letters from physicians you shadowed.

Every med school I applied to had specific kinds of letters it wanted, and most of them also capped the total number of letters they wanted to receive. If med schools valued physician LORs, they would ask for them, or so it seems to me...

Letters from shadowing experiences are useless fluff, basically "filler" material for applicants who lack other more highly valued letters.

I wasn't saying you were the enemy, just that letters from physicians don't have to be "useless." Then again, I forgot to stop and think about those applicants who didn't have a committee write a letter for them and how it would be more advantageous to get good individual letters that stand out on their own.