LOR that I have to write myself?

[emaw319]

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Hi everyone,

I am a senior this year planning to apply next cycle. I have been working for a year now as a medical assistant at a neurology clinic, and by the time I apply I will have been there for about 1.5 years. It's a very small clinic with only one provider, so I work with him very closely. Obviously, I want to use him as a LOR when it comes time to apply but unfortunately, "his policy" is that I will have to write it myself and he will just sign it (this is how he's written letters for other employee applicants in the past.) That makes me uncomfortable, especially since I want to be able to waive my right to view the letter. I have one other option for a clinical LOR, a primary care doc that I have been shadowing fairly regularly. He is much more personable than the doc I work for and I feel he could write me a great letter, but I'm concerned how it would look to not have a letter from someone that I worked for for so long. Will that raise any red flags? Thanks!

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Don't worry about writing the letter yourself. It's not uncommon. As long as the Dr. signs it, they are attesting to it. Make sure you use the clinic's letterhead.

 

[emaw319]

Don't worry about writing the letter yourself. It's not uncommon. As long as the Dr. signs it, they are attesting to it.

That makes me feel better, thank you!

 

[HomeSkool]

fortunately, "his policy" is that I will have to write it myself and he will just sign it (this is how he's written letters for other employee applicants in the past.)

There, I fixed that for you.

That makes me uncomfortable

It really shouldn't. This is a golden opportunity! He's telling you that he regards you highly enough that he'll sign off on however awesome you want others to think you are! That shouldn't make you uncomfortable, it should make you ecstatic! Do yourself a favor and make the letter say you're the best he's ever seen. Don't hold back.

I want to be able to waive my right to view the letter

OK, OK. I see what's happening here: you think waiving your right to view it is the same as saying you didn't view it. Let me clarify: you have the right to view any letter submitted to AMCAS -- if you say, "I want to see it," the letter-writer is obligated to show it to you. You can waive that right, but they can still say, "That's cool, look at it anyway." If they do that, you can still honestly say you waived your right. In this case, you're waiving your right to read the letter, and your letter-writer (well, letter-signer, I suppose) is saying, "I'll see your waiver, and I will raise you the ability to write the letter yourself."

TL;DR: waiving your right to something doesn't preclude someone from giving it to you of their own volition.

Happy writing!

 

[Coupd'Cat]

Definitely not uncommon. And usually, the physician/letter-writer still makes their own final edits anyway so it's not like you're getting away with murder.

Things that make a strong LOR (now that I've learned in the future screening applicants) are "best ever" language (Top 5% or Top 1% what have you) and anecdotes to back up what you are writing about a person. Do yourself a favor and include those. 🙂