LORs from family

[deebog01]

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My second cousin is a very sucessful dentist out in Nex Mexico and he wants me to enter as his partner when I get out of school. I've spent a lot of time shaddowing him, and he certainly knows me better than most dentists... but would it seem uninspired to send in an LOR from someone that shares my last name (It's a very, very, very uncommon last name)? Just wondering if anyone else has used family as sources for LORs.

Thanks,
Deebog

 

[canuck_chick]

i think that if you can't find anyone else, then you may as well use them because you need a reference.
but i think under most circumstances, it's best to avoid family members
i think there's even usually something that says it can't be from family...and especially since you said it's an uncommon last name you wouldn't even be able to pretend that you're not related

i know my mom is a dentist, and she clearly knows me a lot better than the orthodontist i shadowed. but it looks a lot better to have someone write glowing remarks about you, that isn't your mother (or your second cousin in your case)
just my two cents

My second cousin is a very sucessful dentist out in Nex Mexico and he wants me to enter as his partner when I get out of school. I've spent a lot of time shaddowing him, and he certainly knows me better than most dentists... but would it seem uninspired to send in an LOR from someone that shares my last name (It's a very, very, very uncommon last name)? Just wondering if anyone else has used family as sources for LORs.

Thanks,
Deebog

 

[deebog01]

i think that if you can't find anyone else, then you may as well use them because you need a reference.
but i think under most circumstances, it's best to avoid family members
i think there's even usually something that says it can't be from family...and especially since you said it's an uncommon last name you wouldn't even be able to pretend that you're not related

i know my mom is a dentist, and she clearly knows me a lot better than the orthodontist i shadowed. but it looks a lot better to have someone write glowing remarks about you, that isn't your mother (or your second cousin in your case)
just my two cents

canuck_chick:

My problem is that Baylor requires a letter from a dentist... I recently had a fall-out with my long time dentist that involved a clear-cut rip-off and a Texas peer-review commission decision that was not in his favor. I am doing some shadowing here in San Antonio with another doctor, but I havn't really known her for very long. I guess I could ask her, but I wonder how willing she would be after only meeting with me a couple of times... maybe she'll be willing in a couple of months... I certainly wouldn't ask for a LOR from a new employer... should I look at the situation with this dentist differently?

Thanks,
Deebog

 

[Pikeyman]

Tufts requires a letter from a dentist but I think if your stats are good or decent and as long as there is a proof that you did the required hours of shadowing (My Pre-Health Committee included that in my recommendation), the schools won't bother with it. I didn't send Tufts a letter but I still got accepted.

I don't think you should worry about it.

Good luck.