Medical Resident writing a Letter of recommendation

[pandemia]

Is it ok if a medical resident is able to write a letter of recommendation for a pre-med student?

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[Ironmandoc]

Yeah of course

 

[kpcrew]

look at the letter requirements for the schools you are applying to

 

[thesauce]

Is it ok if a medical resident is able to write a letter of recommendation for a pre-med student?

For med school? No, I would not. The physician should be established and board certified, preferably with some seniority.

 

[NewYorker9]

Fo my knowledge there are plenty of MD programs that do not require a letter from a physician, though some do prefer it. Almost all, if not all, the schools I am looking at do not flat out demand one. I know many DO schools require a LOR from a DO. I do have a letter from an MD though, but don't get a lukewarm letter just for the title of doctor

 

[Colonel Sanders]

I submitted a letter written by a 4th year anesthesia resident to every school I applied to this year and it turned out fine. I got multiple acceptances and no one ever questioned/mentioned anything about the letter. As long as its a supportive letter its fine. That's one of those small things that you shouldn't worry about. Good Luck

 

[JCTWP46]

I joined a research study this past semester with a resident as the PI and another resident and attending as co-investigators. The PI told me up front there would be no problem getting LOR's and that she would write me one, however, she felt it would be better coming from the attending than herself.

 

[Colonel Sanders]

I joined a research study this past semester with a resident as the PI and another resident and attending as co-investigators. The PI told me up front there would be no problem getting LOR's and that she would write me one, however, she felt it would be better coming from the attending than herself.

The PI probably said that because they felt that the attending would have more to say about you personally then herself. A good LOR isn't based on who wrote it or what their title is, its based on how well they know you and how well they can speak about you personally. A truly personalized LOR is better than the cookie-cutter positive letters that some professors crank out every day. Generic letters are easy to spot and don't do much to help you.

Just guessing here, I don't know your full situation.

 

[deleted103644]

Is it ok if a medical resident is able to write a letter of recommendation for a pre-med student?

This is a bad move.

Get an attending to sign off on it or it won't help.

Often they ask the resident to write it anyway, but you need the attending's name on the letter or you're better off without it (and getting a different rec).

 

[mmmcdowe]

It's no big deal. A senior attending affiliated with a med school or widely known is the ideal, but ultimately its the content that will matter. A great, thorough eval from a resident is more valuable than a form letter from the chairman his department (unless it's the best form letter ever).

 

[thesauce]

Fo my knowledge there are plenty of MD programs that do not require a letter from a physician, though some do prefer it. Almost all, if not all, the schools I am looking at do not flat out demand one. I know many DO schools require a LOR from a DO. I do have a letter from an MD though, but don't get a lukewarm letter just for the title of doctor

This thread is about having a letter from a resident versus an attending. How does this post apply?

 

[Colonel Sanders]

This is a bad move.

Get an attending to sign off on it or it won't help.

Often they ask the resident to write it anyway, but you need the attending's name on the letter or you're better off without it (and getting a different rec).

Just kind of curious what makes you think this?
Your argument basically suggests that the content of the letter is secondary to the title of the writer. I find it hard to believe that any quality letter from a resident with an MD degree would hurt your app at all. Do you have any proof to back this up?

 

[sector9]

The better question is why do you think that such a letter would help in the first place? What type of relationship do you have with this resident?

 

[Colonel Sanders]

The better question is why do you think that such a letter would help in the first place? What type of relationship do you have with this resident?

One of my good friends who I grew up right next door to and who was the person to initially sparked my interest in medicine and helped me every step of the way to succeed. Any more Brain Busters sector9?

(Couldn't resist the billy madison line), but for real all that is why I got a letter from this resident

But I'm still curious as to jonhnydramas answer to my original question.

 

[deleted103644]

One of my good friends who I grew up right next door to and who was the person to initially sparked my interest in medicine and helped me every step of the way to succeed. Any more Brain Busters sector9?

(Couldn't resist the billy madison line), but for real all that is why I got a letter from this resident

But I'm still curious as to jonhnydramas answer to my original question.

For the same reason you wouldn't get a college recommendation from a college student.

It's not just the name - how does the adcom know this isn't just a buddy of yours a few years ahead?

 

[Colonel Sanders]

For the same reason you wouldn't get a college recommendation from a college student.

It's not just the name - how does the adcom know this isn't just a buddy of yours a few years ahead?

Im obviously not gonna win this argument against two people who post as much as you two so I'll just agree to disagree.

Im my opinion though, comparing a letter from a resident and a letter from a college student is absurd. If the resident knows you as a person and can speak positively about your character and motivations their letter is just as strong as any other. Call me crazy but I would take a letter from a resident that knows me very well and is able to talk about me on a deeper level over a generic BS positive letter from a professor I had 1 or 2 classes with any day.

The only reason Im still talking about this is because you're telling people that a resident letter is a horrible idea. As I said earlier, I had a resident letter included in my app and received multiple acceptances even though I have somewhat average GPA and MCAT. It obviously wasn't a horrible idea for me and didn't hurt me so why advise against it?

 

[Old Grunt]

Obviously, the more impressive the credentials, the better. However, I don't see why a resident couldn't write a letter. A resident is a doctor and has successfully completed medical school, so it seems logical that they could write a letter in favor of someone getting into medical school.