Need Quick EC Advice

[kypdurron5]

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My father and I have the same PCP. During his yearly physical a few days ago our PCP offered to write an LOR for me. To be honest I don't think he even knows me very well, but he views getting into medical school as more of a "political process" leading me to believe he would write a good LOR all the same. I want to accept, but on the other hand I really want shadowing experience and have hesitated (until now) asking my PCP simply because we have a doctor-patient relationship and I just think it would be weird to shadow my own doctor. Still, I'm now prepared to do it.

My dilemma is as follows: in 15 days I'm going to Paris for a month, and I plan to submit my application as soon as I get my MCAT score (~June 15) meaning once these two weeks are up that's it for listing experience on my application. LOR's go out with secondaries but that may or may not be before I have a chance to do some shadowing in July. My question is as follows: should I shadow over the next two weeks and then get the LOR, shadow when I get back from Paris and ask for the LOR then (and just mention it during an interview) or just get the LOR now and get the experience later? I have a ton more experience than last time (which was none), but I still really need as much experience as possible going into this application cycle. Thanks!

 

[BuckerPark]

Tough call...

I don't think ADCOMS will know it's your personal physician unless you/he makes a point of mentioning it. Even if they did know, I don't think it's a deal breaker. You sought out a physician and shadowed. Good experience.

From reading your post, it seems as thought you are pretty dead-set on getting your letter from this guy....whether that is now or later. I think that is unnecessarily limiting your options. You admitted your doubt that he knows you all that well. While a letter from him might not be a bad thing, I'm definitely of the mindset that a person who knows you well can much better speak to your strengths and talents (thus writing you an awesome LOR).

Maybe consider using him as one of your 'additional' LORs, but not one of your primary three (depending on the school). Hopefully there are other individuals you could rely on for those rockstar letters. In my opinion, a great letter does NOT have to be from a physician and having the letter from somebody solely because of the MD at the end of the name is not the best method of chosing writers.

My father and I have the same PCP. During his yearly physical a few days ago our PCP offered to write an LOR for me. To be honest I don't think he even knows me very well, but he views getting into medical school as more of a "political process" leading me to believe he would write a good LOR all the same. I want to accept, but on the other hand I really want shadowing experience and have hesitated (until now) asking my PCP simply because we have a doctor-patient relationship and I just think it would be weird to shadow my own doctor. Still, I'm now prepared to do it.

My dilemma is as follows: in 15 days I'm going to Paris for a month, and I plan to submit my application as soon as I get my MCAT score (~June 15) meaning once these two weeks are up that's it for listing experience on my application. LOR's go out with secondaries but that may or may not be before I have a chance to do some shadowing in July. My question is as follows: should I shadow over the next two weeks and then get the LOR, shadow when I get back from Paris and ask for the LOR then (and just mention it during an interview) or just get the LOR now and get the experience later? I have a ton more experience than last time (which was none), but I still really need as much experience as possible going into this application cycle. Thanks!

 

[RxnMan]

I'd say only worry about it if you don't have your max number of ECs covered yet. Ask the ADCOM posters, but they'll tell you that unless those two weeks are two 60-hour weeks, then it won't sway their estimation of your application much.

 

[kypdurron5]

I'd say only worry about it if you don't have your max number of ECs covered yet. Ask the ADCOM posters, but they'll tell you that unless those two weeks are two 60-hour weeks, then it won't sway their estimation of your application much.

I'm definitely not at my limit yet. I've found a very good volunteer position I'm doing now, and I've made some doctor contacts for surgery observation and research (personal invitations) although I'm having difficulties getting them to get back to me >). Still, I really wanted to do IM or FP shadowing to get that notch under my belt. I realize it may only be two 8 hour days a week for two weeks (~32) but I wouldn't go out of my way to mention it was at the last minute or to mention how many hours it was for. I plan on talking about instead how much I learned and what I saw- I think that takes the focus off of the duration entirely. I mean, who cares whether it was 2 weeks or 2 months if I saw about as much as I could in the former as in the latter? I also just read that pre-med majors can become "Patient Care Techs" which is a paid hospital position. Granted, they do a lot of taking vital signs and shelf stocking, but at least I would be in a hospital and making money at the same time. I think I'm going to try and do that starting in July.

 

[BuckerPark]

The pre-med tech is a good idea; it will definitely open up doors for solid patient contact. But you mentioned something that is worth discussing. Length of activity IS important to Adcoms. The AMCAS asks about the duration of your committment and the average hours/week you spend on it. There is also the spot where you describe your experience. I definitely think shadowing is a good idea, but don't want you to have the wrong impression that length of committment will be completely ignored.

I'm definitely not at my limit yet. I've found a very good volunteer position I'm doing now, and I've made some doctor contacts for surgery observation and research (personal invitations) although I'm having difficulties getting them to get back to me >). Still, I really wanted to do IM or FP shadowing to get that notch under my belt. I realize it may only be two 8 hour days a week for two weeks (~32) but I wouldn't go out of my way to mention it was at the last minute or to mention how many hours it was for. I plan on talking about instead how much I learned and what I saw- I think that takes the focus off of the duration entirely. I mean, who cares whether it was 2 weeks or 2 months if I saw about as much as I could in the former as in the latter? I also just read that pre-med majors can become "Patient Care Techs" which is a paid hospital position. Granted, they do a lot of taking vital signs and shelf stocking, but at least I would be in a hospital and making money at the same time. I think I'm going to try and do that starting in July.

 

[RxnMan]

...I mean, who cares whether it was 2 weeks or 2 months if I saw about as much as I could in the former as in the latter?...

I remember at DG there were definite benefits to seeing how the ER changed throughout the year. Cinco de Mayo was a huge night. Sometimes snowy nights wre busy, sometimes the cold was enough to dissuade people from stabbing/shooting their neighbor.

Look over at the 'Aversion to Blood' thread - they've got some good stories in there, and you want to be looking for experiences like those (if the doc asks if you want to do something, you say 'Yes!'). So if/when an interviewer asks you about your stint with a FP, you want to be armed with a good story about it.