Okay to ask for LoR?

[qev]

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I'm more of a lurking member but I had a question regarding a Letter from a DO.

I'm a two hour drive away from the D.O. I'm shadowing in Los Angeles currently. I've only shadowed him twice, the first time just to get more of a feel for his practice in urology. Immediately after I emailed him to thank him for his time and how I learned a lot, then I added to the email that I would like to come back and get to know him better and have him get to know me better in hopes to get a letter of rec. Fast forward to today, I just returned from his office and he told me he was glad to have me and email him if I need any help with anything in my application process.

My question, are these two experiences enough to ask him for a LoR? Perhaps give him my personal statement, CV, and transcript as well?

Thanks in advance.

 

[aliDO]

He seems more than willing to help, and if it's the only DO letter you have go ahead. I'm sure by stating that he would help you with the application process he meant he would write you a rec. Most doctors won't just volunteer to write a rec. unless it will be a good one. Also, many people ask after just one day of shadowing. Good luck! And giving him your PS, transcripts, ect would be good, but he's probably so busy he won't look much at them.

 

[madcye]

Fast forward to today, I just returned from his office and he told me he was glad to have me and email him if I need any help with anything in my application process.

Well, I think he left the door open and you could say was hinting that he would write you a letter. What I'd do is thank him then ask if he could write a letter for you and say that if he needs more information you've attached your personal statement etc. Something along these lines I think is kosher. Good luck.

 

[qev]

Thanks for the quick responses! Both the tips given was what I had in mind, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't being too forward or asking too much. Ty again.

In case anyone was wondering, I emailed and he said he'd be happy to write a letter.

 

[prionsRbad]

Thanks for the quick responses! Both the tips given was what I had in mind, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't being too forward or asking too much. Ty again.

In case anyone was wondering, I emailed and he said he'd be happy to write a letter.

Nice! Good luck this cycle!

 

[udsoccer7]

Give him as much information as you can. Send him your personal statement, transcripts, and CV before he writes the letter so that he can EASILY write a good letter of recommendation for you. Without that information and only 2 days of being around eachother it may be hard for him to write a good letter. But if he has your grades and your accomplishments he can and will incorporate these into the letter.

BTW- I might try to shadow him one at least another day. Also, if you really want to get in good with him, offer to take him to lunch one of those days, or even better get some food catered in to his office. Nothing makes a doctor happier than free food for him and his staff. I had Jimmy John's catered in for one of the docs I shadowed as a thank you. I took another one to lunch one day. It was a great opportunity to get to know me as a person outside of my nervousness in his office.

 

[MossPoh]

Give him as much information as you can. Send him your personal statement, transcripts, and CV before he writes the letter so that he can EASILY write a good letter of recommendation for you. Without that information and only 2 days of being around eachother it may be hard for him to write a good letter. But if he has your grades and your accomplishments he can and will incorporate these into the letter.

BTW- I might try to shadow him one at least another day. Also, if you really want to get in good with him, offer to take him to lunch one of those days, or even better get some food catered in to his office. Nothing makes a doctor happier than free food for him and his staff. I had Jimmy John's catered in for one of the docs I shadowed as a thank you. I took another one to lunch one day. It was a great opportunity to get to know me as a person outside of my nervousness in his office.

That might be a bit much. An offer may be nice, but I'd be very surprised if they accepted. Most of those guys get free food thrown at them left and right by drug reps. Also, it can be a real expensive proposition. A simple handwritten thank you and maybe a small basket of snacks for everyone works. I talked wine with one guy I shadowed and sent him a couple bottles of nice wine, but we were also family friends. If you were to cater lunch for the Urology practice I shadowed at then you'd drop around 500 dollars...and that may not cover a large group of people. A few doctors always bought my lunch on the promise that I'd return it to students that shadowed me later on. Just depends on the guy.