Optometrist L.O.R.

[Commando303]

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For how long did you shadow an optometrist before you felt comfortable asking him or her for a letter of recommendation? This feels like a tricky matter to me, as, on one hand, shadowing seems to be the sort of thing you do with a doctor for, at most, a couple of days (there's only so much to see [ha, ha], and, after a point, I guess you're just being a nuisance...); on the other hand, sitting in an office watching patients being refracted for half an hour, then asking for an L.O.R., too, appears to be rather awkward.

Thanks.

 

[kayy]

i kept in touch via email with my doctor afterwards, to try to get them to know me better....and at the same time asking lots of questions so they knew i was serious about it. periodically, id stop by the office if they indicated it might be a busy day. then i dropped the bomb :]

 

[CaliOD25]

I shadowed with the optometrist for about three days (they were half-days, though) before I asked for a LOR. I felt comfortable to do this because she had talked to me quite a bit between seeing patients, and she tried to teach me things when I was observing her appointments. We had had good interaction, so I felt that asking her only after a few days was ok. I feel like students should ask as doctor whom they feel has gotten to know them well, even if they were only there for a few days.
By the way, you're right that there is only so much to see when shadowing. But I think if you find an optometrist who you like working with, you are willing to stick around and see the "same old stuff."

 

[sammyboy]

Believe it or not, since 5th grade, I told my optometrist I was interested in her profession. When it came time to shadow her, two summers ago, I put in a total of about 18 hours. I knew I would feel perfectly comfortable asking her for a LOR. She is the optometrist I chose.

I also shadowed a private practice ophthalmologist for roughly 12 hours. I would have also felt comfortable asking him for a LOR, however, they much rather prefer a letter from an optometrist.

I shadowed a corporate optometrist for about 8 hours. I would have felt comfortable asking in this situation also.

I would not have felt comfortable asking the pediatrics, private practice optometrist that I shadowed for only 3 hours (in 1 day). I don't feel it would have been appropriate for me ask her this question.

Hope this helps.

 

[Commando303]

So, it sounds as if a couple of days spent with an optometrist aren't unjustifiably few to request a recommendation letter; this comes as somewhat a relief.

Thanks.

 

[yyk]

I shadowed one optometrist for a few days, totaling approximately 1 week of time before he offered to write me one (I felt very flattered that I didn't have to ask!) ..

I have also shadowed two optometrists in one day (group practice) for ~7 hours, and I was told (in advance) that I would not get a letter because they had other students who apparently shadowed for an entire summer 😱 .. but I already had LORs, so it was fine.

The bottom line is, it's only appropriate if you feel that they know you well enough to write you an excellent, personal LOR (not the average good letter)..Otherwise, it could do harm to your application. So, how many hours before asking for a letter really depends on how fast you warm up to the optometrist, and vice versa

 

[sammyboy]

The bottom line is, it's only appropriate if you feel that they know you well enough to write you an excellent, personal LOR (not the average good letter).

This is absolutely true. Well said. 👍

 

[sammyboy]

It is also important to shadow multiple optometrists to see different practice styles and genders. This will give you a much more accurate perspective of the optometric profession.

 

[Commando303]

I shadowed one optometrist for a few days, totaling approximately 1 week of time before he offered to write me one (I felt very flattered that I didn't have to ask!) ..

I have also shadowed two optometrists in one day (group practice) for ~7 hours, and I was told (in advance) that I would not get a letter because they had other students who apparently shadowed for an entire summer 😱 .. but I already had LORs, so it was fine.

The bottom line is, it's only appropriate if you feel that they know you well enough to write you an excellent, personal LOR (not the average good letter)..Otherwise, it could do harm to your application. So, how many hours before asking for a letter really depends on how fast you warm up to the optometrist, and vice versa

An entire summer (two months, I take it) of shadowing one practice? Wow: to me, at least, that seems excessive.

It is also important to shadow multiple optometrists to see different practice styles and genders. This will give you a much more accurate perspective of the optometric profession.

Unfortunately, one of the places (a community eye-care center) at which I wished to shadow said it simply didn't run in a way that permitted the sort of thing; the optometrist, himself, said he'd be fine with my observing for some time, but management just wouldn't allow it... I'm not trying to come down hard on them — I can understand such a clinic's not wishing to tolerate shadows' presences — but I was saddened to hear I couldn't gain this unique experience.