Personal or Professional LOR

[Sleight]

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So I shadowed a physician who performed both of my knee surgeries. it is a personal letter but also professional. which one would I put it as.

Also, for a physician that I only shadowed would it be professional?

Thanks!

 

[Sleight]

Any suggestions?

 

[LizzyM]

My advise would be not to bother. Get letters from faculty members who have taught you or supervised your research.

Letters from personal physicians are useless. Letters from physicians you've shadowed are not very informative.

 

[Sleight]

Some of the schools I am applying to actually highly recommend them. Should I list any physicians that I shadowed as professional (even if I knew them very well before hand)?

 

[LizzyM]

Some of the schools I am applying to actually highly recommend them. Should I list any physicians that I shadowed as professional (even if I knew them very well before hand)?

A LOR will open with how the writer knows the applicant. If the writer knew you because you are a friend of the family or a former patient, or a relative, that colors the interpretation of the letter.

Could you point me to a school that asks for this type of letter?

 

[Sleight]

Michigan state wants one personal letter

Rosalind Franklin suggests either a committee letter or 2 professor's and one from someone who has seen you in a health care environment (this could be various types of individuals of course)

MCGeorgia recommends that you specifically have a personal letter from a physician

U of Arizona recommends clinical letters

There might be more I am just looking at this from my notes on a paper and referencing it with the schools websites

 

[LizzyM]

Michigan state wants one personal letter

This is what Michigan State says

One letter must address personal experiences and characteristics that will help CHM to develop an overall portrait of you. A letter based upon direct interaction with you and addressing qualities such as maturity, empathy, character, reliability, interpersonal skills, and any special attributes or experiences will be the most helpful.

Your additional letter(s) may be from individuals from an academic, clinical, employment, research, or volunteer setting. People who know you well and who can attest to your character and abilities based upon their personal experience with you will be the most meaningful.

It is highly desirable that at least one letter is written by someone who has observed you in a clinical setting.

I don't see how someone who has observed you shadowing them can write a strong letter about their observations of you in a clinical setting given that you have no duties as a shadow.

 

[Sleight]

Now that you say that, I sent them a personal letter from someone other than the physician. I think that the reason I was having a physician letter sent was because they had observed me in a clinical setting extensively. Thanks for your help!