Possible LOR writers now MIA

[ZombieDante]

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I have a weird problem and I need advice. So debate is a huge part of my application and I was going to ask my debate coach for a letter of rec. However, last year he quit and got another job. No big deal right? Well he just got fired from that job and is now MIA (no clue how to contact him). I talk about debate a lot in my essays I feel like it would be weird not to have a letter from my coach. I could ask the new coach, but I don't think he knows me all too well yet to write noteworthy things about me.

Also, I have been shadowing my family's primary health care doctor. Her and my family have been really close for a long time, so it worked out perfectly. However, about two months we got a letter in the mail saying she is no longer working for the hospital and gave no reason why or where she was going. We just recently found out she is now "working as a physician for a private entity, and thus no longer sees the public." No clue what that even means, but that's word for word what we were able to find out. I want to list her on my application as shadowing her and have her contact info, but I don't know any of it now. Also wanted to ask her for a LOR.

Advice?

 

[spiffysteve]

My advice would be to look for other possible letters.

I forget who it was (possibly gyngyn), but one of the Smart Respectable People on this site has said that letters from family physicians tend to be along the lines of "I've known _____ since they were learning to ride a bike," and then all legitimacy goes out the window. Couple that with the fact that shadowing letters are generally seen as less useful, and I think you'd be much better served getting a letter from another source.

As to your MIA guy, I've been there. I had a letter writer who's wife got very ill right after he agreed to write my letter, so I told him he was off the hook and didn't have to write it. The guy I got to replace him agreed to do it, then went completely incommunicado and disappeared, so I had to scramble and get somebody else.

If you really feel like your debate coach would write you a stellar letter, then you could try asking some staff or admin at your school if they have any contact info for him, as it would not be unusual for them to have their coworker's info. You may be able to look him up on LinkedIn, too.

 

[dinotso]

Sorry to hear about your situation, that's really unlucky.

You can still list shadowing the physician on your AMCAS even without having contact info. If there is someone else you know who worked in the practice who can verify your experience you can list them, and if not you can just list yourself.

 

[Moko]

I have been shadowing my family's primary health care doctor. Her and my family have been really close for a long time, so it worked out perfectly.

Don't get a LOR from your PCP. Shadowing letters are generally not useful to begin with. The fact that she and your family are "really close" will further remove any sense of objectivity from her evaluation. Get your letters from people who have taught or supervised you and can provide a glowing and objective evaluation of your work and character (e.g. professors, bosses, debate coach, etc.).

My advice would be to look for other possible letters. ... letters from family physicians tend to be along the lines of "I've known _____ since they were learning to ride a bike," and then all legitimacy goes out the window. Couple that with the fact that shadowing letters are generally seen as less useful, and I think you'd be much better served getting a letter from another source.

Agreed!