Question about LOR

Started by AntonFreeman
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AntonFreeman

Full Member
10+ Year Member
I have been shadowing/working for a doctor about 6 months. I have asked him for a letter of recommendation and he agreed to write me one. But I am not sure if I have impressed him enough to write me a good letter. I say this because he has given me advice like I should try to be more assertive, and don't apologize for things that I didn't do. It has been a good experience working for him and I do appreciate the advice that he has given me. I am just not sure how potentially bad or bland letter from MD would affect my application.
 
AntonFreeman said:
I have been shadowing/working for a doctor about 6 months. I have asked him for a letter of recommendation and he agreed to write me one. But I am not sure if I have impressed him enough to write me a good letter. I say this because he has given me advice like I should try to be more assertive, and don't apologize for things that I didn't do. It has been a good experience working for him and I do appreciate the advice that he has given me. I am just not sure how potentially bad or bland letter from MD would affect my application.
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I would think of this as a nice supplemental letter - but don't hang your hopes on this particular letter.

My general advice is that letters of recommendation are best from people who have interacted with you in a learning environment/academic setting. Of course if the professor is also an MD/DO/etc that went through medical/dental/etc school, then they can speak with a little more authority. Don't lose sight of the function of LORs - to provide a (presumably) objective evaluation of your suitability for medical school.

A strong letter from a PhD tenured professor saying "She/he is one of the top 10 pre-medical students I have ever taught in my 20 years as a undergraduate pre-medical instructor..." would hold much more weight than a doc who you volunteered or worked for.

This is my humble opinion, of course. Best of luck!
 
Perhaps you should rephrase the question to him: "Dr X, do you think you could write a GOOD LOR for me?"


While they are very rare, a bad LOR is a kiss of death for your medical school career.



AntonFreeman said:
I have been shadowing/working for a doctor about 6 months. I have asked him for a letter of recommendation and he agreed to write me one. But I am not sure if I have impressed him enough to write me a good letter. I say this because he has given me advice like I should try to be more assertive, and don't apologize for things that I didn't do. It has been a good experience working for him and I do appreciate the advice that he has given me. I am just not sure how potentially bad or bland letter from MD would affect my application.
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I did ask him to write me a "positive letter" maybe I am just being paranoid. Would it bad to not submit a letter from him at all? if school sees that I worked for him for 6+ months, and don't have a LOR from him? I will have 3 science prof letter and a committee letter from my post-bac program
 
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