Shadowing/Letter of Rec question

[PreMedHopeful]

Alright, so I started shadowing a pediatrician since I usually always shadow family practioners only so I thought a change might be nice...but that's another story

My question was do you just ask the doctor to write a letter of rec after a few weeks of shadowing and then do you send the letter to your school or how does this process exactly work? I just wanted to secure my letters before applying which doesn't begin until next year...so I'm wondering how this all works since my undergrad school has given me no help and neither has my adviser about this complicated process.

Thanks for your help.

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[hewmanoid]

Firs of all, you might want to wait more until you get a letter from the pediatrician because he/she needs to get to know your personal qualities and potentials as a physician better. Why in such a hurry? You still have a whole year left. Also, does your school have a letter distribution service? The career center at my undergraduate instution had one. Basically, you ask the doctor to send a letter of rec to the career services, and they will forward the letter to however many schools you apply to (of course, they will charge you for the service). Hope this helps.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

I don't think my school has this, my school is very disorganized with this matter and they do not send things in a timely fashion...so I have to find out what to do and make sure it happens...Of course, I will wait until the end of the summer to ask for the letter of rec...

 

[hewmanoid]

In that case, you just have to ask the physician to send multiple copies of the letter to different schools. I'm sure as long as you don't apply to like 100 schools, the doctor would be more than willing to do it for you. Just make sure to give the doctor stamped envelopes with individual school addresses.

 

[LizzyM]

Most medical schools do not ask for these letters from physicians. They take you at your word when you say that you've shadowed. Most of the letters in support of a student-shadow's application to medical school are of no help in determining whether to grant an interview invitation.

If you are going to ask for one anyway, wait until the doctor has known you for at least 3 months, or when your interactions with the physician are complete. A letter almost always opens with the length of time the writer has known the applcant so a longer period (a year) is stronger than a shorter period (the exception to the rule are people who have known you from infancy or childhood).

If your school does not have a process that collects and distributes these letters, then you might look into the AMCAS process or Interfolio.

Don't worry about asking for a letter 1 year after an interaction. The person should still remember you then.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

My main concern about the letter of recommendation deal is that what if the doctor you shadow doesn't really think you are that smart and won't write you a good recommendation even though you are being polite, working hard, and asking questions...

For example, the doctor I am shadowing first asked me for my ACT score, and I told him I got a 30, and he said, that's not very good...he said he expected better from me if I want to be a doctor....Also, I once accidentally complained to him that I am sick of studying this summer since I need to take the MCAT soon and he said if you want to be a doctor, you should love studying and change your attitude...

This is why I am worried if I should ask him for a letter...or should I stop shadowing him and find another doctor...How many letters of recommendation can I get from doctors and can I get letters from other sources like ER nurses or someone from another medical experience???

 

[sully677]

Why do you want a letter from a shadowing experience? Usually shadowing involves keeping quiet while the doctor works and only talking when there is an opportunity. You would be better served getter a letter from someone other than physician.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

how else do I get a letter of recommendation from a doctor? I thought you have to shadow first, build a relationship, then you ask him........

From med students I have talked to, they say you should go to the doctor, introduce yourself, talk about yourself and your goals and your stats/experiences in college and then they just write the letter...depending on the doctor!?!!!

So am I wasting time shadowing, like how do MOST people get their letters of rec from physician????????

 

[Web MD]

Technically, you don't need a letter of rec from a physician, from my experience most med schools prefer letters from professors, lab instructors, and research collaborators. If you really want one from a doc though, weigh the pros and cons. What kind of impression do they have of you? Do they really know you well enough to write a glowing recommendation about your motivation, leadership, ability to adapt and learn? If not, it may hurt you...

 

[sully677]

Technically, you don't need a letter of rec from a physician, from my experience most med schools prefer letters from professors, lab instructors, and research collaborators. If you really want one from a doc though, weigh the pros and cons. What kind of impression do they have of you? Do they really know you well enough to write a glowing recommendation about your motivation, leadership, ability to adapt and learn? If not, it may hurt you...

Right on. Professor's usually have longer relationships with their students.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

no because some medical schools require a letter from a doctor you have shadowed...that was my impression unless I am completely mistaken...of course I will get a letter from 3 professors: 2 science and 1 humanities

 

[sully677]

What schools?

 

[PreMedHopeful]

MANY DO SCHOOLS require a letter from MD/DO but most require a DO letter....

What is the best specialty to shadow to get a letter of rec? Do med schools get impressed if you shadow a surgeon, anesthesiolgoist, derm, or something that's really competitive nowadays?

because I was planning on just shadowing a family practioner/internal medicine doctor for MD and DO and having 2 letters and then done with all the letters of recommendation...

I will also have 1 letter from a science professor, 1 letter from an English composition professor, 1 volunteer from my college premedical adviser, and then the last letter will be from my club sponsor/adviser for which I'm president....

Is that enough? Should I also ask my hospital volunteer coordinator, more doctors, and the professor I did research with freshman year or the cancer research scientist I am doing research with my sophomore year?

I'm confused...and want to be an "over-achiever" but not to make adcoms madd....