Too soon for a LOR?

[AKN]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Last weekend, I approached a DO about shadowing him. He said he didn't like shadows. But, he invited me to a surgery and suggested I meet with him after work. He also said he would write me a LOR 😀. So, I went to the knee replacement last Wednesday . I meet with him tomorrow afternoon.

I will be applying in June. If the doctor writes a LOR now, will it be dated too soon? I went ahead and signed up for Interfolio, so the letter can just sit until I do secondaries next summer/fall.

Thanks.

 

[Powdermonkey]

I would keep a relationship going with him and ask if you can stand in on other surgeries too. That way he sees that you are interested not just in the letter, but in the medical side as well. I was going to suggest Interfolio to you, but you already have it, good job there. Saved me a ton and a half of problems and worrying about letters. I wouldnt worry about the dates. Just make sure you have all of your other letters in when you apply so you can send them all at once and get things in/done quickly.

 

[meggielou]

I agree with Rose. It's really important to maintain a relationship with the DO. The orthopedist that I've been using since high school (for my wreck of a knee) is a DO and not only did he write a great LOR for me, he's let me shadow him, watch surgeries, and now he's having me help with research that he's conducting. Keeping your contact with this DO can only help you i the future, esp. if he/she has connections for residencies, etc.

As for the LOR, I'd wait a few months to ask for it (maybe until April-ish) if you're not applying until June. That way, you'll have an even stronger relationship and a more personal LOR, which is what adcoms really want anyway. 🙂

 

[AKN]

Thanks, guys. I was going to try to build a relationship, and ask for a letter several months from now. He's the one who brought up the letter immediately. I'll request watching more surgeries. If he brings up the letter again, I'll go ahead and give him the Interfolio stuff. I just don't want to give it to him, tell him I don't need it for 8 months, and it be forgotten...

FWIW, I've shadowed an MD quite a bit. I'll be using his letter for MD schools and the DO for DO schools. Thank goodness for Interfolio 👍

 

[Powdermonkey]

Why not use both of the physician letters? It cant hurt you...

 

[AKN]

Why not use both of the physician letters? It cant hurt you...

I will if I can. Some schools seem quite particular about their LORs and do not want any extra. Others merely state their minimum LORs, and will accept more. I'll follow their rules...

 

[saylorsdad]

I don't think it would hurt to have one dated this early, it could be looked at from the positive side and you are not waiting until the last minute. If you are ever questioned about it you should simply state that you were getting your ducks in a row for a early application. Nobody wants to stand at the end of the line.

Merry Christmas

 

[AKN]

My meeting with the doctor went well. We talked about OMT (which he doesn't use), costs of school, the declining income of physicians, different schools, etc. He suggested I consider becoming a PA (I'm non-trad, so he was concerned about my age and my family). He also invited me to another surgery (a shoulder replacement). I'll be watching that tomorrow 👍

He said he writes letters all the time, so to let him know when I need one. I'll try to build a relationship with him before then, because I want a good letter.
But, he doesn't seem too interested in building a relationship. I suppose I'll call about once a month, and request watching another surgery. It'll help him be a little familiar with me.

Thanks, guys 🙂

 

[Powdermonkey]

I agree with Saylorsdad. Go ahead and get him to write the letter. He might get it done in in a week, or it might take him a bit. Plus, if you start the interfolio account, you can get them to just hold it. And going back in a month or so to watch another surgery (or whenever you get back) would be an opportune time to check up on him and see if hes written/sent it yet.

 

[aliDO]

bumping because I have the same question.
I was approached by the DO I've been shadowing all semester in Home Depot and he asked me when he was going to need to write a letter. I told him I'd get back to asap about it. I'm not able to shadow anymore this semester so it might be better for him to go ahead and write it while i'm fresh on his mind. He knows me pretty well though. I'd never even mentioned a lor from him. I was going to wait but it's not like he didn't know I was going to need one. any more advice? Just signed up for interfolio. I'll be applying first thing in June, maybe with one class pending till August.

 

[gasapple]

bumping because I have the same question.
I was approached by the DO I've been shadowing all semester in Home Depot and he asked me when he was going to need to write a letter. I told him I'd get back to asap about it. I'm not able to shadow anymore this semester so it might be better for him to go ahead and write it while i'm fresh on his mind. He knows me pretty well though. I'd never even mentioned a lor from him. I was going to wait but it's not like he didn't know I was going to need one. any more advice? Just signed up for interfolio. I'll be applying first thing in June, maybe with one class pending till August.

Umm, seems like a no brainer. Get the letter from him now - especially seeing as he mentioned it. What are you waiting for? Line it all up, the earlier the better.

 

[aliDO]

Umm, seems like a no brainer. Get the letter from him now - especially seeing as he mentioned it. What are you waiting for? Line it all up, the earlier the better.

I just didn't know if schools wanted the letters dated so early, but I guess it doesn't really matter. thanks for your help!

 

[EEL08]

Umm, seems like a no brainer. Get the letter from him now - especially seeing as he mentioned it. What are you waiting for? Line it all up, the earlier the better.

I agree 100% 👍

 

[gasapple]

I just didn't know if schools wanted the letters dated so early, but I guess it doesn't really matter. thanks for your help!

Most schools will open a file for you when any materials start arriving - well, they did for me - even before your app is officially received. Call the schools individually to be certain. Good luck! 👍

 

[t-funk]

I just didn't know if schools wanted the letters dated so early, but I guess it doesn't really matter. thanks for your help!

As the Gasapple and EEL said, it should not matter if it is dated now. Get your materials started as early as possible and get it out of the way. You have enough things to think aobut.

I used VirtualEvals through my school but I think a lot of people use Interfolio to collect all the letters. I personally would not recommend having your letter writers send their letter to each school. Some people will use the same letter multiple application cycles in a row if they don't get in their first time and I think most schools will allow letters to be 2-3 years old. It should be no big deal if it is dated in January or February.