When is it a good enough time to ask?

[Petrichor1]

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so I have 1 LOR from a clinical faculty but not really in the capacity of patient interaction. Is this good enough? I already spend some time in the hospital racking volunteer hours (shadowing is 0 hours but volunteering makes up a good chunk of that experience). I haven't really volunteered clinically for over a year but I do see the same physicians most everytime. They seem more apathetic to my presence and are only interested in working with their group. I am nervous about asking them for LOR cause if I don't directly talk with them how awkward is it to ask them for a letter? I also think that there is only like 2-3 months left before application cycle opens. The last time I contacted a place to shadow for a week, the receptionist thought I was a lazy bum asking for hours without proper notice but she didn't give me chance to explain that I was fine anytime before summer (I contacted this receptionist like in mid-fall time). I've been getting this type of bad luck everywhere else. Anyways, I would appreciate any help possible. 🙂

 

[Imperius]

Work on finding a physician to shadow who will write a good letter of rec. Even if those aforementioned physicians were willing to write you a letter, it would be bland and generic, and a waste of a committee member's reading time.

 

[Petrichor1]

Work on finding a physician to shadow who will write a good letter of rec. Even if those aforementioned physicians were willing to write you a letter, it would be bland and generic, and a waste of a committee member's reading time.

So does that fulfill my clinical letter?

 

[gyngyn]

Very few MD schools appreciate a physician letter. The few that do will accept any clinical supervisor. Some undergraduate committees want a "physician letter" apparently as a proxy for clinical exposure.

 

[Imperius]

So does that fulfill my clinical letter?

I think a physicians letter does count.

I believe it was @LizzyM who said(apologies if it was someone else): "If you're close enough to smell the patient, it counts as clinical".

 

[Petrichor1]

Very few MD schools appreciate a physician letter. The few that do will accept any clinical supervisor. Some undergraduate committees want a "physician letter" apparently as a proxy for clinical exposure.

wait so it's fine for me to just continue doing volunteer work and I don't really need a letter from a clinical person overseeing my work? I really love my volunteer work, but I wish someone was there to vouch for my presence.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Not sure I entirely understand your post. But you don't necessarily need a letter from a physician (unless you're applying DO - I've heard that DO schools like to see a letter from a DO). You'd be much better off getting a letter from someone else who knows you well, even if they're not an MD. If you volunteer, consider asking a supervisor who knows you well. If you have a job, you could ask your boss. If you do research, ask your PI.

 

[gyngyn]

wait so it's fine for me to just continue doing volunteer work and I don't really need a letter from a clinical person overseeing my work? I really love my volunteer work, but I wish someone was there to vouch for my presence.

These letters all look the same.
Just list your hours and a contact on your activities list. Please.

 

[Hangry]

Don't get a letter from an MD you shadowed unless you have to for some strange requirement.

 

[Petrichor1]

Not sure I entirely understand your post. But you don't necessarily need a letter from a physician (unless you're applying DO - I've heard that DO schools like to see a letter from a DO). You'd be much better off getting a letter from someone else who knows you well, even if they're not an MD. If you volunteer, consider asking a supervisor who knows you well. If you have a job, you could ask your boss. If you do research, ask your PI.

yea I am also applying DO for safety but probably a handful perhaps. But I probably can garner an MD letter at best since it is a requirement I've seen from such schools.

 

[Petrichor1]

Don't get a letter from an MD you shadowed unless you have to for some strange requirement.

lol haha, I've always thought this strange about getting a letter from someone you've shadowed (perhaps for mainly a day or week).

 

[gyngyn]

yea I am also applying DO for safety but probably a handful perhaps. But I probably can garner an MD letter at best since it is a requirement I've seen from such schools.

They really prefer a DO letter if at all possible.
Their reasoning is a bit different than just clinical exposure.

 

[Petrichor1]

They really prefer a DO letter if at all possible.
Their reasoning is a bit different than just clinical exposure.

oh good to know. I will try my best finding a DO then. How long would I have to know this DO to have them feel comfortable in providing a letter to me then? I know that DO school admissions is longer than MD so maybe I'd get some slack for later admission of application.

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

@gyngyn What's wrong with a physician letter?

 

[gyngyn]

@gyngyn What's wrong with a physician letter?

We are congenitally incapable of writing an objective letter. We love everybody. Often, the person is related to the applicant in some significant way. I could go on.

 

[Imperius]

oh good to know. I will try my best finding a DO then. How long would I have to know this DO to have them feel comfortable in providing a letter to me then? I know that DO school admissions is longer than MD so maybe I'd get some slack for later admission of application.

MD and DO follow a very similar schedule...secondary apps are normally accepted later for DO, but if you plan on submitting later just because of that, you are making a mistake. I would say 50+ hours of DO shadowing at minimum, but depends on your situation. I shadowed a DO for 120 hrs before asking for a letter.

 

[Petrichor1]

We are congenitally incapable of writing an objective letter. We love everybody. Often, the person is related to the applicant in some significant way. I could go on.

but shouldn't that make for an awesome letter?

 

[gyngyn]

oh good to know. I will try my best finding a DO then. How long would I have to know this DO to have them feel comfortable in providing a letter to me then? I know that DO school admissions is longer than MD so maybe I'd get some slack for later admission of application.

Even very short exposure is fine.. They are aware of this semi-requirement.

 

[gyngyn]

but shouldn't that make for an awesome letter?

No. It makes them fluff.