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writing your OWN LOR
Started by DrMattOglesby
Have a girlfriend/Boyfriend/mom/dad/sister/next door neighbor/ anyone other than yourself. I bet that you wont be able to include as much great stuff about yourself as your mom or dad would. I have had to write my own in the past and it is extremely difficult, I never know what is relevant/fluff. any way best of luck. I F***ing hate icons I dont even know what 
is, or how about 😛, no body in the real world sticks their tongue out at somebody.
is, or how about 😛, no body in the real world sticks their tongue out at somebody.
Hey Matt,
Writing the LOR for my doctor was probably the biggest pain. I started off the letter telling what I have done in my time shadowing. The next paragraph was dedicated to other clinical experience. The third paragraph was dedicated to my college experience and other activities that I have done. The last paragraph explained why he was recommending me for the school. If you'd like, I could e-mail you a copy of my letter so you can get a better idea. Just remember that you are writing it for the doctor, so don't put so much personal detail that they would not know. Also, don't fill the page up with fancy language; my DO had another student shadowing him and had him write a letter as well. I read it, and it sounded like a Shakespearean sonnet, and my doctor was like, this sounds nothing like me at all and I don't know what half of these words are.
-Scott
Some points to remember:
1. First explain how the doctor knows you and for how long. Also, that he gives you his highest/strongest recommendation.
2. Discuss your performance when you shadowed this doctor and how it relates to your ability to be a capable and compassionate doctor.
3. Show that the doctor knows you as a person. Discuss how your personality demonstrates ideal qualities of a physician. Your ability to interact with others and patients.
4. Discuss any other details about you that the doctor feels was significant in giving you his highest recommendation.
Since you're writing this LOR, I think you should give yourself as many pats on the back as possible. It's a bragging fest.
Hope this helps. I had to write one of mine too. What a pain!
Keep it simple, professional, and don't be afraid to flatter yourself.🙂
1. First explain how the doctor knows you and for how long. Also, that he gives you his highest/strongest recommendation.
2. Discuss your performance when you shadowed this doctor and how it relates to your ability to be a capable and compassionate doctor.
3. Show that the doctor knows you as a person. Discuss how your personality demonstrates ideal qualities of a physician. Your ability to interact with others and patients.
4. Discuss any other details about you that the doctor feels was significant in giving you his highest recommendation.
Since you're writing this LOR, I think you should give yourself as many pats on the back as possible. It's a bragging fest.
Hope this helps. I had to write one of mine too. What a pain!
Keep it simple, professional, and don't be afraid to flatter yourself.🙂
I would consider telling him that you arent comfortable writing it yourself. I dont know if I could write my own or not... And make it sound good/professional/not from a college undergrad.
Given I don't know the Doctor, but I'm not sure if this would be the best idea. Many people choose this path because they are attempting to test you. Also if he isn't trying to test you, and he is just plain lazy do you really want him to drag out writing your LOR for 2 more months and then writing a 2 sentence meaningless piece of work.
Again these are just possiblities, and I have never met the Doctor in question.
I totally agree with this set up. I was forced to do this as well for my current PI who is just plain lazy and would hand over raising her kids if she could. Anyways, when I wrote mine I was nervous about really embellishing but my PI told me to do that anyways and then she would edit whatever she didn't agree with or thought was too much. I also used a lot of examples of situations/tasks that I had been through at my job as a way of showing certain personality traits. That helped me stay focused and as objective as possible. In the end, I had my mom read it who simply commented, "You're not as super human like you describe here you know." - yeah thanks mom. Regardless, I would find out if the doc will be reviewing it. That may make you more comfortable in writing the LOR.
My father in law is a dentist. He has people who shadow him ask for letters of recommendation all the time. He always asks my wife (who worked for him as an assistant) to write them for him.
I think a lot of doctors/dentists/health professionals/people just don't really like to write.
I think a lot of doctors/dentists/health professionals/people just don't really like to write.
I wrote 2 of my 3 letters. It was a pain in the ***. I write poorly. Maybe that's why I haven't gotten in yet. That's all I got. Good luck.
