Comments on: Pre-Med Preparation: Getting Letters of Recommendation http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/ A nonprofit educational organization Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:12:52 -0500 hourly 1 By: kat http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-7878 kat Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:18:14 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-7878 I can tell you my personal experience of getting letters and now am asked to write letters for students and students asking to shadow me for letters. I was an A student but only because I worked hard for it, I had to ask my professor occasionally to reexplain a few pieces of the lecture during the semester. He knew I didnt go in just so he would write me a letter (which he did), I loved the material and wanted to understand it so I would do well in med school. Now I only write letters for students if I really believe in them, other wise I tell them that they would be better off having someone that knows them better write their letters. My other letter came from a Dr that I worked with when I volunteered at a medical clinic for the homeless. She actually asked ME if she could write my letter of reccomendation, she knew how much I wanted to learn about medicine and how I interacted with the patients. Remember at some schools reading the letters is one of the ways to get to know the students and may be the reason why do get or dont get an interview. All the students are qualified, the people writing the letters can portray to the readers much information about the applicant by their enthusiasm or lack of enthusiasm. I would never write a letter for someone that shadowed me for one day. Also remember to give the person writing your letter your resume and a personal letter about yourself, an abbreiviated personal statement. If you have been out of school for a while, make an attempt to find your past professor and reconnect or if possible take another class to show admissions you are still a good student. There are many places to volunteer to get a great reference letter or your current supervisor. The key is to have all your ducks in a row without being arrogant. Know what you have to offer the school and your future patients I can tell you my personal experience of getting letters and now am asked to write letters for students and students asking to shadow me for letters.
I was an A student but only because I worked hard for it, I had to ask my professor occasionally to reexplain a few pieces of the lecture during the semester. He knew I didnt go in just so he would write me a letter (which he did), I loved the material and wanted to understand it so I would do well in med school.
Now I only write letters for students if I really believe in them, other wise I tell them that they would be better off having someone that knows them better write their letters. My other letter came from a Dr that I worked with when I volunteered at a medical clinic for the homeless. She actually asked ME if she could write my letter of reccomendation, she knew how much I wanted to learn about medicine and how I interacted with the patients.
Remember at some schools reading the letters is one of the ways to get to know the students and may be the reason why do get or dont get an interview. All the students are qualified, the people writing the letters can portray to the readers much information about the applicant by their enthusiasm or lack of enthusiasm.
I would never write a letter for someone that shadowed me for one day. Also remember to give the person writing your letter your resume and a personal letter about yourself, an abbreiviated personal statement.
If you have been out of school for a while, make an attempt to find your past professor and reconnect or if possible take another class to show admissions you are still a good student. There are many places to volunteer to get a great reference letter or your current supervisor. The key is to have all your ducks in a row without being arrogant. Know what you have to offer the school and your future patients

]]> By: Matt http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1542 Matt Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:59:40 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1542 This article was very informative, thank you so much for the time and effort you put into these. I have one question in regard to this article however. What if a family member, in this case, my uncle, is an ER doctor. And as such, have shadowed him multiple times. He undoubtedly would know me better than all of these other scenarios and because he is my uncle he would easily write a letter with the highest opinions of my character present. Would that not be an acceptable recommendation letter for med school? Or can this be one of those rare exceptions? This article was very informative, thank you so much for the time and effort you put into these.

I have one question in regard to this article however.

What if a family member, in this case, my uncle, is an ER doctor. And as such, have shadowed him multiple times. He undoubtedly would know me better than all of these other scenarios and because he is my uncle he would easily write a letter with the highest opinions of my character present.

Would that not be an acceptable recommendation letter for med school? Or can this be one of those rare exceptions?

]]> By: S http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1541 S Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:56:17 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1541 Can you ask a recommendation from a physician whom you shadowed for only a day? What is the best time to ask them? right after or formally through email? Thanks! Can you ask a recommendation from a physician whom you shadowed for only a day? What is the best time to ask them? right after or formally through email?

Thanks!

]]> By: ANONymous http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1540 ANONymous Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:18:19 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1540 Yes, I would love to see an article on what to do if you've been out of school and aren't working through the pre-med advisement office. how should the letters be collected/stored and is there another way to get the copies of letters needed to apply to multiple schools without asking the letter writer to make copies?.... Yes, I would love to see an article on what to do if you’ve been out of school and aren’t working through the pre-med advisement office. how should the letters be collected/stored and is there another way to get the copies of letters needed to apply to multiple schools without asking the letter writer to make copies?….

]]> By: Anonymous http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1537 Anonymous Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:16:52 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1537 Extremely helpful Extremely helpful

]]> By: Anonymous http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1539 Anonymous Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:45:13 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1539 "You need excuses to get to know your professor for a good letter, so use all opportunities. Go to your professor, and ask him or her about assignments or other readings — even if you understand everything and really don’t have any questions." I hate students that suck up to professors just to get recommendation letters. they waste their own time by pointlessly asking questions they know the answers to and more importantly, the time of other students who actually need to go to office hours! “You need excuses to get to know your professor for a good letter, so use all opportunities. Go to your professor, and ask him or her about assignments or other readings — even if you understand everything and really don’t have any questions.”

I hate students that suck up to professors just to get recommendation letters. they waste their own time by pointlessly asking questions they know the answers to and more importantly, the time of other students who actually need to go to office hours!

]]> By: Anonymous http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1538 Anonymous Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:43:49 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1538 You need excuses to get to know your professor for a good letter, so use all opportunities. Go to your professor, and ask him or her about assignments or other readings — even if you understand everything and really don’t have any questions. You need excuses to get to know your professor for a good letter, so use all opportunities. Go to your professor, and ask him or her about assignments or other readings — even if you understand everything and really don’t have any questions.

]]> By: Sammy http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1527 Sammy Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:27:45 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1527 Great article! Glad I found this site! Does anyone have advice for nontraditional applicants? Been out of school for a bit and it would be extremely hard to go back to my old professors for a LOR, you just lose touch with academics after you leave. Great article! Glad I found this site! Does anyone have advice for nontraditional applicants? Been out of school for a bit and it would be extremely hard to go back to my old professors for a LOR, you just lose touch with academics after you leave.

]]> By: Britt http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1528 Britt Sat, 17 May 2008 05:53:15 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1528 Are there advantages (or disadvantages) to going through a letter writing service like interfolio instead of the letter writing committee at one's school? I ask this because my school is charging $175 to keep my letters of recommendation in a file, but they no longer write an additional letter for the student. This seems like a $15 interfolio account would be better. What do you think? Are there advantages (or disadvantages) to going through a letter writing service like interfolio instead of the letter writing committee at one’s school? I ask this because my school is charging $175 to keep my letters of recommendation in a file, but they no longer write an additional letter for the student. This seems like a $15 interfolio account would be better. What do you think?

]]> By: Sam http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1530 Sam Sat, 10 May 2008 23:45:39 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/04/26/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/#comment-1530 When is a good time to ask for letters? Right before we apply to Med School or right after the course or internship (even though it may be 2 years prior to applying to med schools)? When is a good time to ask for letters? Right before we apply to Med School or right after the course or internship (even though it may be 2 years prior to applying to med schools)?

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