optimistic3 Posted July 6, 2015 My volunteering supervisor at the hospital is a Child Life Specialist. I've already asked her for a letter of recommendation and she has accepted. I know it will be a strong, glowing letter. But I'm wondering if this fulfills the healthcare professional requirement that some schools ask letters of recommendation to come from. She helps children (it's a children's hospital) understand their surgeries and procedures and helps them cope. What do you think? Sorry if this is a stupid question...
Administrator rev ronin Posted July 6, 2015 Administrator Probably, but is that the best health care professional reference you can come up with? Who are your other two?
optimistic3 Posted July 6, 2015 Author Probably, but is that the best health care professional reference you can come up with? Who are your other two? Hi Rev Ronin, thank you for your reply. This is something that I've been struggling with and I know it's getting late in the game of applications. I'm currently taking a CNA class so for my second letter, I was thinking of asking my clinical supervisor (she is an LVN) to write me a letter when class ends in 3 weeks. I think that might be a good supervisory clinical role that she can speak about. Do you think that one would be ok? I'm sure a supervisor when actually working as a CNA would be better but I'm on a time crunch here. I'm obviously not going to have very many PCH when I apply as I'm just taking my CNA class right now and I understand that. I have all other requirements fulfilled/in-progress. For my third letter, I have a professor who knows a little bit about me and my situation that I had asked last year for a letter. She agreed but said she wanted it to be new and updated and therefore didn't want to write it last year so she is writing it this year. I don't have any schools on my list that require a letter from a PA/MD/DO though I'm sure a PA letter would look good. I'm having trouble finding one to shadow and I'm extremely busy with summer classes right now (I'm taking 14 credits) so I just don't think I'll have enough time to make a connection with a PA and ask for a letter. Ideally I'd like to submit my application in mid to late August. What are your thoughts on my situation? This entire letters of rec situation has been giving me a lot of anxiety and I'd appreciate any insight from someone knowledgeable. Thanks.
greenmood Posted July 6, 2015 Child Life probably counts but it's not among what I would consider "strong" backgrounds for LOR writers. She will be able to speak about your dedication to volunteering and how well you interact with families under stress, but probably little else. Combine that with a letter from a person who's only known you for a couple months and only seen you perform as a student (less accountability) and a professor who knows "a little" about you, and I'm not sure your letters will be the highlight of your application. If the rest of your application is strong and none of the letters are duds ("Optimistic3 worked with me for six months. He is a good student. The End") you should be fine. You're applying late, though.
Administrator rev ronin Posted July 6, 2015 Administrator What Greenmood said, except that I would go ahead and plan on not getting in this year. Your application should already be done and in, and if it's not there's really anything you can do about that at this point. I disagree that this lack of LOR writer status is not a problem, however. You have no shadowing hours (or other documented PA interaction) and no PA LOR? If you wound up in an interview I was part of, I would register my displeasure with the admissions staff--it's their job to filter out such applications.
optimistic3 Posted July 6, 2015 Author Child Life probably counts but it's not among what I would consider "strong" backgrounds for LOR writers. She will be able to speak about your dedication to volunteering and how well you interact with families under stress, but probably little else. Combine that with a letter from a person who's only known you for a couple months and only seen you perform as a student (less accountability) and a professor who knows "a little" about you, and I'm not sure your letters will be the highlight of your application. If the rest of your application is strong and none of the letters are duds ("Optimistic3 worked with me for six months. He is a good student. The End") you should be fine. You're applying late, though. I can completely understand everything you are saying and I agree with you. However, I'm kind of backed against a corner and these really would be the best letters that I could get. I've moved around so much (I have 6 different school transcripts!) that I was never really able to make a good, strong connection with anyone. I know I'm applying late, too, and I keep kicking myself for that one. I'm a pre-med to pre-PA convert and just decided this last December. It was too late to get into any CNA or EMT classes in my area for the spring so I'm taking the CNA class now. If it weren't for the PCH, I would've applied back in April.
optimistic3 Posted July 6, 2015 Author What Greenmood said, except that I would go ahead and plan on not getting in this year. Your application should already be done and in, and if it's not there's really anything you can do about that at this point. I disagree that this lack of LOR writer status is not a problem, however. You have no shadowing hours (or other documented PA interaction) and no PA LOR? If you wound up in an interview I was part of, I would register my displeasure with the admissions staff--it's their job to filter out such applications. You're right, I do not have high hopes on getting in this year. I recognize that but I feel like I should at least give it a shot. As I told Greenmood, I'm applying so late because I don't have any PCH yet and I'm taking the CNA class right now. If I don't get in this year, my application will be one of the first ones submitted in April next year. You're also right about my lack of PA shadowing experience. I am working on finding someone to shadow and hope to get some shadowing experience soon and update my CASPA with that information if possible (or maybe I should wait until I do get the experience and possibly a letter and only apply to schools with later deadlines?). I only know the PA role firsthand from all the PAs that I've seen in my doctors offices who have treated me. If I do get a PA letter, which do you think I should use it in place of? The professor letter, the Child Life Specialist letter, or the CNA clinical course supervisor letter? That's of course, if I have a choice. I know some schools specifically say they want a professor or whatnot.
greenmood Posted July 6, 2015 You said the Child Life letter would be glowing, so don't drop that one. A stellar letter from someone who knows you well (even if they aren't in the "right" field) will always show better than a perfunctory letter from a perfect source. I think it's worth applying this year if money isn't an issue (and assuming the rest of your application is reasonable). If you don't get in you'll have the experience to help guide you next year.
optimistic3 Posted July 6, 2015 Author You said the Child Life letter would be glowing, so don't drop that one. A stellar letter from someone who knows you well (even if they aren't in the "right" field) will always show better than a perfunctory letter from a perfect source. I think it's worth applying this year if money isn't an issue (and assuming the rest of your application is reasonable). If you don't get in you'll have the experience to help guide you next year. Excellent. Thank you so much for all of your advice!
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