GujjuPA Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I got my MS back in 2010 and I am wondering if I can ask one of my old professors to write me a LOR? I doubt they would remember me enough to write a strong LOR. I did however take A & P II over the summer and got along great with the prof. Can I ask her for one? I am getting a LOR from a PA and am thinking of getting one from my supervsior (I work in mental health counseling for the time being) Any advice would help. I know there is another thread going on this topic but I didn't think it was ok for me to post there. Some schools do want an academic person to write atleast one LOR, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duchesskre Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I didn't have an acedemic person write mine and I got in to many schools. With that being said, I had strong letters...my letters came from my supervisor (social work), a trauma surgeon who I worked with who was the chair of the medical school's residency program, and the associate medical director for our county fire rescue (who was an attending physician that I worked with). I kinda broke the traditions all around as I didnt have a professor or a PA write LOR, but this worked for me as they were the ones who knew me the best and they wrote me beautiful letters..... I guess what I am trying to say is that you want the person who will write you the strongest letter and who will take the time to make it a personal one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted February 17, 2012 Moderator Share Posted February 17, 2012 I agree. Get someone who knows you well and give you a good one. The best LOR I have is from an surgeon I worked with on missions. I'm almost sure it's why I have gotten some interviews. Damn thing nearly made me cry it was so nice. However I didn't read the others, he just mailed me a copy on his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 As others have said, a good LOR from "just a professor" beats a weak LOR from some head honcho. I had a PA I only knew from shadowing from a week write one of my LORs, which I'm sure helped. But probably not as much as my sophomore biology professor from a community college who knew me on a personal basis. Ask the professors you know well first and consider the others as a plan B. While some of us have had people with impressive titles write our LORs, many people have not. The quality of a letter is far more important than the title of the writer, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david89 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 i hope i'm not offending anyone by asking this but "was it weird to ask a physician to write a LOR for PA school? .....again, please don't be offended but i'm really curious....thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorRRT Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 How could that be considered weird or offensive? As a PA, you'll be working directly with/under physicians, wouldn't it make sense to be able to show you've already managed to have a decent enough relationship with a doc where you were able to have them write an LOR? I wouldn't worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiaroscuro27 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Some of the best LOR's come from people you've worked with in the medical field while getting your HCE. Do you know anyone (PA, MD/DO) who you had a chance to work with that will recommend you for PA school? Get the best LOR's possible; ask people that know you well and know your work ethic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paporzelt Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 no way was it weird! they once needed LOR's to get into medical school, so Docs all understand, and if they like you and are encouraging about continuing your education and career, most of them are happy to. Yu just may need to remind them once or twice, as often many docs are so busy they forget everything that doesnt involve patients. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrCats Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I agree with paporzelt! It wasn't weird for me either! They ALL have been through this in some form or another, I gave my doc 6 weeks to get it done, as they do forget things with their busy schedule and all... So be sure to give them plenty of time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenmood Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 If you're going to ask a doc, try to find one who works with PAs well and appreciates their skills and role. He/she will be able to speak more eloquently about your potential as a future colleague. There was a doc where I worked who was a PA first. I didn't get a letter from him, but he would have been ideal. Otherwise, get letters from the people who really know your skills and personality. Their words of endorsement will stand out in a stack of cookie-cutter "insert name here" form letters. My letters were from a PT, NP, and the director of a large hospital department. No PA, because the other professionals knew me much better. :) No professors, because I had been out of school for too long and wanted people who knew my work with patients and my more recent accomplishments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GujjuPA Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Can I ask a Dentist for one? I've known one personally for years and I know she will write a strong one. Is that ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duchesskre Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Can I ask a Dentist for one? I've known one personally for years and I know she will write a strong one. Is that ok? If the school is ok with personal references or character references then I guess you could but you are taking a big risk with it...in my opinion, it's best to get LOR from people you worked with (including those you shadow) or for...or professors...sending in person references from someone you have known personally for years is like having a friend (regardless of profession) write you a LOR...I'd stay away unless you don't have someone you've worked with/for/shadowed or a professor that you could ask...in which case, well, i guess I'm not sure what to say.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david89 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 can one of my LOR be from a tennis coach..he's know me for about 4 years because i assists him with tennis coaching and do summer tennis program for the little kids in my communities.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david89 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 can one of my LOR be from a tennis coach..he's know me for about 4 years because i assists him with tennis coaching and do summer tennis program for the little kids in my communities.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 can one of my LOR be from a tennis coach..he's know me for about 4 years because i assists him with tennis coaching and do summer tennis program for the little kids in my communities.... I think it would REALLY behoove you to pursue letters from someone in the medical field...someone who may have some insight in how you would perform in a medical setting..which while it may be a bit of a stretch to see the difference, it is a bit more complex than teaching tennis to little kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 can one of my LOR be from a tennis coach..he's know me for about 4 years because i assists him with tennis coaching and do summer tennis program for the little kids in my communities.... I think it would REALLY behoove you to pursue letters from someone in the medical field...someone who may have some insight in how you would perform in a medical setting..which while it may be a bit of a stretch to see the difference, it is a bit more complex than teaching tennis to little kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisemakl Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 For those of you who are not having a PA write your letter, pay attention to admission requirements. Many of my schools required that one of my three letters to CASPA be from a PA. Also I recommend trying to find diversity in your letters. I asked a biology professor that I had for 3 courses, I also went to her office hours frequently for help in immuno and for general school questions. I had a PA whom I shadowed write me a letter as well. This was probably my weakest letter, but I had to have one from a PA. I had a lot of trouble deciding who should write my final letter. I had tons of hours of community service and I wanted to have someone reflect that in a letter about me. However, I ended up having a professor write one. I was a lab assistant for her anatomy lab for a year, so she saw my ability to work with people in a unique setting. I also gave all of my letter writers a "Cheat Sheet" with general stats about myself: major, minors, gpa, hometown, involvement etc. Then I asked if each of them would touch on a different part about me, in addition to what they wanted to write. I asked my bio professor to talk about my leadership abilities, the anatomy prof to talk about my community service, and the PA to talk about my process of finding this career, and my interest in peds (Which i expressed to him many times) This way I could be sure that they were mentioning things I felt were important to who I am. Now obviously, I don't know what all they wrote because I never saw the letters. But I think they were pretty good considering I got interviews at two well-known program and I have no HCE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisemakl Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 For those of you who are not having a PA write your letter, pay attention to admission requirements. Many of my schools required that one of my three letters to CASPA be from a PA. Also I recommend trying to find diversity in your letters. I asked a biology professor that I had for 3 courses, I also went to her office hours frequently for help in immuno and for general school questions. I had a PA whom I shadowed write me a letter as well. This was probably my weakest letter, but I had to have one from a PA. I had a lot of trouble deciding who should write my final letter. I had tons of hours of community service and I wanted to have someone reflect that in a letter about me. However, I ended up having a professor write one. I was a lab assistant for her anatomy lab for a year, so she saw my ability to work with people in a unique setting. I also gave all of my letter writers a "Cheat Sheet" with general stats about myself: major, minors, gpa, hometown, involvement etc. Then I asked if each of them would touch on a different part about me, in addition to what they wanted to write. I asked my bio professor to talk about my leadership abilities, the anatomy prof to talk about my community service, and the PA to talk about my process of finding this career, and my interest in peds (Which i expressed to him many times) This way I could be sure that they were mentioning things I felt were important to who I am. Now obviously, I don't know what all they wrote because I never saw the letters. But I think they were pretty good considering I got interviews at two well-known program and I have no HCE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorRRT Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Yes, getting a letter from a tennis coach is a great idea if your intention is to donate money to caspa and not get into school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorRRT Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Yes, getting a letter from a tennis coach is a great idea if your intention is to donate money to caspa and not get into school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorRRT Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Take a second and think about it, you're applying to go to school to become a health professional, not a tennis pro. Wouldnt it make much more sense to get letters from health professionals/professors? ......just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorRRT Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Take a second and think about it, you're applying to go to school to become a health professional, not a tennis pro. Wouldnt it make much more sense to get letters from health professionals/professors? ......just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GujjuPA Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 So far I have a LOR from a PA and am conflicted on whom to ask for the other two LORs. I have just started working as a Neurophysiologist Technologist but I don't think that I know the doctors I work with well enough to ask for a LOR, or can I? My other job is working as a mental health counselor so I can ask my unit manager that I have known for yrs write one. I did Anatomy and Phys II over the summer and I got to know the prof but I don't know if her LOR will be strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoPackGo Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I also gave all of my letter writers a "Cheat Sheet" with general stats about myself: major, minors, gpa, hometown, involvement etc. Then I asked if each of them would touch on a different part about me, in addition to what they wanted to write. I asked my bio professor to talk about my leadership abilities, the anatomy prof to talk about my community service, and the PA to talk about my process of finding this career, and my interest in peds (Which i expressed to him many times) This way I could be sure that they were mentioning things I felt were important to who I am. Now obviously, I don't know what all they wrote because I never saw the letters. But I think they were pretty good considering I got interviews at two well-known program and I have no HCE. Can someone elaborate on how to do this in a respectful manner? I am about to communicate again with the 3 people I asked to write me letters of rec. I don't want to give the impression that I am attempting to orchestrate what they write. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shah2006 Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 I have a question to tag onto this post. Nova Southeastern (Jacksonville campus) requires 2 LORs from health professionals, one of which should be a PA. If one of my LORs is from a PA, the other from my supervisor doing work as a CNA (not a HC professional), and then a third one from my academic advisor...how would I fit in a fourth letter? Should I ask the school directly if another HC professional can mail them a letter to add to my profile, in order to meet this requirement? It's interesting that some schools require/prefer an academic letter, and then a school like Nova, which requires 2 from HC professionals. Just seems difficult since CASPA only allows for 3 letters. Thanks in advance for your responses :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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