DOTHISALLDAY Posted December 2, 2017 Report Share Posted December 2, 2017 So, my father has a close friend whos husband happens to be one of the most well known and best ophthalmologists in all of Canada. I'm sure once it comes time I may be able to shadow him as well as get a letter of recommendation from him. How much will this actually impact my application? Will they view this as just another doctor? If you're wondering, I just started Uni this past September. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowmen Posted December 2, 2017 Report Share Posted December 2, 2017 I'm under the impression that a letter of reference from someone who hasn't seen you doing anything other than shadowing would be relatively worthless. It would be hard for him to back how you demonstrate many of the CanMEDS competencies if all you're doing is shadowing. In my opinion, it would probably be more valuable to get a letter of recommandation from a professor or a PI that has known you for a long time and has actually worked with you. On the other hand, if he is indeed well known in the academic ophtalmology world and you can do research with him, that letter of recommandation could carry a lot of weight. That would be especially true at this physician's university. If he mentions knowing your father and so on, it would probably detrimental to your application (for fear of it looking like some form of "nepotism"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridian Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 You are missing the point of references. Its about who you are not who they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheApiarist Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 Chatting with this person can help you in gaining some perspective on what it's like to be a physician, what qualities are important to possess, etc. This could be useful in the interviews and essays. As for the reference, this ophthalmologist's accomplishments will not give you an advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 On 12/2/2017 at 3:23 PM, DOTHISALLDAY said: So, my father has a close friend whos husband happens to be one of the most well known and best ophthalmologists in all of Canada. I'm sure once it comes time I may be able to shadow him as well as get a letter of recommendation from him. How much will this actually impact my application? Will they view this as just another doctor? If you're wondering, I just started Uni this past September. Thanks! Zero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nice Posted December 10, 2017 Report Share Posted December 10, 2017 , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.