Ways To Obtain Letter of Recommendation (LoR) For Foreign Graduates

[dheehp]

Hello!

I really wish to undertake a clinical dermatology internship and residency in the USA through VIRMP. I didnt match last year, and I realize that good LoRs from US Vets / Specialists are one of the most important aspect in our VIRMP application. However, as a foreign vet hailing from far southeastern asian country, I do not know any US Vets / Specialists who would provide me LoRs, making my application somehow weaker than others who receive LoRs from US Vets.

The thing that I want to ask for your opinion is, regarding on what is the best way to receive LoRs from US Vets, in order to strengthen our VIRMP application for foreign graduates. Ways to get LoRs that crossed my mind are :

1. Having a master degree at US institution, and then apply for internship after receiving master degree title with our supervisor's LoRs
2. Shadowing experience a vet in US Veterinary Hospitals, and ask for their LoR (I do not know whether one month duration of shadowing is sufficient for the referee to provide LoR, do you have any idea or experience on this?)

However, these two are difficult for me to do, primarily due to shortage of funds. Having a master degree is difficult as I would need to secure full scholarship grant that would cover all expenses (which would be very difficult to secure, but I am still attempting for this currently). Point number 2 would be also very hard for me since all expenses will be my responsibility, and I surely do not have enough funds to cover travel fees, living expenses, and the institution visiting fees (FYI, my currency is very weak compared to USD, making this way is somehow nearly impossible for me)

Do you have any other ideas to receive LoRs from US Specialist for a foreign graduate? If possible, the ways that will require minimal amount of funds. Any opinion will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

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[cellowars]

Do you at least have a DVM?

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[dheehp]

Not a DVM title, but equivalent to DVM, and my veterinarian's title is listed by AVMA. But of course, I have a veterinary degree, fully registered and licensed in my country ☺

 

[Therio]

Hey!
I am a foreign vet graduate, I got matched this year, and my LoRs were not by US/Canadian vets. I know many non-US vets who also got matched over the last years without having US contacts.
Sure having the US experience weighed much, but you still have other options. For example, do training/ research/ clinical research in Europe. Many professors in Europe who are board certified (by EU colleges) do basic laboratory research, so if you could not do a pure clinical training with them (due to license issues), you can do research, which will give you opportunity to show your qualities, publish articles, and to network....
Please let me know if you have any questions, I will be happy to help!

 

[dheehp]

Hello Therio! Thank you very much for providing your opinion! Really appreciate it.

First of all, may I know where did you received your veterinary degree from? Do you receive LoRs from EU specialist as well? Could you please share your story in your match through VIRMP? (Sorry for bombarding with these questions, I just want to know others' experience to learn from).

I do think that European vetschools are in the same level with US vetschools. Therefore I strongly belive that having graduated from EU vetschools could bring you to a match in VIRMP, even without LoRs from US vets, since some EU vets are board certified specialist who is known and/or recognized by US Vets as well.

However, the problem is, I graduated from Indonesia, a faraway southeastern Asian country. Veterinary medicine here is still far left behind compared to EU and US vetschools. Thus, LoRs from my local professor will almost surely carry little to no weigh at all for my internship application.

Do you think I should try to have an experience with an EU Vets (at a minimum), in order to strengthen my application for internship?
And could I PM you if I have additional enquiries?

Again, thanks a lot !!

 

[hivex]

hello!
I am a veterinary graduate (DVM), outside the United States, and I want to apply for Diagnostic Imaging residency through VIRMP. although I have passed a small and large animal rotatory internship, unfortunately, the veterinary faculty where I have been graduated, is not an AVMA accredited school. Now, I want to know, do you think there is a possibility for me to be matched in my favorite field of study?
I am interested in Anesthesiology and Radiation Oncology/Therapy either. Do you think if I choose residency programs of those two beside Diagnostic Imaging programs, I will take a higher chance to be matched in one of them?

 

[Therio]

Hello Therio! Thank you very much for providing your opinion! Really appreciate it.

First of all, may I know where did you received your veterinary degree from? Do you receive LoRs from EU specialist as well? Could you please share your story in your match through VIRMP? (Sorry for bombarding with these questions, I just want to know others' experience to learn from).

I do think that European vetschools are in the same level with US vetschools. Therefore I strongly belive that having graduated from EU vetschools could bring you to a match in VIRMP, even without LoRs from US vets, since some EU vets are board certified specialist who is known and/or recognized by US Vets as well.

However, the problem is, I graduated from Indonesia, a faraway southeastern Asian country. Veterinary medicine here is still far left behind compared to EU and US vetschools. Thus, LoRs from my local professor will almost surely carry little to no weigh at all for my internship application.

Do you think I should try to have an experience with an EU Vets (at a minimum), in order to strengthen my application for internship?
And could I PM you if I have additional enquiries?

Again, thanks a lot !!

Hey dheeph,

I will PM you

 

[GabyC]

Hey!
I am a foreign vet graduate, I got matched this year, and my LoRs were not by US/Canadian vets. I know many non-US vets who also got matched over the last years without having US contacts.
Sure having the US experience weighed much, but you still have other options. For example, do training/ research/ clinical research in Europe. Many professors in Europe who are board certified (by EU colleges) do basic laboratory research, so if you could not do a pure clinical training with them (due to license issues), you can do research, which will give you opportunity to show your qualities, publish articles, and to network....
Please let me know if you have any questions, I will be happy to help!

Hi!! I'm really happy to see that a foreign veterinarian was accepted in the program, I understand that UE vet schools are at the same level as US schools and thats why Im bothering you right now. I'm a veterinarian graduated in Ecuador and Im really interested in Internal Medicine and, of course, it would be great for me to complete a 12 month internship. Now, I just arrived to this country less than 3 months ago, so I don't know where to start. I know that I have to be very competitive if I want to get into the program but I don't know what to do to get more experienced before applying. I dont have too much money to make an externship at AMC ($100 per day). I would love to receive some recommendations from you. And again, I'm sorry for bothering with all this questions. I appreciate anything you could tell me. Thank you.

 

[VetMedSurvivalGuide]

Being a foreign veterinarian, usually you'll have to do some sort of externship working directly under the supervision of board certified veterinarians. Consider looking into academic institutions websites to learn more. YOu can also email the department chair or hospital director and ask about visiting.
You are correct in saying that letters from non board certified veterinarians will carry little weight since you're competing against applicants that will have 3 or 4 references from specialists.