For everyone like me that is applying this year, you may be interested to know that you CAN send in a late 4th letter this year, even though it does not say so in the CAS instructions. I emailed to director of the SF Match who said that they will process a late 4th letter. It sounds like a lot of us planned and scheduled our fourth year rotations around obtaining a 4th letter from an away rotation, so this is good news. Hope this helps!

For everyone like me that is applying this year, you may be interested to know that you CAN send in a late 4th letter this year, even though it does not say so in the CAS instructions. I emailed to director of the SF Match who said that they will process a late 4th letter. It sounds like a lot of us planned and scheduled our fourth year rotations around obtaining a 4th letter from an away rotation, so this is good news. Hope this helps!

Here is the abridged version of my correspondence with SF Match:

---------------------------------------

To: help@sfmatch.org
Subject: Ophthalmology Match: 4th Letter of Recommendation

Hello -

In years past, there was an option to supply a fourth letter of recommendation....

Regards,
Xaelia

--------------------------------------

Xaelia,

Unfortunately for applicants, this is no longer an option. If you choose to have your late rotation letter in your CAS application, you will have to include a letter of explanation at the time that you submit your initial CAS application. Once you receive the letter, that will be your third reference letter and we will distribute it to all of the programs that you have applied with. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office.

Damien Joseph
Department Relations Coordinator
San Francisco Matching Program
Phone: 415-447-0350
Fax: 415-561-8535

Hmmm...So which one is true?!

Hmmm...So which one is true?!


Just to add one more data point to this apparent controversy - I called the SF Match helpline today, and the representative I spoke with stated unambiguously: "No 4th letter this year." Bummer.