4th year med student here in need of some advice. I've heard mixed things on this topic. I've searched the forum history and found some old threads with mixed opinions, so I wanted to post a new one.
Scenario 1: 3 letters from MD Anesthesiology programs
Scenario 2: 2 letters from MD Anesthesiology programs, 1 letter from an FM doc
Is scenario 1 better than scenario 2? Or is scenario 2 better since the student is more "well rounded"? Or it doesn't matter?
I have the option to go down either route. I also am applying to EM and haven't made up my mind on which way to go yet, and time is running out. That's why I might need to settle for 2 vs 3 Anesthesia letters. I've heard Anesthesia programs appreciate diversity in letters as opposed to EM programs which only want to see SLOEs.
Since it probably matters; I'm a DO with average or slightly below stats.
My 2nd question is: I will be doing my Anesthesia rotations in Sept - Nov, so I won't have my first Anesthesia letter until some time in Oct, is this a bad thing? My application in Sept will be going out with only the FM letter.
Thanks for all the help in advance.
Scenario 1: 3 letters from MD Anesthesiology programs
Scenario 2: 2 letters from MD Anesthesiology programs, 1 letter from an FM doc
Is scenario 1 better than scenario 2? Or is scenario 2 better since the student is more "well rounded"? Or it doesn't matter?
I have the option to go down either route. I also am applying to EM and haven't made up my mind on which way to go yet, and time is running out. That's why I might need to settle for 2 vs 3 Anesthesia letters. I've heard Anesthesia programs appreciate diversity in letters as opposed to EM programs which only want to see SLOEs.
Since it probably matters; I'm a DO with average or slightly below stats.
My 2nd question is: I will be doing my Anesthesia rotations in Sept - Nov, so I won't have my first Anesthesia letter until some time in Oct, is this a bad thing? My application in Sept will be going out with only the FM letter.
Thanks for all the help in advance.
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