How many peds LORs do you need?

M

Mutterkuchen

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• Aug 16, 2007

• #1

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. . .specifically from peds faculty when applying for the match. I took my peds rotation was a year ago, and I worked with multiple faculty, non of whom will remember me.

I am getting a letter each from a peds sub-I faculty, an MFM professor, a psych professor and possibly from a professor that I did research with. Plus I will get an undoubedtly generic letter from the Peds Chairman, who I don't really know.

Thus, I only have one "real" letter from a peds faculty. Is this acceptable? Or not?

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

 

M

Mutterkuchen

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• Aug 20, 2007

• #2

Any opinions out there?

 

TexasRose

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• Aug 20, 2007

• #3

Mutterkuchen said:

Any opinions out there?

Click to expand...

I was hoping someone else would chime in. I'm pretty sure that most programs want 3 peds letters, one of which can be the chairman letter. Any chance you can scare up another letter from peds faculty? Did you do any peds electives?

I think it's important to check the websites of the programs you're applying to and see what they are asking for, specifically.

 

D

DoctorWannaBe

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• Aug 20, 2007

• #4

TexasRose said:

I was hoping someone else would chime in. I'm pretty sure that most programs want 3 peds letters, one of which can be the chairman letter. Any chance you can scare up another letter from peds faculty? Did you do any peds electives?

I think it's important to check the websites of the programs you're applying to and see what they are asking for, specifically.

Click to expand...

Are you serious that all 3 letters have to be from Peds? I got an IM letter, because I thought most people don't get all Peds letters. I will only have 2 peds letters.

 

CrazyPeds527

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• Aug 20, 2007

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I was advised from several faculty to specifically NOT have all of your letters from peds. It shows that you didnt blow off the rest of your med school education with tunnel vision for the field of choice.

Any thoughts from others? OldBear?

I was thinking 2 of 3, with the other coming from an FP who saw me working with kids as well as adults

 

oldbearprofessor

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• Aug 20, 2007

• #6

CrazyPeds527 said:

I was advised from several faculty to specifically NOT have all of your letters from peds. It shows that you didnt blow off the rest of your med school education with tunnel vision for the field of choice.

Any thoughts from others? OldBear?

I was thinking 2 of 3, with the other coming from an FP who saw me working with kids as well as adults

Click to expand...

Sorry, I'm not on the residency selection committee. I write letters for folks applying to non-peds fields all the time. Assuming a program doesn't provide you with specific demands, I think two pedi letters and one or two non-pedis would work for most places.

I am certain that quality is more important than quantity, so a bunch of letters from folks who don't really know you won't impress anyone. But one key letter from the right person will!

 

U

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• Aug 21, 2007

• #7

You definitely do not have to have all pediatric letters. I agree with the above person that a variety is actually good. I had two peds letter and an IM letter (and the obligatory chair letter for some programs) and had no problem getting interviews for programs. Just pick the people who know you the best because they can usually write the best letters.

 

ZekeMD

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• Aug 31, 2007

• #8

I only have 1 peds letter and I am completely comfortable with that. I got letters from the people that knew me best. 1 peds, 1 neuro, 1 IM, and 1 peds chair letter. I suppose thats 2 peds letters. But regardless, they want to know who you are and how you are to work with. Is there something special about pediatricians that they have a greater ability to determine your qualities.

 

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• Sep 16, 2007

• #9

Some websites of programs does not specify the number of LOR that it requires. I have a generic chairman's letter and 3 pediatrics letters to pick from. If the program doesn't say how many did you submit?
Thank you in advance 😛

 

M

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• Oct 4, 2007

• #10

Thanks for all of the responses! I ended up asking our clerkship director for a letter, and he wrote a great one. At the end of the day I submitted 2 peds letters, 1 psych letter and will submit the chairmans letter to anyone who wants it.