Another LOR question..... Sorry

[jstuds_66]

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I love the advice that you've all given in previous threads and I'd love your opinion on my situation.

I've did an EM rotation at a community hospital with no residency program. I've tried (without success so far) to get the Dept Chair to write me a letter. So, now I've turned to one of the EM docs that I worked with to write me a letter for my application.

I'm doing an away rotation, where I will get a SLOR from either the residency program director or the clerkship director. Also, One of the attendings there said he would write me a letter.

I'll try to get my 2nd SLOR from my home institution next month.

I also have an awesome letter from a Family Medicine clerkship.

I've heard that some people will bring copies of extra LORs (outside of ERAS) and clerkship evaluations to their interviews as supplemental material. Is that kosher? Is that a good idea?

What do you think of this plan? I'd send 4 LORs to each program (even though most only ask for 3):
1. SLOR from away rotation
2. SLOR from home institution
3. LOR from non-residency supporting Community Hospital Dr
4. LOR from Family Medicine Dr

Then, I'd take the LOR from the away rotation Dr in my hand when I go to interview and offer it as appropriate.

Sorry this is convoluted and weird. I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[ccfccp]

Not to be harsh, but I would prove you could follow directions by sending what programs ask for... If it's three letter (which most programs are,) I would take what you think would be your best 3 letters and send those. If it were me, I would send the two SLORs and the FM letter. It doesn't sound like the community letter will be a great letter anyway if you have to hound the person to do it...

(Hint- if someone seems unwilling or difficult to get a letter, there's a good chance they either don't have anything nice to say or don't have anything at all to say (ie... you'll get a form letter with no details)... neither one of those is good.)

 

[jstuds_66]

Thanks ccfccp for the response/advice!

Just to clarify, are you opposed to the in hand LOR thing as well?

 

[ccfccp]

I probably wouldn't unless I had a really good reason to. For instance, if I completed an away in November (after apps close), got a great letter, and interviewed in December or after. Probably not even that though.

Interview days are pretty cramped for time, and there won't be a great time to go... "Hey, here's this extra letter that wasn't in my file... want to read it and tell me what you think?" Also, another thing about it is that by its very nature you haven't waived the right to see the letter. As such, you know what the letter says, which sort of defeats the purpose about the letter because anyone who reads it will know it's good or else you wouldn't be handing it in.

 

[deleted109597]

Thanks ccfccp for the response/advice!

Just to clarify, are you opposed to the in hand LOR thing as well?

Everyone is opposed to the in hand LOR. You're one of hundreds. If everyone did it, then they wouldn't read any. If you're the only one to do it, you're different, and that isn't always good, especially when different means didn't read the application instructions.

 

[gman33]

For numbers of LORs, in ERAS, the few programs I've looked at allow you to select up to 4 LORs.

If a program only wants 3, will it say that in ERAS, or do you need to look around on the programs website to find that info?

At the time I submit my app in a few weeks, I'm only going to have 3 letters, but plan on getting another one from a rotation I'm doing in Sept.
That will be my fourth letter, but I'd probably rather have that as my third letter if a place only let me submit 3.