Applying without LORs

[pedsFMG]

Hi,

Unfortunately my US LOR and my med school transcript are still stuck at the ECFMG (incredibly frustrating how slowly they operate)!!

I have one LOR from the UK available in the post office. My two other UK letter writers should upload theirs next week (so they'll be available ~2 weeks after that). I'm expecting to otherwise be a pretty competitive applicant (given that I'm an FMG) and I'm applying for peds.

I'm inclined to wait to apply until the end of next week when I'll have my US LOR (and transcript) uploaded. I'm worried it will look odd applying with a US clinical elective in my 'experiences' but apparently without a letter.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks so much!

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[NotAProgDirector]

Most peds programs will simply wait until your letters come in, so I doubt it will matter whether you apply now, or in 2 weeks.

Of note, if your letter writers used the ERAS LOR Portal, this wouldn't be an issue at all. Letters uploaded online (which is completely free and easy) are available immediately in the post office. (I realize this is out of your control)

 

[abhrajit2000]

I am in the same boat dude......i have applied....the only fear is that they dont filter my application considering it as incomplete.....i have only 2 lors....and the us lor got delayed for a bizarre reason...coz the secretary did not put the electronic signature properly.....man how ppl affect your life.....anyway wat can i do.....

 

[Knicks]

Yeah, 2 out of 3 of my LoRs are not uploaded to the ERAS post office yet. So if I apply and assign ALL 3 letters to programs (even though 2 aren't uploaded), will my application be considered incomplete? Those 2 LoRs "should" be ready this week [or maybe next].

 

[pedsFMG]

So if I apply and assign ALL 3 letters to programs (even though 2 aren't uploaded), will my application be considered incomplete?

If I understood aPD correctly on a different thread, the programs don't even know if we've assigned a letter if it hasn't been uploaded. Ie all they'll see is the one letter that is there (and then the others as they appear). Presumably they'll see your application as incomplete until the others come it. Argh - if only the ECFMG would be quicker/we were able to use the ERAS LWP which doesn't take two weeks!

 

[splik]

i applied without any us lors it tooks weeks to amonth for them to come available. i got some interviews in the time being based on other aspects of the application. some programs do not use lors to decide who to interview evidently so i would go ahead and apply now do not wait for the letters to be available. it's busy so it takes longer, later in the season it only took a day for the letters to be uploaded by ECFMG...

 

[Knicks]

If I understood aPD correctly on a different thread, the programs don't even know if we've assigned a letter if it hasn't been uploaded. Ie all they'll see is the one letter that is there (and then the others as they appear). Presumably they'll see your application as incomplete until the others come it.

Damn, so they won't consider looking at the application until the remaining to LoRs are in? ie: they'll be looking at applications that ARE complete, while the incomplete application sits and waits to be complete.

aPD and co., can you comment on this issue?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Damn, so they won't consider looking at the application until the remaining to LoRs are in? ie: they'll be looking at applications that ARE complete, while the incomplete application sits and waits to be complete.

aPD and co., can you comment on this issue?

Each program can decide what is considered a "complete" application, so there isn't a clear answer. Some programs may wait until at least 3 letters are in before reviewing your application. Some may look if you only have 1-2 letters. Some might set the number of letters needed based upon other criteria.

There is no way to know, so don't drive yourself crazy about it.

The key fact is that, if your letter is "incomplete" as defined by the program, it doesn't get lost. As soon as whatever information is downloaded that makes your application "complete", it will appear in the filter of complete applications awaiting review.

 

[Knicks]

^^ Thanks.

Good thing you're on this forum, aPD.