Asking for an LOR ...

[dara678]

---

Members don't see this ad.

... one of the most dreaded things in fourth year. How'd you guys do it? I know meeting the individual is best, but did anyone ask by phone or email?

 

[jdh71]

... one of the most dreaded things in fourth year. How'd you guys do it? I know meeting the individual is best, but did anyone ask by phone or email?

why would you want to do a request via phone or email when you can do one personally?

 

[Fin-Nor]

personally is the best choice i think. gotta get the guts to ask them in person.

 

[nala]

Ask in person. We were also told to specifically ask the person if they can write you a "strong letter of recommendation" and NOT to just ask if they can write you "a letter of recommendation." Adding the word "strong" is important - you don't want someone to agree to write you a letter and then have a weak letter in your file (our PD shared some stories about prospective candidates interviewing at my school who had weak LORs but obviously didn't know it).

 

[Top Gun]

You're better off going to the letter writer in person. That way, you can discuss more with them whether they can write you a strong letter or not. If you're worried that they're too busy, just talk to the secretary and set up an appointment.

 

[Winged Scapula]

You don't want to ask definitively over the phone or email. You can send them a letter with your CV, personal statement, etc. and say that you will be contacting them to discuss the writing of an LOR, but to attempt to do it all over the phone or email is sort of unprofessional.

Frankly, unless you really suck, no one is going to refuse you...and its a good way to have a good conversation about who you are and what your goals are, and in the end, get a better letter.

Its really not that hard; the faculty expect to be asked.

 

[chocomorsel]

What about if the professor lives in a different town. Say you did an away rotation that's a branch of your school? Would be cool then to email them along with your CV and Personal statement and ask them for a LOR? It's a little inconvenient to drive 200 miles just to ask for a letter. Thanks.

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

What if you don't have contact with the person anymore...i.e. I've finished the rotation and either the Dr. was not at the main teaching hospital for my school, or I never run into them at the hospital. Is it inappropriate to call/page them and ask over the phone and then set up a meeting to discuss things further?

 

[Winged Scapula]

What about if the professor lives in a different town. Say you did an away rotation that's a branch of your school? Would be cool then to email them along with your CV and Personal statement and ask them for a LOR? It's a little inconvenient to drive 200 miles just to ask for a letter. Thanks.

Special case...No one would expect you to drive 200 miles to ask for a letter. I would do as you suggest - send an email with your CV, PS, etc. attached asking for the LOR and stating that you will follow up with a phone call to discuss further.

That should be fine.

 

[Winged Scapula]

What if you don't have contact with the person anymore...i.e. I've finished the rotation and either the Dr. was not at the main teaching hospital for my school, or I never run into them at the hospital. Is it inappropriate to call/page them and ask over the phone and then set up a meeting to discuss things further?

Do not page them but rather call the department and speak to his administrative assistant. Ask her when he might be in and either arrange to come by or call at that time and ask. Be ready to send your CV, PS, etc. for them to review ahead of your meeting.

 

[marie337]

What should be included in our CV as medical students? I need to get mine together before heading to the hospital in July, but I'm not sure what I need to include. I haven't done much as a student besides study! Any tips?

 

[Medical123]

I have to admit that I did ask for one of my LOR's via e-mail. This was a special situation in which I no longer had face-to-face contact with the individual. However, when I was working with her, she had always told me that she felt as if I "was made for medicine" and that she would help me in any way that she could when it came to the Match. When I was interviewing, several of my interviewers read comments from her letter and it was indeed very, very strong. However, if I had the opportunity to ask her to do so in person, I would have preferred to do so.

In a lot of cases, you can tell by the letter writer's response (if in person) whether or not they are willing to write you a strong letter of recommendation. If there seems to be some hesitation, you may want to seek out another letter writer. I know that asking for a LOR can be somewhat intimidating, but remember that the people that have been on faculty for a while are used to being asked for recommendations.

 

[Winged Scapula]

What should be included in our CV as medical students? I need to get mine together before heading to the hospital in July, but I'm not sure what I need to include. I haven't done much as a student besides study! Any tips?

The academic CV is different than a job resume so you want examples from medicine. I believe First Aid for the Match has some examples but in general, regardless of the format, you should include:

Name, degree
Contact Info

Education, most recent listed first, ie:
2005-present Podunk University
School of Medicine
Podunk, Nowhere
Degree completion expected June 2009

2001-2005 Pleasantville University
School of Natural Sciences
Pleasantville, PA
B.S. of Biology Awarded June 10, 2005

Relevant Work Experience, ie: relevant to medicine. Generally do not list things before undergrad

Relevant Research, if any

Publications, Presentations, Posters Presented, if any

Honors, Awards

Volunteer Work

Personal Stuff (ie, skills you may have in other languages, computer programming, etc. Some include marital status and family info).

References

 

[(nicedream)]

The academic CV is different than a job resume so you want examples from medicine. I believe First Aid for the Match has some examples but in general, regardless of the format, you should include:

Name, degree
Contact Info

Education, most recent listed first, ie:
2005-present Podunk University
School of Medicine
Podunk, Nowhere
Degree completion expected June 2009

2001-2005 Pleasantville University
School of Natural Sciences
Pleasantville, PA
B.S. of Biology Awarded June 10, 2005

Relevant Work Experience, ie: relevant to medicine. Generally do not list things before undergrad

Relevant Research, if any

Publications, Presentations, Posters Presented, if any

Honors, Awards

Volunteer Work

Personal Stuff (ie, skills you may have in other languages, computer programming, etc. Some include marital status and family info).

References

So is it inappropiate to include things like hobbies, and non-medical work experience? I was under the impression that it was good to show areas of your life that aren't medical.

 

[ericdamiansean]

Ask in person. We were also told to specifically ask the person if they can write you a "strong letter of recommendation" and NOT to just ask if they can write you "a letter of recommendation." Adding the word "strong" is important - you don't want someone to agree to write you a letter and then have a weak letter in your file (our PD shared some stories about prospective candidates interviewing at my school who had weak LORs but obviously didn't know it).

Actually, how do you define a "strong" LOR from a "normal" or "weak" LOR?

 

[ericdamiansean]

So is it inappropiate to include things like hobbies, and non-medical work experience? I was under the impression that it was good to show areas of your life that aren't medical.

"Personal Stuff (ie, skills you may have in other languages, computer programming, etc. Some include marital status and family info)"

 

[Winged Scapula]

"Personal Stuff (ie, skills you may have in other languages, computer programming, etc. Some include marital status and family info)"

Yeah, what he said.😀

 

[Richie Truxillo]

Personal Stuff (ie, skills you may have in other languages, computer programming, etc. Some include marital status and family info).

I am entering the urology match. I programmed and maintained a couple websites for some urologists (after graduating from college). Would it be appropriate to include this in my CV and would program directors at surgical residencies even see this as a positive aspect.

http://www.vascenter.com
http://www.urostonecenter.com

-Richie

 

[Winged Scapula]

I am entering the urology match. I programmed and maintained a couple websites for some urologists (after graduating from college). Would it be appropriate to include this in my CV and would program directors at surgical residencies even see this as a positive aspect.

http://www.vascenter.com
http://www.urostonecenter.com

-Richie

Definitely. Even if it didn't significantly impact your application, its an interesting fact and might prompt some discussion on your interview. I would definitely include it.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Yeah, what he said.😀

I wouldn't say that its inappropriate to include non-medical work experience, but its not typical to do so.

 

[Top Gun]

Actually, how do you define a "strong" LOR from a "normal" or "weak" LOR?

A strong LOR will be detailed and contain unequivocal praise for the applicant. A weak LOR will be more vague and will contain either lukewarm praise, or praise mixed in with criticism.

 

[futuredo32]

The academic CV is different than a job resume so you want examples from medicine. I believe First Aid for the Match has some examples but in general, regardless of the format, you should include:

Name, degree
Contact Info

Education, most recent listed first, ie:
2005-present Podunk University
School of Medicine
Podunk, Nowhere
Degree completion expected June 2009

2001-2005 Pleasantville University
School of Natural Sciences
Pleasantville, PA
B.S. of Biology Awarded June 10, 2005

Relevant Work Experience, ie: relevant to medicine. Generally do not list things before undergrad

Relevant Research, if any

Publications, Presentations, Posters Presented, if any

Honors, Awards

Volunteer Work

Personal Stuff (ie, skills you may have in other languages, computer programming, etc. Some include marital status and family info).

References

Thank you so much for posting this example. My CV could use a lot of improvement after seeing what is supposed to be included.
I have a question about the presentations that you mentioned. I am doing a lot of my rotations at a small community hospital and we do case and topic presentations for a small group of people(10 or so students and 1-2 physicians). Are these types of presentations meant to be included or did you mean something on a much larger scale?

 

[ericdamiansean]

Thank you so much for posting this example. My CV could use a lot of improvement after seeing what is supposed to be included.
I have a question about the presentations that you mentioned. I am doing a lot of my rotations at a small community hospital and we do case and topic presentations for a small group of people(10 or so students and 1-2 physicians). Are these types of presentations meant to be included or did you mean something on a much larger scale?

Nope, presentation means original paper/research presentation either in poster or oral presentation at a conference. Or if you have managed to publish a paper in a journal.

 

[futuredo32]

Nope, presentation means original paper/research presentation either in poster or oral presentation at a conference. Or if you have managed to publish a paper in a journal.

Thanks.🙂

 

[Dr Jboo]

I was wondering, I did 2 research projects this summer that resulted in two abstracts, 3 papers, 2 posters and 4 presentations. I didn't present the research at conferences though, the fellows did. Do I put these all down separately (each of them ended up having a different title and looking at slightly different things despite only being 2 actual databases) or do I list them as just 2 projects? Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[berkeleyboy]

Actually, how do you define a "strong" LOR from a "normal" or "weak" LOR?

When I went on residency interviews I was able to catch a peek of the form the interviewers were using to rate the applicants.

I remember reading at one program:

USMLE 1 ____ USMLE 2 _____

Grade in 3rd year Surgery ____ Medicine ___ OB ___
Grade in 4th year Sub-I's _____

interview skills 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Research 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Letters of Rec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (In order to get a 10 must have the words we will recruit into our program).

overall fit for the program 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sooooo, to answer you question, I know for a fact a strong letter of rec has these key words in the letter "we will recruit"

Hope this helps. And wish I knew this before I went through interviews.

 

[ericdamiansean]

Letters of Rec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (In order to get a 10 must have the words we will recruit into our program).


Sooooo, to answer you question, I know for a fact a strong letter of rec has these key words in the letter "we will recruit"

"Must have the words"?
What words? Example?

I was wondering, I did 2 research projects this summer that resulted in two abstracts, 3 papers, 2 posters and 4 presentations. I didn't present the research at conferences though, the fellows did. Do I put these all down separately (each of them ended up having a different title and looking at slightly different things despite only being 2 actual databases) or do I list them as just 2 projects? Thanks a lot for the help!

If I am not mistaken, you include the research you did, but:
a) Abtracts/papers if your name was included in it
b) Posters if you helped to prepare it
c) Presentation if you were the one who presented it orally

If you only did the database, then I don't think it would be right for you to quote the additional work of others. It takes heck lot of time and effort to prepare for posters/oral presentations/submission of paper to journals

 

[Winged Scapula]

"Must have the words"?
What words? Example?

"we will recruit" are the words. In essence, if your LOR contains a statement that " we will recruit" or something similar, it is considered high praise.

 

[ericdamiansean]

"we will recruit" are the words. In essence, if your LOR contains a statement that " we will recruit" or something similar, it is considered high praise.

Oh, the poster did not have the "X"
Thanks