Away electives, Attendings' comments, is it good or bad for Residency?

[lordman]

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First, let me thank everybody who helps for efforts of helping students & explaining many things.

I am International medical student (hold US citizenship since born in US), I am doing electives right now at a big institution here in US.

After finishing the first month of away rotation, the comments of attendings in "what to improve section" of evaluation form : improve my differential diagnosis & listing pertinent negatives. But everthing else is very very good.

I believe that these comments would be in the letter of recommendation. So does this harm my application at high tier-mid tier institution match ?

Since I fear that those points would decrease my chances.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

What goes in your evaluations and what goes in your letters may be different. Letters often focus on the positives.

Regardless, I think you'd be crazy to not get a letter. Doing a US rotation and then not having a letter from it suggests that you weren't good enough to get anyone to write a letter at all -- a very bad sign. If you're worried, then you can always see if someone else can write a letter. Or, simply ask the faculty involved if they would be comfortable writing you a supportive letter of recommendation -- most faculty will decline if they don't think they can do a good job.

 

[lordman]

What goes in your evaluations and what goes in your letters may be different. Letters often focus on the positives.

Regardless, I think you'd be crazy to not get a letter. Doing a US rotation and then not having a letter from it suggests that you weren't good enough to get anyone to write a letter at all -- a very bad sign. If you're worried, then you can always see if someone else can write a letter. Or, simply ask the faculty involved if they would be comfortable writing you a supportive letter of recommendation -- most faculty will decline if they don't think they can do a good job.

Dear Doctor, Thank you for replying.
What I want to know...that if these things " improve my differential diagnosis & listing pertinent negatives" Are written in the recommendation letter, does this harm my chances in high/mid tier residency programs? Or this is normal to have like these negative points in the letter of recommendation? or it should be ideal letter without any -ve ?

 

[Winged Scapula]

As aPD noted, negatives are not often included in LORs. Therefore, I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about those comments (which are so mild as to almost be boilerplate comments) or whether they are going to be in your letter; they most likely won't.

What will hurt you most at "high tier" programs will be your IMG status not your LOR.