chairman's letter

[ktat72]

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hey, i am an MS 3 wondering about the deal with the chairman's letter. Do programs require the chairman's letter or can you submit a letter from another professor at a well known institution - especially if you have known them for a really long time (even before high school) and they know you as a student really well. if there are programs that require the letter, which ones are these

 

[WaitingForJuly]

Unlike many surgical fields, there is no need for a chairman's letter in radiology. Come to think of it, I never even saw the chairman of my med school's radiology department, despite doing multiple rotations there.

 

[MedStudent2004]

I think a Chairman's letter is absolutely necessary in rads. Unlike some fields, rads is _extremely_ close knit and all the chairmens/PDs know each other. You can submit a formal Chairman's letter AND a letter from the professor you know.

I've been on interviews at top places where the Chairman's letter carries the most weight, and we talk about that for 35 minutes!

 

[RADRULES]

It probably is because the chairman is often times one of the most well known members of the department. The key it to get letters from well known academic rads (if you are lucky enough to have a few these days).

If you have a letter from Clyde Helms or Mauricio Castillo saying you are a good student, it will carry a lot more weight and spur on conversation during your interviews.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

Our Chairman, who was also the president of the ACR, refused to write letters for any applicants. That was his policy. So it was a moot point for me.

 

[howlagadus]

I totally agree with getting a chairman's letter. After finishing a Rads rotation at one program, I kindly approached the chairman asking him to write a letter of rec for me for the PD of another Rads program that I was planning to rotate through. Despite being so late in the season, I not only got the opportunity to go there for a rotation, but an interview as well. More importantly, make sure that the PD who receives the letter knows that you waived your right to see the letter. The PD at my first rads rotation told me this carries significant weight especially in Radiology, where LORS are cautiously looked upon.

 

[Goober]

Originally posted by MedStudent2004
I think a Chairman's letter is absolutely necessary in rads. Unlike some fields, rads is _extremely_ close knit and all the chairmens/PDs know each other. You can submit a formal Chairman's letter AND a letter from the professor you know.

I've been on interviews at top places where the Chairman's letter carries the most weight, and we talk about that for 35 minutes!

Well I don't know about absolutely necessary. I matched at my #1 choice without a chariman's letter and so did my roomate from medschool.