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So you think sending 4 LORs instead of 3 is a bad move?
MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread
Started by kraskadva
So you think sending 4 LORs instead of 3 is a bad move?
My CV is 4 pages, Application- 7 pages. Short and sweet. Don't want to drown them with too much information
From what I understand the process on eras is as you described. You apply to all your prelims and you apply to all your advanced programs. Then you submit your application and wait for interviews.
When you create your rank list is where things differ. For every advanced program you will create a sub ranking for the preliminary programs that you interviewed at and want to rank. So that means that each advanced program will have its own sub-ranking of the preliminary programs. This is because you might rank intern years differently depending on where the advanced program is located. I also believe that after you rank all your advanced programs and their sub ranks That you should then rank preliminary programs on their own as a fallback at the bottom of your list so that you have an intern year should you fail to match to any advanced programs. This way you only have to soap into an advanced program not both or pursue an advanced program in the match next year during your intern year. Hope that makes sense.
It’s not a bad move of course from our perspective and I’m sure at the end of the day it’s fine. But you are trying to minimize any reason for them to screen you out. Sure it’s ridiculous to think it may happen but if they so choose to screen applicants who can actually listen to directions (aka submitting the materials as requested, no more, no less)
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deleted1062590
The majority of program websites that I've visited say: "three letters of recommendation." However, I've also seen:
- 2 letters of recommendation
- "at least 2 letters of recommendation"
- "a minimum of 3 letters recommendation"
- 3-4 letters of recommendation
Wow I actually didn't know this and I'm applying rn. I always thought you just made 2 separate lists and crossed your fingers hoping your prelim is near your advanced. This makes so much more sense
It's confusing for sure. Good luck to you. Lots of DR peeps this cycle. But maybe that's just bias because I'm applying too so I'm noticing it more.
InterventionalSpacePsych
Full Member
My opinion (just an opinion) is that as long as it isn't fluff that is filling up your app, its going to be an asset vs overflow of info.
Would you think reaching out to the program coordinator for clarification is a potential solution if you want to submit 4?
The risk of anything happening if you send 4 is super small. Send it if you feel like that extra letter is really important for that program to see. You can ask the PC for clarification if you want.
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Could a PD weigh in on how information in ERAS is displayed on your side of things? I started a separate thread on this question, but not realize it might have been better to post it here.
Basically, the View/Print MyERAS Application version looks different than the View/Print CV version which looks different than the Certify & Submit preview.
If I were to trust the certify & submit preview, then all descriptions are in italics, line breaks are removed, and if you leave "reason for leaving" blank then there won't be an empty "reason for leaving" box under each activity. I would love some clarity on this from someone who actually knows!
Basically, the View/Print MyERAS Application version looks different than the View/Print CV version which looks different than the Certify & Submit preview.
If I were to trust the certify & submit preview, then all descriptions are in italics, line breaks are removed, and if you leave "reason for leaving" blank then there won't be an empty "reason for leaving" box under each activity. I would love some clarity on this from someone who actually knows!
If someone has 20+ pubs/presentations, many work experiences, etc... then that could explain having more pages. Seems like it would be tough to get to 18 pages without having fluff though. More pages = more work for the PD (also my opinion but I believe this is the reason why PDs want students to limit their personal statements to <1 page)
Same exact situation. After a lot of editing and revising my PS is still a couple of sentences into the second page on the preview. I think I'll let it be, honestly it's another 5 seconds of reading, I doubt that will tank my chances.
Might vary program to program, but the PD at the one I am rotating at says he ignores anything over 1 page. He says its better to be concise.
I like the idea of something subtle like this!
Speciality dependent. I think FM is one of the first ones to send invite and surgical specialities take a bit longer.
Who knows with the cycle being delayed. I was looking at the ERAS thread from last year and it looked like FM and peds and maybe some other fields started getting interviews day one.
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It would seem petty if a program denied you for having more than the letters than they require. Wondering if I shouldn’t apply with all 4 to the programs that say they require 3 (which is a pretty decent chunk)
One EM program's website states that they will have their first interview date on October 25th.
I emailed ERAS technical support about this and they confirmed that the preview before you submit is on our end only. Programs only see the view/print ERAS and view/print CV views.
I got one 8 hours after my app was transmitted.
The 3 requirement was pretty common at the places I looked at last year. I sent 4 unless the programs specifically said not to send more than 3, which there were a few, and I had no issues with getting invites. I wouldn't hold back from sending an extra letter, especially if you know it's a strong one.
Sweet. I appreciate that
Which specialty?
Family
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deleted1062590
I just attempted to certify my ERAS application when I was confronted with the "Do you give your Designated Dean's Office permission to view your application once it has been submitted?" question. Classic ERAS/AAMC sneaking **** in on us at the last moment.
I'm overly neurotic, as we all are, but I really have no idea what the implications are of selecting yes or no. Can anyone here shed some light on this? I have nothing to hide on my application, but for general privacy purposes I'd prefer to select "no." But I just want to ensure that this won't disadvantage me in some way down the line. In my mind I'm likening this to blinding LORs to us, where you really want to be able to see the LORs, but the "correct" thing to do is to stay blinded.
I'm overly neurotic, as we all are, but I really have no idea what the implications are of selecting yes or no. Can anyone here shed some light on this? I have nothing to hide on my application, but for general privacy purposes I'd prefer to select "no." But I just want to ensure that this won't disadvantage me in some way down the line. In my mind I'm likening this to blinding LORs to us, where you really want to be able to see the LORs, but the "correct" thing to do is to stay blinded.
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AFAIK, it's just ENT programs doing this
I don't think it will have any effect on you one way or the other. So you can go whichever way you want.
What happens if you do share it with your Dean's office though is that they can use your app to advise students in future cycles. I know at my school, they keep tabs on what "successful" and "unsuccessful" apps look like for different specialties for past classes. So I could go to our advisor, and get a read on how somebody with similar stats to me (names redacted) applied to the field I want and whether/where it worked out. i.e. rather than just looking at a match list with no idea how I compare to those folks, I can get actual info on where is likely to take me with what I've got.
So it's a nice thing to do for underclassmen, but won't hurt you if you don't.
Thank you! It's a private service open for most specialties, but I don't personally know anyone using this service. Staying away from it.
Unless you are somehow the first person in your class who doesn't want to live in IL or California... but I digress
Wish every specialty had done something like it this year but oh well
Its fine to send the minimum requirement. I really don’t think it matters since it caps at 4 anyways.
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AnatomyGrey12
I can’t bring myself to hit the submit button lol
If you are like me and viewed it hundreds of times without changing anything, just hit submit. You'll feel relieved.
ok getting paranoid now but I certified and submitted my application, then applied to all programs and paid the fee. Am I all set?? Or is there anything else I have to do?? Assigned my transcript, photo and LORs to all programs.
Hurry up and do it before you decide to apply to even more programs.
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deleted1062590
UPDATE: I hit "yes".
But, the actual update is that you can change your mind on this even after you certify your application.
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deleted645092
My understanding is that if you weren’t the one presenting it or standing next to it during the conference then technically you shouldn’t submit it under posters or publications and only under research experiences.
That being said, I always seem to fall into the grey area of these discussions and had a poster that I was supposed to be one of two presenters for at a national conference during third year. But there was another conference happening at the same time that I was mandated to be at because of a scholarship I received, so I couldn’t actually present the poster even though I’d presented it at a local/regional conference earlier in the school year. Still listed it as a presentation since I wasn’t just a background workhorse for it.
I’m typically pretty stringent on what should and shouldn’t be included as a publication, but I wasn’t aware of any distinction for a poster presenter vs a name on the poster. (I know people note it on their CVs, but still list it). If someone put my name on a poster (and I knew about it!), I’d put it on my CV. Your work was presumably important to the generation of the poster.
If I have a manuscript that was accepted, published online, pubmed indexed, etc, but not yet in a print volume, what should I do?
Currently listed as peer reviewed pub and put “ePub ahead of print” in the volume/issue slots. Is this actually “in press”? I have never heard these terms before ERAS. Don’t want to get dinged but also don’t wanna downsell my pub.
Currently listed as peer reviewed pub and put “ePub ahead of print” in the volume/issue slots. Is this actually “in press”? I have never heard these terms before ERAS. Don’t want to get dinged but also don’t wanna downsell my pub.
That sounds like in press to me
Same situation with one of my papers and I put it exactly how you did
Everyone agrees just leaving "reason for leaving" blank on everything is kosher, right?
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AnatomyGrey12
I had one like that, I just put it as in press. Kinda sucks because it has a DOI number and is Pubmed indexed, but whatever. Hopefully they recognize it for what it is.
Well you did have to be that one weird guy. Clearly this is a sign you should stay in IL ;p
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deleted645092
i just filled it in. But as someone with a lot of non-medical work in the past And previous hiring experience, I’m used to this because employers are looking to see if you got fired, which is obviously a potential red flag.
That might be just because of all the different jobs I held and seeing it from a non-medical side of things but if I were reviewing applications I’d want to know if you left because something was complete, you got a new job, or you got fired.
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