Did anyone retain access to their letters?

[Llenroc]

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I've decided to retain access to my letters. At my institution I've had a lot of bad experiences with people on rotations pretending to be nice or giving highly positive feedback, only to write you a nasty or below average evaluation at the end. It's made me a little bit paranoid. Plus, I did this for my medical school applications, and I managed to get in.

Just wondering if anyone else retained access and how it affected them in the interview process.

 

[buckley]

I retained access too...don't know how it will affect the interview process as I am about to undergo it myself just this year. I think it shouldn't matter as much though. I mean, the purpose of a recommendation letter is to recommend someone...whether or not they know what's being written shouldn't matter. I just want to know what's in there so I can choose the best LORs...

 

[Top Gun]

I've decided to retain access to my letters. At my institution I've had a lot of bad experiences with people on rotations pretending to be nice or giving highly positive feedback, only to write you a nasty or below average evaluation at the end. It's made me a little bit paranoid. Plus, I did this for my medical school applications, and I managed to get in.

Just wondering if anyone else retained access and how it affected them in the interview process.

Good decision! Retain access to your letters so you will know if your attendings gave you strong recommendations or if they wrote down anything negative. That way, you can select the strong letters to be sent to different programs. You don't want to have an interviewer ask you about any potential negative material in your letter that you didn't know about, and then have to explain yourself.

 

[mlw03]

you all make fair points, but ask faculty at your school that review residency applications how they view LoRs from students who do versus who don't waive access. most every faculty i've asked said that a non-waived letter is virtually ignored.

 

[missmod]

I've been told that when you check that box, you wave YOUR right to see the letter, but your Dean's Office doesn't waive the right to read it for you. If you're afraid of a bad or even lukewarm letter, they can always read it for you. They won't be able to tell you exactly what it says, but they'll be able to let you know whether you should send it or not.

 

[buckley]

Didn't really have that luxury with dean's office...so I just didn't waive it. I really dont think it should be that big a deal whether we waive or not

 

[ramonaquimby]

most every faculty i've asked said that a non-waived letter is virtually ignored.

exactly! those that are waived carry MUCH MUCH MUCH more weight than those thta aren't. think about it...it makes sense. i say waive 'em!!!

 

[Llenroc]

I'm not asking for your advice on whether to waive them. 😴 I'm just seeing if there are other people out there who did not.

 

[mlw03]

I'm not asking for your advice on whether to waive them. 😴 I'm just seeing if there are other people out there who did not.

then post a poll. we all look for validation of our actions by others - that's natural. and you will find a few others out there who for their own reasons chose not to waive the right to see their letters. but we're just trying to make sure you realize the consequences of your actions. you're a big boy/girl and will do what you want, but like a patient who says no thank you to their screening colonoscopy and then dies of colon cancer, we don't want you coming back and complaining that you didn't know bad things might happen.

 

[mosfet]

There is no way I am sending in those letters without seeing them. I retained my right to access all my letters. Its not as big a deal as people make it out to be. The important things I am sure are your scores, content of the letters and the interview. If you have those things, I can't imagine programs not ranking you just because you saw your letters.

 

[abefromann]

once a letter reaches ERAS or whatever, how do you know if it's there and ready to be sent? or do you just apply and they'll get to the programs?

 

[Top Gun]

once a letter reaches ERAS or whatever, how do you know if it's there and ready to be sent? or do you just apply and they'll get to the programs?

ERAS has a track applications function. It will tell you when your letters were uploaded by ERAS and downloaded by your target programs. Same thing for your other application materials.