Difficulty obtaining a LOR

[SxRx]

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I'm doing an away elective in general DR and am having a hard time getting enough chance to work with one or two attendings on a regular basis to ask for a letter of recommendation. I normally work with residents (they are great) and only see attendings when residents need to get sign outs from attendings. I've asked to be involved in a project if any attendings have one and have had no luck so far. I'm in the middle part of my rotation now and it will be over in 2 weeks.

I have another general DR in August and an IR rotation in September. I have a feeling the same thing will happen in August. I will be able to work with 1-2 attendings for IR in September. But, by the time that rotation is over, it'll be end of September and by the time a LOR from this rotation is submitted, it'll likely be mid Oct at the earliest if not early November.

I was hoping to have one LOR for each region of the country since radiology is so regional. My current rotation is in the East (I have no ties), second one in August is in the mid-west (med school here but otherwise no other ties) and in September I'll do IR in the west coast (I'm from there).

If I don't get a LOR from my August rotation what do you suggest? (I'm going to try my best to get one of course, but that's what I've been doing here and I've had no luck.......I'd email attendings to see if I can help out in any project they have. But no one has anything they need help with.)

I guess not having a DR LOR is an option but not recommended according to a program director (I didn't ask this. I heard it from someone who had this issue when he/she applied.)

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[VL2000]

I am in the same boat as you- Plenty on time with the residents, zero to minimal time with the attending. Any one have any suggestions?

 

[boobaunutz]

I am in the same boat as you- Plenty on time with the residents, zero to minimal time with the attending. Any one have any suggestions?

I had a rotation like that - we were supposed to attend a different service everyday. If I did that I wouldn't get to know any of the attendings so I parked myself in one department for a week. The PD worked in that department. Now I have a letter from the PD.

 

[BigRedPremed]

I had a rotation like that - we were supposed to attend a different service everyday. If I did that I wouldn't get to know any of the attendings so I parked myself in one department for a week. The PD worked in that department. Now I have a letter from the PD.

How did you get enough facetime with any attending to get a LOR?

 

[Labslave]

How did you get enough facetime with any attending to get a LOR?

It's pretty hard to get a meaningful LOR from attendings that you do a clinical rotation with in radiology because you have no responsibility as a student. For this reason, it's best to get involved with a research project.

Depending on where you are rotating, getting on board with a research project can vary in difficulty anywhere from way too easy (multiple people trying to drag you in) to nearly impossible. If you're in the latter category, put yourself out there, be aggressive, and hope for the best.

Even a month of working on a project gives you the opportunity to demonstrate that you're a responsible, hard worker. That gives them cannon fodder for your LORs.

Good luck!

 

[BigRedPremed]

Still having a tough time finding a suitable radiology letter writer. Been asking for research projects and may have something but it's going to be late when I get going. It's already getting late. I did my rads research after M1 year with a PhD at an institution away from my home institution. So, pretty much the only candidate right now for writing a letter is my radiology clerkship director who i've only sat with a few times for read outs, knows my radiology test scores, heard me give a short presentation as part of the clerkship. Is it appropriate to ask him for a letter? I don't know who to turn to at this point.

 

[drizzt3117]

Still having a tough time finding a suitable radiology letter writer. Been asking for research projects and may have something but it's going to be late when I get going. It's already getting late. I did my rads research after M1 year with a PhD at an institution away from my home institution. So, pretty much the only candidate right now for writing a letter is my radiology clerkship director who i've only sat with a few times for read outs, knows my radiology test scores, heard me give a short presentation as part of the clerkship. Is it appropriate to ask him for a letter? I don't know who to turn to at this point.

Yeah, I mean that sounds like a good bet. I would talk with him and see if he's willing to write you a strong letter.

 

[DrBowtie]

How many rads letters do we need? I have 3 med, 1 rads from research and running into the same problem in finding another one on my DR rotation.

 

[drizzt3117]

How many rads letters do we need? I have 3 med, 1 rads from research and running into the same problem in finding another one on my DR rotation.

1-2, ideally one clinical and one from a research mentor. I have two surgery, one departmental and one from a research mentor, all from my home institution.

 

[DrBowtie]

1-2, ideally one clinical and one from a research mentor. I have two surgery, one departmental and one from a research mentor, all from my home institution.

My rads person I've worked with in both clinical and research capacity. I'm pretty sure I can get another positive but relatively generic straight clinical DR letter, but I'm not sure if that would be better than 1 of my med letters.

 

[Gabujabu]

I'm having a hard time deciding the right mix of letters for radiology programs. At this point in time, I am getting 1 radiology letter (with someone who I have worked with on a project and in the reading room), 2 internal medicine (should be strong), and 1 research advisor who I have worked with for many years (physician-scientist, non-radiologist). Another radiologist from my rotation offered to write a letter, but if I use that, I would only have 1 letter from non-radiology clinics. Thus, I am trying to figure out if it is better to have 2 radiology and 1 medicine or 1 radiology and 2 medicine. Thanks.

 

[a winner is you]

You need at least 2 clinical letters so unless one of the 2 rads letters is from IR, I would only use 1 rads letter.