Do IM programs allow more than 4 letters?

[Internist_Sandman]

Title sums it up.

I have 1) Chair of Internal Medicine, 2) Program Director, 3) Grant mentor (whom i rotated with), 4) Dissertation Advisor, and 5) Assoc. Prof. Oncologist from top-tier West Coast school (research only letter). All will be strong letters.

1 & 2 are required, I want to keep 3. Would you all go with 4 or 5?

Better to have a more personal letter from a dissertation advisor or a letter from another institution? Any PDs on here that can weigh in?

Edit: if more than 4 are allowed, this is a moot point.

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[Adjet]

I might be wrong, but I think ERAS might only limit you to send 4 letters to a program. In any case, I wouldn't send more than that - they already have enough applications to go through and you don't want to be the person who has extra letters to get through. I would stick with the clinical letters and only throw on one of the research ones if you want to - research letters don't carry as much weight for medicine

 

[Internist_Sandman]

How did you get to rotate with the Chief of Medicine and Program Director?

I misspoke and meant to say Chair of IM. Not sure if the difference matters. They both spend significant time on rounds with residents/students at my school’s hospital.

 

[gutonc]

You can not submit >4 letters. Here's how they should line up:
1. Chair letter - most IM programs require this
2. Clinical letter from IM
3. Clinical letter from IM, can be a sub-specialist
4. Some other letter from someone you've worked very closely with. If you have significant research on your CV (and this is a must if you're MD/PhD), research advisor.

In your case, if 4 and 5 are related to the same research and are colleagues, you can ask for a combined letter.

 

[Internist_Sandman]

You can not submit >4 letters. Here's how they should line up:
1. Chair letter - most IM programs require this
2. Clinical letter from IM
3. Clinical letter from IM, can be a sub-specialist
4. Some other letter from someone you've worked very closely with. If you have significant research on your CV (and this is a must if you're MD/PhD), research advisor.

In your case, if 4 and 5 are related to the same research and are colleagues, you can ask for a combined letter.

As always, very helpful. Thank you.