Does it make a difference

[kingkenny]

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Does it matter if all of your recommendation letters and research done in the US is from one single university?

Will other programs also offer me an interview or will I be stuck with the 1 university.

i say this cause I am thinking about doing some research from the same university I have recommendation letters from and am wondering whether I will receive offers from other programs.

I am matching next year so any advice would be welcome.

Best of luck to all going in for the match this year.

 

[Winged Scapula]

It doesn't matter. Think about it...US student letters will all be from the same program (in most cases).

The only advantage to having letters from different places would be a greater chance that faculty will know some of your letter writers.

 

[kingkenny]

Thank you again for the advice.🙂

 

[MrBigLips]

Quick question that is kind of related to this:

So most programs want 3 LOR's. Here's my problem... (keep in mind that I'm an IMG).. I have to great U.S. LOR's in surgery which I plan on submitting. I also have a great LOR from the Head of Surgery at my alma matter so I plan on submitting that as well. Now for the problem, I have an amazing LOR from the head of Medicine and post graduate studies from my alma matter as well that I'd love to add, but as you can see from above, I already have 3.

So... does anyone have any ideas for me? Do I submit 4 anyways? BTW, my plan is to match in GS. Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Quick question that is kind of related to this:

So most programs want 3 LOR's. Here's my problem... (keep in mind that I'm an IMG).. I have to great U.S. LOR's in surgery which I plan on submitting. I also have a great LOR from the Head of Surgery at my alma matter so I plan on submitting that as well. Now for the problem, I have an amazing LOR from the head of Medicine and post graduate studies from my alma matter as well that I'd love to add, but as you can see from above, I already have 3.

So... does anyone have any ideas for me? Do I submit 4 anyways? BTW, my plan is to match in GS. Thanks a lot in advance.

The general advice is to submit surgery letters only, unless the letter is from someone who knew you from a unique experience such as research. Even then, the advice is to stick to surgery letters only. You can submit 4 or 5 letters (3 is the minimum at most places, some require 4).

 

[Winged Scapula]

1) do not submit more letters than they ask for
2) if you do submit more letters than they ask for, make it only ONE more and make sure its very special
3) letters should be from surgeons
4) if failing to obtain all letters from surgeons, letters from MICU attendings, Gastroenterologists, Anesthesiologists would be acceptable
5) letters should be from US physicians or at the very least, someone who has trained in the US. The trouble with foreign letters, in addition to the fact that most people won't know them, is that they don't know what US residency training involves so cannot comment on whether you would be a good resident or physician here.

 

[Guile]

1) do not submit more letters than they ask for

This isn't so true. Most places ask for 3. Everyone I know submitted four everywhere they applied. Places know that the number of letters programs ask for varies widely (some say minimum 2, others minimum 3, others "no more than 4, some say "submit 3 letters," some have no recommendation) and so I submitted four letters everywhere. My mentor (our PD) recommended me to do that. Programs don't expect you to go through your list and figure out how many everyone wants and change how many you submit accordingly. I got lots of interviews at these "submit 3 letters" places.

I would however only use US physicians for your letters. If you have one significant, long-term research project, then you can use a letter from your PI, but only if it's your fourth. You need 3 surgery letters at least, if not four.

 

[Buzz Me]

Definitely DO NOT use a letter from a Medicine attending.

 

[MrBigLips]

Thanks a lot to everyone. This problem has been malingering in my head for a while now. I made a typo above, I meant to say that I have TWO great LOR's from US surgeons. Technically, I have 3... but the third one is just an 'above average' LOR from my second year as opposed to great LOR's like the other two in my 4th and senior years.

From reading whats been posted above, the take home message I'm getting is this:
Submit 3 LOR's from all 3 US surgeons (2 great ones, 1 above average), and submit the 4th one from the surgery head of department from my home school (who did his training at the University of Edinburgh in the UK). Finally, ditch the Medicine LOR even though its amazing (and by ditch I mean submit it to ERAS but don't include it to any GS programs I apply to).

 

[Guile]

Thanks a lot you guys. I've been meaning to ask this question for a while but was kind of waiting for the right time. I made a typo above, I meant to say that I have TWO great LOR's from US surgeons. Technically, I have 3... but the third one is just an 'above average' LOR from my second year as opposed to great LOR's like the other two in my 4th and senior years.

From reading whats been posted above, the take home message I'm getting is this:
Submit 3 LOR's from all 3 US surgeons (2 great ones, 1 above average), and submit the 4th one from the surgery head of department from my home school. Ditch the medicine LOR (and by ditch I mean submit it to ERAS but don't include it to any GS programs I apply to).

Why would you include it in ERAS if you weren't submitting it to any general surgery programs?

 

[lordman]

May be for IM as a back up

 

[Guile]

May be for IM as a back up

I don't think IM would take only one letter and wouldn't want letters from surgeons though.

 

[lordman]

I don't think IM would take only one letter and wouldn't want letters from surgeons though.

He could submit the IM LOR to IM programs without GS letters. None of IM programs will know about his GS LORs.
But they get suspicious when they notice his Surgical Experience in myERAS.

 

[MrBigLips]

Why would you include it in ERAS if you weren't submitting it to any general surgery programs?

Yea, it's for IM as backup. I have another 3 in pediatrics and IM. To my knowledge, one can submit several LOR's to ERAS and pick and choose which ones they want sent to which programs. This way, the GS programs only receive my surgery letters, and the IM programs only receive my medicine letters.

 

[Winged Scapula]

This isn't so true. Most places ask for 3. Everyone I know submitted four everywhere they applied. Places know that the number of letters programs ask for varies widely (some say minimum 2, others minimum 3, others "no more than 4, some say "submit 3 letters," some have no recommendation) and so I submitted four letters everywhere. My mentor (our PD) recommended me to do that. Programs don't expect you to go through your list and figure out how many everyone wants and change how many you submit accordingly. I got lots of interviews at these "submit 3 letters" places.

I would however only use US physicians for your letters. If you have one significant, long-term research project, then you can use a letter from your PI, but only if it's your fourth. You need 3 surgery letters at least, if not four.

My point wasn't that you shouldn't submit 4 letters but that you should follow instructions. Every year students think that more is better and ignore the instructions regarding the limits on number of letters. 4 is fine *if* a program doesn't say "no more than X" number of letters.

And FWIW, I don't think an "amazing" LOR from a US IM attending as a 4th letter is the death sentence others seem to think it is.

 

[Guile]

Yea, it's for IM as backup. I have another 3 in pediatrics and IM. To my knowledge, one can submit several LOR's to ERAS and pick and choose which ones they want sent to which programs. This way, the GS programs only receive my surgery letters, and the IM programs only receive my medicine letters.

Yes, you can choose specifically to what programs you send each letter. Programs have no knowledge of what your other letters are. You can also have more than one personal statement, which I would recommend if you're applying to both general surgery and IM.

 

[MrBigLips]

You can also have more than one personal statement, which I would recommend if you're applying to both general surgery and IM.

Yes, absolutely. This surgery thing better work out for me but you know what they say, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Once again, thanks a lot.

 

[kingkenny]

Another question for you guys. My attending at Plastics told me he would give me a recommendation letter but said that he would do at the time of the match. He said that he does not like to address recommendation letters to 'whomsoever it may concern'. He further explained that I was supposed to mail him during the time of my interviews and tell him the names of the universities I would be applying to.

He then told me something I could not understand. He said he would upload the letter via ECFMG and said something else I could not grasp. I will not be able to collect the letter personally as i'm an IMG and he knows that. Does anyone have any experience with this and how it works? Cause I'm stumped. And worried. Cause I worked too hard to let this letter go.