Early vs. Late LOR

[allanMED15]

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I have a physician that I have shadowed that has offered to write a letter for me. He knows me very well and I think it could be a very good letter.

I also have a job that involves direct patient care with a surgeon. I can have the letter from the physician I shadowed ready to submit the day I submit my application. However, for a letter from my job, I have to be there for 3 months or until the middle of July. I feel like the latter will be more beneficial to me, but do not want to hurt my chances if it is submitted a bit later.

Would not having my final letter until mid July put me at a disadvantage?

 

[gyngyn]

Physician letters are fluff (for MD schools). Don't sweat it (or even send it).
Just list them as contacts for the activity.
If that's you in the balloon crown, may I suggest that you protect your anonymity?

 

[allanMED15]

Physician letters are fluff (for MD schools). Don't sweat it (or even send it).
Just list them as contacts for the activity.

That is what I have heard. But for the schools that require a letter from someone who has observed me in the clinical setting, would a letter from a physician even count? Or is that for those who have actually had experience in patient care? If not, then I would have to wait.

 

[allanMED15]

Physician letters are fluff (for MD schools). Don't sweat it (or even send it).
Just list them as contacts for the activity.
If that's you in the balloon crown, may I suggest that you protect your anonymity?

Fortunately that is not me.

 

[gyngyn]

That is what I have heard. But for the schools that require a letter from someone who has observed me in the clinical setting, would a letter from a physician even count? Or is that for those who have actually had experience in actual patient care? If not, then I would have to wait.

There are very few MD schools that require a "clinical" letter. If you are applying to one of them, just pre-write the secondary and submit when complete. Don't delay your application at the vast majority of schools that disregard them.

 

[allanMED15]

There are very few MD schools that require a "clinical" letter. If you are applying to one of them, just pre-write the secondary and submit when complete. Don't delay your application at the vast majority of schools that disregard them.

Thank you for that. That makes a lot of sense.

 

[allanMED15]

There are very few MD schools that require a "clinical" letter. If you are applying to one of them, just pre-write the secondary and submit when complete. Don't delay your application at the vast majority of schools that disregard them.

I actually might not have understood what you meant. I should pre-write the secondary and submit whenever my letter is ready in July?

 

[gyngyn]

I actually might not have understood what you meant. I should pre-write the secondary and submit whenever my letter is ready in July?

Yes, apply to all your other choices. When your letter is ready, apply to this school and assign the letter to this school (having previously prepared your secondary responses). The app will go out the next day.

 

[Nicole Kidd]

There are very few MD schools that require a "clinical" letter. If you are applying to one of them, just pre-write the secondary and submit when complete. Don't delay your application at the vast majority of schools that disregard them.

Hi Gyngyn, my (very important) science professor said that she wouldn't be able to write me a letter until late July since she's on a 5 week vacation, will that hurt my chance? Thanks!

 

[gyngyn]

Hi Gyngyn, my (very important) science professor said that she wouldn't be able to write me a letter until late July since she's on a 5 week vacation, will that hurt my chance? Thanks!

Late July is still ok.

 

[Nicole Kidd]

Late July is still ok.

Thank you so much Gyngyn! 🙂

 

[Welshman]

Hi Gyngyn, my (very important) science professor said that she wouldn't be able to write me a letter until late July since she's on a 5 week vacation, will that hurt my chance? Thanks!

It will not hurt your chances. You should check out goros thread on application cycle timeline it goes over all of this stuff. The gist of it though was that no one starts looking at letters really until august or September really, so being complete by labor day~ontime.

Also if you consider the fact that many LoR committees don't release their letters until late summer, mine doesn't start writing it until you've received 4 secondaries and then it takes ~5 weeks

 

[Nicole Kidd]

It will not hurt your chances. You should check out goros thread on application cycle timeline it goes over all of this stuff. The gist of it though was that no one starts looking at letters really until august or September really, so being complete by labor day~ontime.

Also if you consider the fact that many LoR committees don't release their letters until late summer, mine doesn't start writing it until you've received 4 secondaries and then it takes ~5 weeks

Haha I was looking for Goro's application timeline. I figured it should be okay. Phew~ Thanks for the reassuring news!!