Guesstimate / Estimate / Explanation

[Danica]

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I tried this yesterday only to be attacked by one of the forums more rabid members for an error in composing the post.


Attempt #2:
What do you think is the value to my application of a LOR from a lesser known or unknown affiliate of a well respected university program?

The affiliate DOES NOT sponsor any program on its own, but residents from the university program do rotate there.

Is this a waste of three months of my time? I really need to be working at a paying job.

 

[Anasazi23]

I think good letters are pretty much universally good. I also think good letters from lesser known places weigh much more than mediocre letters from more prestigious places.

Highly academic residencies may be more impressed with letters from well-known places or doctors, but I don't think that should preclude you from doing an affiliate rotation if that's what you'd like.

To this day, one of my most fruitful and beneficial rotations in all respects was at an unknown hospital/private practice clinic setup.

 

[maranatha]

I tried this yesterday only to be attacked by one of the forums more rabid members for an error in composing the post.


Attempt #2:
What do you think is the value to my application of a LOR from a lesser known or unknown affiliate of a well respected university program?

The affiliate DOES NOT sponsor any program on its own, but residents from the university program do rotate there.

Is this a waste of three months of my time? I really need to be working at a paying job.

Not really sure what you're referring to. Can you elaborate on your question?

 

[Adam_K]

I tried this yesterday only to be attacked by one of the forums more rabid members for an error in composing the post.

Danica, I attempted to answer your question factually, without malice. I am sorry that you interpreted it as an attack on you, because it wasn't intended as one.

When you then erased your original question making my reply look silly, I simply pointed this out. I've gone back and deleted my replies.

So, let's both try again.

Attempt #2:
What do you think is the value to my application of a LOR from a lesser known or unknown affiliate of a well respected university program?

The affiliate DOES NOT sponsor any program on its own, but residents from the university program do rotate there.

Danica, the hospital in question is the primary teaching site (and home) of that university's psychiatry department. Not only that, it is a psychiatric hospital with full specialty and subspecialty coverage.

This is not a no-name community hospital.

Is this a waste of three months of my time? I really need to be working at a paying job.

I'm guessing that you'd like to make yourself competitive for psych. Your other posts appear to indicate that you don't yet have USCE in psych.

So, yes, this would probably help your application, especially if you can get great LoRs.

 

[billypilgrim37]

Danica, you essentially suggested that WPIC was some sort of loose, unaffiliated hospital associated with the University of Pittsburgh, which is like saying MGH is just some sort of outreach clinic of Harvard Med School.

To generally answer your question, there's no general answer outside of "it depends on the situation." A good letter from a good place is good. A bad letter from a bad place is bad. The good letter from lame place trumps lame letter from great place. The in-betweens are just that, in-betweens, and particulars matter. Without knowing particulars, there just isn't a clear answer.

WPIC IS Pitt psychiatry. Pitt psychiatry has a respected and rigorous reputation. So, if you want the particular answer to the particular question you posited, spending three months at WPIC would likely be an excellent use of your time if you do well. I'm assuming you will do well (as there's no reason to assume otherwise), so best of luck to you!

 

[billypilgrim37]

Also, while Frieda is an excellent source of information, it's simply not authoritative. Saying that Pitt doesn't sponsor any particular site is a matter of semantics or error on the part of the site. There are tons of errors and omissions throughout the site, and when in doubt, you're best googling the website of the institution (often even the links from Frieda are incorrect) and exploring there to see what the primary sites are for the program.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Danica, you essentially suggested that WPIC was some sort of loose, unaffiliated hospital associated with the University of Pittsburgh, which is like saying MGH is just some sort of outreach clinic of Harvard Med School.

 

[Danica]

Adam-K

What the HELL is wrong with you?
Have you been bitten by a junk-yard dog?
Why so RABID?

Don't say you're trying to help me, because help like yours usually have serious consequences for the recipient of said help.
........................................................
For those of you wondering what triggered this tirade, here is the background:

Two days ago I posted the thread "please explain".

When I read the first reply, an all out attack by Adam-K, I discovered that I had ACCIDENTIALLY and ERRONEOUSLY placed links in the post.

Links about a program that I had been researching, but was in no way connected with the thread.
I removed that post and started a new one only to find that Adam-K can't let go.

Get over it.
I made a mistake.
Move on.
Please no more help from you Adam K Thank you.
I'll survive without it.

Geez, get a grip.

 

[Adam_K]

Adam-K

What the HELL is wrong with you?
Have you been bitten by a junk-yard dog?
Why so RABID?

Don't say you're trying to help me, because help like yours usually have serious consequences for the recipient of said help.
........................................................
For those of you wondering what triggered this tirade, here is the background:

Two days ago I posted the thread "please explain".

When I read the first reply, an all out attack by Adam-K, I discovered that I had ACCIDENTIALLY and ERRONEOUSLY placed links in the post.

Links about a program that I had been researching, but was in no way connected with the thread.
I removed that post and started a new one only to find that Adam-K can't let go.

Get over it.
I made a mistake.
Move on.
Please no more help from you Adam K Thank you.
I'll survive without it.

Geez, get a grip.

Apparently, no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[BabyPsychDoc]

Danica,

You seem to be over-reacting. IMHO, it does look like Adam_K was trying to help you by answering your question to the best of his knowledge. Then you deleted your original post, and he pointed out that it makes both of you look silly (which it does, sorry). And I do not think he was rabid at all answering your question - either first, or second time. He was polite and civil.

I think Adam_K is one of the more active and helpful members of the forum, and you should have not insulted him in public just because you might have misunderstood what he meant. If you have a problem with him, it would have been more professional to PM him and sort it out between the two of you.

Best of luck with your externship - try to avoid lashing out at people like this there.😉