How long did you work with an attending for before asking them for a LOR?

[RussianJoo]

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I am in my surgical rotation right now and this is my first rotation, but there might be a possibility that I might go into surgery so needless to say that a LOR from a surgical attending is a must. We spend a week or so in different specialties and there were some attendings that I became very friendly with in that week, and I wouldn't mind asking them for a letter however I feel that a week is too short of a time to ask for an LOR. Also the general surgery attendings aren't that nice or friendly and there are many attendings and I haven't really scrubbed with one particular attending for a long time. So what kind of time frame do you guys think is appropriate to ask for an LOR? Should I just pick one attending and try to scrub and spend as much time with him so that in the end I could ask him for an LOR?

thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[FutureInternist]

Since its your first rotation, I would probably give the attendings more time to compare you to other students in your class so they can make an honest assessment. Also, doing a second rotation with them would allow them to see how much you have improved & you would be probably more relaxed & hence perform better, having already spent a month with them.

My advice on LORs in general is NOT to give them all your paperwork (PS, CV etc) when you ask since then they may feel obligated. I always asked & then let it sit in their head for a while & then asked a second time at a later time (usually after then end of the rotation so they feel more comfortable). If the answer is yes, THEN you take the paperwork to them. And if they are dragging their feet in writing the letter, the best way to subtly remind them is to send them a "Thank you" card. 🙂

Depending on your school, your evals may have space for your attendings to write comments. Best way is to let them know a week before your rotation ends that those comments go on your Dean's letter...this gives them a while to formulate what they are going to say rather than just putting a generic "Good Student"

 

[RussianJoo]

thanks for your reply.

 

[raDiOnut]

I would ask for letters early in 3rd year - you can't have too many. The shortest time I ever worked with an attending then asked for a letter was 3 days. The most time I ever worked with an attending then asked for a letter was 1 month. Both times, the attendings agreed to write.

I usually ask, then give them my CV/thank you/cover letter a few days to a week later.

gl

 

[RussianJoo]

Cover letter? you mean a personal statement that we write for the EARS or that we write for the programs that we apply to?

Also why did you pick the attending you spend 3 days with to write you a letter? shouldn't you pick an attending that you have a good amount of contact with so that they know you on a slightly personal level and thus can write a good personal letter instead of a generic one? or does that not matter and if you got a long with someone even though it's for less than a week you should ask them for a letter and they'll simply blemish it up a bit to make you sound good?

 

[raDiOnut]

I did mean personal statement (for ERAS, if you have it already) - i include it to give the attending more to work with. Early in my 3rd year, I just gave a CV. I asked the attending after only 3 days because during the particular EM rotation I am on, that is the most I will ever work with one particular attending, and I need an LOR from this hospital for ERAS. I agree that it may not be as good as the letter from the attendings who have known me for much longer, but I feel that even a short letter from a well respected attending at one of the institutions I am applying to will be helpful.

 

[RussianJoo]

ok cool thanks for the clarification.

 

[Law2Doc]

My advice on LORs in general is NOT to give them all your paperwork (PS, CV etc) when you ask since then they may feel obligated.

I originally would have agreed with you, but the consensus amongst attendings I've spoken to and approached is that they want these things up front, at the time of the ask. I don't exactly know why, but they do.