How many letters did you send?

[phllystyl]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So how many of you sent more than the 2+1 to programs?

How many did you send?

 

[BStein76]

So how many of you sent more than the 2+1 to programs?

How many did you send?

I sent 2 from medicine attendings, 1 from a research supervisor (also a physician) and 1 for the Chairperson's letter for a total of 4 via ERAS. I also have sent another from a pediatrician to some of the programs that allowed additional letters, but I am not sure how helpful it is going to be.

 

[Ice-1]

I sent 4. Isn't that the max that ERAS will let you send?

 

[Roadrunner]

So how many of you sent more than the 2+1 to programs?

How many did you send?

I sent as many as the program asked for, which is almost always 2+1. They know what they want and so best to just give what they ask for.

 

[metastatic dz]

The advice from my medical school dean was to send ONLY the number of letters they request. Which for internal medicine is usually just the Chair's plue 2 others. Some programs say more is ok, and some actually require 4. ERAS doesn't allow more than 4, so I'm assuming the only way you're going to submit any more is if someone personally mails a paper version to the program.

We were told the reason for sending exactly how many they request is because they really get pissed when you send too many...maybe it gives them the impression that you're compensating for something. Really...what is one more letter really going to do for you anyway?

I would probably email the program coordinator and ask if submitting an additional letter is allowed or even advisable.

 

[Tar Heel Born]

maybe it gives them the impression that you're compensating for something. Really...what is one more letter really going to do for you anyway?

Exactly. Send what they ask for.

 

[DoctorSax]

From what I can tell, there is the "send only the requested amount" school and the "send as many as you want" school. Personally, I sent 4 to every school because I had all four--2 medicine, one pedi, one chairman's letter.

I mean, our chairman doesn't even really know us so I don't know how he writes a decent letter. I'd much rather have three strong letters and a generic chair's letter (I mean, why even have that one anyway?) than just two medicine letters and the chair's letter.

Basically, it can't really hurt your app that much, unless those in charge think--"man, that guy, we wanted to interview him but he sent just one letter too many--obviously can't read directions."

And really, quien sabe?

 

[BStein76]

I mean, our chairman doesn't even really know us so I don't know how he writes a decent letter. I'd much rather have three strong letters and a generic chair's letter (I mean, why even have that one anyway?) than just two medicine letters and the chair's letter.

Our chairperson's letter is similar to the Dean's letter where they summarize the comments the core medicine and elective evaluations (I don't know if they have a magic line at the end though).

Some programs openly accept at least 1 letter beyond the 4 from ERAS.
For example, BWH, Stanford allows additional letters;
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/residency/Medical/faq.asp#letters
http://medicine.stanford.edu/education/apply.html

 

[metastatic dz]

Anyone know how many letters MGH allows? Their website says very little.

 

[inositide]

Anyone know how many letters MGH allows? Their website says very little.

Sending 4 letters to a program that asks for 3 is certainly acceptable.
It is really unlikely that they will get angry that you sent 4 instead of 3.

If they ask for 3 and you send 5,6,7 letters, then obviously they may not be happy. Four should be fine.

 

[quidnunc]

If you think any extra strong LOR will help, contact the program first and see what they think. That's why I've done, and most have been happy to accomodate me. 🙂

 

[jadedbearsprite]

Anyone know how many letters MGH allows? Their website says very little.

i emailed the MGH contact person and was told 2 + chair.

i would agree with the "send only as many as they ask for" sentiment. even with the programs that state that you can send more. however, for brigham, because they don't require a chairman's letter, and i was specifically told to send letters from attendings who know me well, i sent 3 letters AND my chairman's letter.

 

[zeloc]

Isn´t it only possible to send 4 letters of recommendation? ERAS does not seem to allow more than 4.

If someone just turned in a LOR that I think is really excellent, what happens if I deselect a letter and add a new one after it has been downloaded by the program? Does it just depend on each program, whether they check again and then download the new letter, whereas another program might not look at the new letter?

 

[txoncdoc]

There is discussion about how to change LORs already sent, on another thread... Check out this link.🙂


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=443748

 

[indiamacbean]

Don't overthink this. send three or four if you've done a lot of research and you have a strong research letter. I did this across the board to every program I applied to and it worked well pretty much everywhere including BWH/MGH/Duke/Michigan/UCSF.

 

[NattyGann]

I'm kicking myself right now b/c Hopkins asked for 4 letters and I misread that to be 3 LOR + a Dean's letter to equal 4. It's 4 LOR + Dean's Letter.

I realized it last minute yesterday and their deadline was yesterday.


Oh well, no JHU for me! 😎