Ideal length of LOR and MSPE from PD's perspective

[rox]

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I'm sure content matters the most, but I was wondering about the length.

 

[Nicholaus]

I'm sure content matters the most, but I was wondering about the length.

Great question! I was wondering the same thing 🙂

 

[Ashers]

You don't really have much say in either.

The MSPE can be several pages long depending on your school and the amount of graphs/info they attach to it. We were able to see what was written about us, and I saw one interviewer flipping through all of the pages of graphs at one of my interviews. I think the typed up part about me was about 1.5 pages that summarized what I had done in college and med school.

LORs, I bet the writers say what they need to say, but them concise because interviewers read through a bunch.

 

[InternationlDoc]

PDs have told me to keep personal statement UNDER a page. They skim most. Now if they have to read 3 LORs, I am inclined to say they ideally would be under half page long. nobody would be interested in reading full length glorifying adjectives on your behalf x 3 IMHO

 

[ResidentMD]

PDs have told me to keep personal statement UNDER a page. They skim most. Now if they have to read 3 LORs, I am inclined to say they ideally would be under half page long. nobody would be interested in reading full length glorifying adjectives on your behalf x 3 IMHO

Really? Half a page? I read somewhere that it indicated not too good things about you. Not that you have any control over your LoR details and length - but I thought the average length was just under a page, with anything going beyond that meaning the LoR writer is really rooting for you.

(P.S. This of course is under the assumption the length justifies the content).

 

[rox]

I was once in a lecture for a fellowship PD and he was impressed by indian IMGs who get two-page long LOR. He was urging IMGs to get lengthier LOR's.