Impossible to match without IM LoR

[Eudjinn]

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Never got an LoR from my third year medicine core. Didn't think I would end up in IM and I didn't feel I made a strong enough connection with attendings (rookie 3rd year mistake-just ask everyone!!). Big mistake since it's what I'm applying for. I have 3 other strong LoRs and a medicine sub-i starting 9/26/11.

1) Is it possible to match without an IM LoR?
2) If I obtain one during my sub-i, is it too late?
3) Should I apply to programs now and not send them any LoRs? Just send 1 or 2 and try to hope to get one from the sub-i?
4) After the sub-i is a GI elective starting 10/24. I assume this is pretty late to get an "IM subspecialty" letter?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you so much. I am quite panicked over this.

 

[HigHal320]

I think you should be ok. You can always substitute letter from another specialty. I use a LOR from my family medicine attending + sub I IM letter

 

[Eudjinn]

I think you should be ok. You can always substitute letter from another specialty. I use a LOR from my family medicine attending + sub I IM letter

Thank you for the quick reply. One of my strongest letters is from the director of FP clinic.

 

[darkelven29]

I would have met with those medicine attendings and discussed the situation with them. Then ask them if they could write you a good letter. If they can't, they can't. They might even give you good advice regardless. A good handful of IM attendings would write good enough letters even though they don't know you that well.

 

[WorkaholicsAnon]

My take on this is, getting an outstanding letter from a non-IM attending who knows you well clinically and has a high opinion of you trumps getting a letter from a specifically IM attending who only knows you sort of peripherally and writes a generic "good" letter that a ton of other people are going to have.

FP work is similar to IM work so a letter from an FP attending you worked closely with is an excellent choice in terms of reflecting your potential as an IM resident. I wouldn't go back to the past IM attendings. Sounds like Medicine was one of your first rotations, which means you were probably still learning the ropes at that point and couldn't have impressed people too much (I was in the same boat actually). Don't bother. You can do better at this point in terms of selecting LOR sources.

Another thing i would do in addition to the FP letter is still ask for a letter from your sub-I attending if you get along well and if you feel he/she can write a strong one 2-3 weeks into your rotation. You can add it to your ERAS app later, like in late october. I dont think that's too late.

 

[Eudjinn]

A big thanks to everyone who posted. I contacted my third year attending who agreed to write me a letter. I will also try to get one from a sub-i attending. At the very worst, I already have three very strong non-IM letters.

My take on this is, getting an outstanding letter from a non-IM attending who knows you well clinically and has a high opinion of you trumps getting a letter from a specifically IM attending who only knows you sort of peripherally and writes a generic "good" letter that a ton of other people are going to have.

FP work is similar to IM work so a letter from an FP attending you worked closely with is an excellent choice in terms of reflecting your potential as an IM resident. I wouldn't go back to the past IM attendings. Sounds like Medicine was one of your first rotations, which means you were probably still learning the ropes at that point and couldn't have impressed people too much (I was in the same boat actually). Don't bother. You can do better at this point in terms of selecting LOR sources.

Another thing i would do in addition to the FP letter is still ask for a letter from your sub-I attending if you get along well and if you feel he/she can write a strong one 2-3 weeks into your rotation. You can add it to your ERAS app later, like in late october. I dont think that's too late.

 

[gutonc]

I was hoping aPD would weigh in on this but so far no love...it's almost like he's got something important going on right now and is too busy for SDN.

I happen to think that applying to IM without a single IM letter is a really bad idea (and I'm glad to see you've scored one from your clerkship and plan to get one from your subI). The way I see it, you're going to PDs/potential employers and saying, "I really want a job in this specialty, but I couldn't be bothered to impress anybody in that specialty enough to get them to write me a letter of support."

I understand the problems inherent in coming to a decision on a specialty late but, especially for something like IM (where most med students spent 2-3 months, more than pretty much any other specialty) it should be pretty easy to get one in retrospect.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I was hoping aPD would weigh in on this but so far no love...it's almost like he's got something important going on right now and is too busy for SDN.

2000+ applications, but who's counting?

The OP actually PM'ed me the question and I answered it there, but will repeat it here.

I agree that applying with no IM letters is a less-than-ideal situation. Is it the end of the world? Probably not, but will will make your application stand out in a bad way. I recommend submitting 2 of your current letters, and trying to get the SubI letter ASAP. Also the OP is now getting a letter from their 3rd year clerkship, which is good. I would also mention in your PS (or elsewhere in your application) that you've changed your mind, so that it doesn't look like you're applying to IM as a backup.