Letters of Recommendation

[kevinmw5]

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Hello All,

I was looking on SF Match's website and was unable to find the answer to my question. Does it matter who your 3 letters come from? Can they all be ophthalmologists? Do you have to have 1 letter from one of your core rotations? Basically, are there any guidelines/restrictions on who you writes your letters?

Thanks for the help!

 

[The Doctor]

The general advice I heard while applying and for years beforehand was that you needed 3 letters and that it was best if two of them were from ophthalmologists and one from a core rotation, preferably surgery or medicine. I don't think these are hard or fast rules; I doubt your application would be cast out if it doesn't conform to these guidelines. My third letter actually came from a clinician in a non-core rotation, so I know this is true. Others can chime in if they know about more hard and fast rules, but I think you should just choose letters from people who know you best and will write the best letters for you, while incorporating at least one and preferably two ophthos. Getting a letter from a well-known researcher or clinician in ophthalmology and then maybe a more personal letter from someone who knows you better may be helpful.

 

[neuronerd12]

Are LORs from Ophthalmology research faculties (not very widely known) given the same weightage as those written by clinical ophthalmologists?

 

[The Doctor]

The consensus I have heard is that it's better to get a letter from a clinical ophthalmologist as opposed to a research PhD, because they can attest somewhat to your clinical abilities. That's not to say you couldn't get a letter from a PhD if they know you really well and could speak to your strengths, but you would definitely want at least one letter from a clinical ophthalmologist.

 

[Visionary]

I'll post this again. The most important thing is to get letters from people who know you well and will write glowing recommendations. I don't care if they are MD, DO, or PhD. I had letters from my home department chair, a retina doc in the department, and my dissertation adviser (a PhD). I'd known the latter for 9 years, and he could speak to my research acumen.