Letters of Recommendations Minimum?

[toescrossed]

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Dear All,

Congratulations to everyone who matched this year - how exciting!

I have a question about letters of recommendation.

On post residency program websites it states: "A minimum of 3 Letters of Recommendation" and MSPE.

When they use the word minimum does that mean they would prefer more than 3? I can't really tell and I am an IMG with no one at my institution who knows anything about matching!

Thanks 🙂

 

[physicsnerd42]

You can send a maximum of four letters, so everywhere will get 3-4 (plus the dean's letter). I sent four letters to everywhere.

 

[toescrossed]

Thanks for getting back to me physics nerd! So it's better to have 4 than 3?

 

[doopdidoop]

Thanks for getting back to me physics nerd! So it's better to have 4 than 3?

I think it depends on the letter. Better to have 4 strong letters than 3 strong letters for sure. If you're confident the letter will be good/better than what you have, go for 4. Also, it's 4 per program - which ones you send is customizable. You can have as many letters as you want and mix and match depending on that program's requirements, proximity, familiarity with letter writer, etc. (for example, some places require a letter from a clerkship director, program director, or chair...since I don't know any of those people at my school well, I just got one from the only person I had met before and would sub it in when it was required since I knew it wouldn't be the best of the bunch)