Letters or rec

[radsgrad]

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I am trying to figure where I stand with regard to my letters of rec.
1. I have two letters from orthopedic surgeons, both have communicated with me the types of things written in their letters and They are very strong.
2. I have one letter from a community hospital radiologist I briefly worked with on my rads rotation, I dont know much about the letter.
3. The radiologist involved with teaching at my school has told me he would gladly submit a letter for me, but I didnt work with him much and he doesnt know me well personally, he is nice but I assume that could only be at best a vague and average letter.
4. I worked with a family doc and an ob/gyn for a month each, both expressed I did well on my evaluation and both were willing to submit letters. At the time I wasn't anticipating needing them, so I haven't yet submitted the letter request.
With the rotations I have in front of me I dont see getting a shot at a letter other than these.

It is my understanding I should submitted three letter with my application, I was planning on sending the 2 great ortho letters and the unknown radiology letter, but I am afraid that combination makes me look like I am still gunning for orthopedics and applying radiology as my safety, which is not true btw. would that hurt me and would I be better with a different combination?

 

[recycledpaper]

Eh, this is tough. On one hand, you have strong letters from a specialty that's not rads, and on the other, you have lukewarm rads letters. I would go with the strongest letters possible, and somehow find a way to convey that rads is not your backup.

I would get letters from FM and OB, esp if they are strong. You can decide what you want to do with them later.

 

[Gadofosveset]

Tell one of your radiology letter writers to describe that you are very interested in MSK radiology and would like to be an expert in MSK. I assume you have at least a passing interest, given your history. That will tie it all together.

 

[NavyDoc23]

I would probably favor a variety of letters, as long as they know you at least somewhat well. I met with my home program director and that's what I was told. So maybe 1 Ortho, 1 FM or OB, and 1 radiology? Or 1 Ortho, 1 FM, 1 OB (was told I didn't need a rad letter necessarily, as most say the same things, unless you do research for one). My letters are from gen surgery, FM, and IM..

 

[radsgrad]

Thanks guys, I think i will ask for those OB and FM letters and try to use one of them with an ortho and a rads, but it is still nice to have my other letter options in case one of my letters falls through. I still think it may be a good idea to convey my recent switch to radiology as a few other aspects of my application scream ortho path.