Letters?

[Medstudentquest]

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Ok, not sure where to post this, so I figured it might fit here. So I'll be graduating in >4yrs. because I'll be getting an MPH as well. I'm almost done with rotations, but have yet to ask for letters of recommendation. What is the procedure exactly: to ask for letters now as I'm going through rotations, but I won't be applying for residency until next year after the MPH, or wait until I get the MPH and ask for letters then? Also, how many letters generally are required and from whom? Last thing-if we are interested in more than 1 specialty, should we have different letters for the different specialties? Any help is appreciated.

 

[micdoc6513]

I was in a similar situation as it seems you are... I was on the five year plan with getting my MPH and my medical degree. I found that it was a lot easier to ask for the letters of recommendation BEFORE I began my MPH. Overall, letters are better when you have just rotated with the physician and your performance is fresh in their minds. Plus, every fourth year (or fifth year in our case) will tell you that the worst thing is having your application complete and then having to wait on your LORs. Since you have the extra year, you might as well get them in early and be ahead of the residency application game. Hope this helps! Good luck with your MPH. I am currently applying for residencies and programs seem really impressed with my MPH degree- it is definitely worth it!

 

[Medstudentquest]

I was in a similar situation as it seems you are... I was on the five year plan with getting my MPH and my medical degree. I found that it was a lot easier to ask for the letters of recommendation BEFORE I began my MPH. Overall, letters are better when you have just rotated with the physician and your performance is fresh in their minds. Plus, every fourth year (or fifth year in our case) will tell you that the worst thing is having your application complete and then having to wait on your LORs. Since you have the extra year, you might as well get them in early and be ahead of the residency application game. Hope this helps! Good luck with your MPH. I am currently applying for residencies and programs seem really impressed with my MPH degree- it is definitely worth it!

Well I wasn't initially intending on getting an MPH, but since I also want to fit in some research before residency, I think this extra year might be useful. It also seems that having an additional degree might be beneficial and possibly give an edge in the application process. I can only hope! How many letters are the norm-3 or 4? Good luck with the residency process!

 

[DJ LACTULOSE]

i did an MPH between 3rd and 4th year. i have 1 letter from 3rd year and 2 from 4th year. the letter from 3rd year was from an IM attending i really liked. you don't HAVE to get any of your letters during 3rd year if you don't want to. i could have gotten 3 letters during 4th year if i'd wanted to. i dunno, i'm applying to IM so most programs only want 2 letters + the department letter anyways. it might be different if you're going for ENT, derm, or something really competitive.

are you doing your MPH after 2nd year or after 3rd year?

 

[Medstudentquest]

i did an MPH between 3rd and 4th year. i have 1 letter from 3rd year and 2 from 4th year. the letter from 3rd year was from an IM attending i really liked. you don't HAVE to get any of your letters during 3rd year if you don't want to. i could have gotten 3 letters during 4th year if i'd wanted to. i dunno, i'm applying to IM so most programs only want 2 letters + the department letter anyways. it might be different if you're going for ENT, derm, or something really competitive.

are you doing your MPH after 2nd year or after 3rd year?

Well, I'm doing it a little bit different. I will be completing my third year shortly, and will begin taking MPH courses throughout the remaining of my 3rd and then 4th year, so obviously I'll take over 4 years to graduate. The thing is that there are 2 rotations in particular where I did great and the site directors gave me great overall evaluations and would be more than willing to give me great letters so I think that may it would be good to snatch those up now and if I need more, maybe use some MPH references and M4 references if needed as well? My concern is that if I ask for letters now, they would have the current year's date and obviously I won't start applying for residency until next year so I don't know if that would be a problem. Like would residencies think-why did I get the letter so long ago?