LOR for Application question

[cluelessmedstudent411]

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Hey everyone

Wanted to get your opinion on LOR for fellowship application. I noticed that almost all fellowships require a PD letter. I wanted to substitute a chair letter instead of PD letter (would also include 3 other letters that were not PD) because our chair has a bigger name. This would be purely for the name value.

Are programs rigid on the PD letter or would chair letter suffice?

Thanks for the help!

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EDIT:


So far, I have 5 letters in mind. How would you choose the 4 to send?

- Chair: Bigger name, has connections, I'm not super close to him/her but he told me he would write me a letter
- PD: Seems to be required by all programs and I was thinking of replacing chair letter for this one.
- Attending 1: Have worked closely with on research projects. Would write a strong letter.
- Attending 2: Big name person, have worked closely with and would write a strong letter
- Fellowship PD: In-house fellowship PD, would write a decent letter but I don't think it would be spectacular. BUT he's the fellowship pd and would help having his letter at outside programs.

So Im unsure how to go about choosing between these...

 

[Propofool123]

Get the PD letter and then the chair letter as one of your additional letters.

 

[Agast]

Follow instructions. Don’t give anyone a reason to throw your file in the trash.

 

[Ligament]

IF the PD has a bigger name, why not use it? What advantage does the chair bring you?

 

[cluelessmedstudent411]

IF the PD has a bigger name, why not use it? What advantage does the chair bring you?

Sorry, the chair has a bigger name!

 

[Propofool123]

The chair always has a bigger name than the PD. It’s why they’re the chair and not just the PD.

Get the PD letter and use the chair letter as an additional letter.

 

[cluelessmedstudent411]

The chair always has a bigger name than the PD. It’s why they’re the chair and not just the PD.

Get the PD letter and use the chair letter as an additional letter.

Very true, My concern is that there are 2 other letters that I think might be stronger than chair because they know me better and 1 letter from PD of inhouse pain program.

 

[cluelessmedstudent411]

So far, I have 5 letters in mind. How would you choose the 4 to send?

- Chair: Bigger name, has connections, I'm not super close to him/her but he told me he would write me a letter
- PD: Seems to be required by all programs and I was thinking of replacing chair letter for this one.
- Attending 1: Have worked closely with on research projects. Would write a strong letter.
- Attending 2: Big name person, have worked closely with and would write a strong letter
- Fellowship PD: In-house fellowship PD, would write a decent letter but I don't think it would be spectacular. BUT he's the fellowship pd and would help having his letter at outside programs.

So Im unsure how to go about choosing between these...

 

[Propofool123]

So far, I have 5 letters in mind. How would you choose the 4 to send?

- Chair: Bigger name, has connections, I'm not super close to him/her but he told me he would write me a letter
- PD: Seems to be required by all programs and I was thinking of replacing chair letter for this one.
- Attending 1: Have worked closely with on research projects. Would write a strong letter.
- Attending 2: Big name person, have worked closely with and would write a strong letter
- Fellowship PD: In-house fellowship PD, would write a decent letter but I don't think it would be spectacular. BUT he's the fellowship pd and would help having his letter at outside programs.

So Im unsure how to go about choosing between these...

PD, Chair, Attending 1, Attending 2

 

[stsa84]

No right answer. Also, no wrong answer. Personally I'd do PD, fellowship PD, Attending 1, Attending 2.