LOR for residency

[abs5394]

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[AnatomyGrey12]

No.

Is this possible, do people ever do this?

 

[togaedere]

It would be a fine letter of recommendation for applying to a different job, but for residency the committees will be looking for people who can speak to how you are as a clinical med student so this letter would not be relevant.

Hello, I'm an upcoming MS1 and worked in a hospital as a psych tech this past year. I developed very good relationships with my bosses and would hate to miss out on the opportunity to obtain a strong LOR from them. Would it be practical to hold on to their letter and use it for my residency applications down the line? Is this possible, do people ever do this? Or do residency committees only accept LORs from experiences DURING medical school and clerkships.

 

[Lemons565]

On this same train of thought. I just completed a very intensive research experience at a top medical research school before I begin medical school (I start in like 3 weeks). The research was for graduate and students finishing undergrad. The PI offered to write me a letter of rec. He is a Harvard medical school PHD grad and is the head of the biochemistry department for the med school I did research in. I did have two presentations and we will see about the paper when it comes time for that. Should I go ahead and get this letter of rec ready for residency or not?

 

[Oso]

Well it would be to how I am with patients in a clinical environment. No not as a physician, but as a tech/mental health worker on a psych ward.

Sorry, but no. I mean you can do what you want, but the letter won't hold much weight and will likely replace an actually valuable letter obtained in medical school.

 

[MSTP18]

On this same train of thought. I just completed a very intensive research experience at a top medical research school before I begin medical school (I start in like 3 weeks). The research was for graduate and students finishing undergrad. The PI offered to write me a letter of rec. He is a Harvard medical school PHD grad and is the head of the biochemistry department for the med school I did research in. I did have two presentations and we will see about the paper when it comes time for that. Should I go ahead and get this letter of rec ready for residency or not?

If you were applying to MD/PhD programs or if you apply to some sort of research fellowship during medical school this will be a great letter. For residency, no.

 

[MSTP18]

Well it would be to how I am with patients in a clinical environment. No not as a physician, but as a tech/mental health worker on a psych ward.

Why have an LOR about how you are with psych patients as a tech when you can have an LOR about how you are with psych patients as a physician in training?

 

[MSTP18]

This is very true!! But you don’t think having this as well would be a bonus? I just have such a great report with them that I’m sure they’d be able to write a really great letter and I’d hate to miss that opportunity.

If you use that letter, you'll 100% miss the opportunity to have another outstanding letter about you as a physician in training. They are hiring physicians, not techs.

 

[ndafife]

This is very true!! But you don’t think having this as well would be a bonus? I just have such a great report with them that I’m sure they’d be able to write a really great letter and I’d hate to miss that opportunity.

A letter talking about how you are a great psych tech wont help you for residency applications.

Your letters should be doctors you worked with on psych rotations and your psych department chair who can talk about you as a physician, not as a tech.

 

[Gurby]

This is very true!! But you don’t think having this as well would be a bonus? I just have such a great report with them that I’m sure they’d be able to write a really great letter and I’d hate to miss that opportunity.

Maybe you could arrange to do a rotation there as a medical student? Then the letter could talk about how great you were before, but also how much you've grown since then, etc.

 

[togaedere]

I think once you apply to residency you will see what program directors are looking for in terms of letters. I see what you are saying in that you want it to work, it just isn’t an appropriate letter because it’s not the right setting. It is a few years off, for one, and your role at the time was not as a medical student. I’m not a program director, but I am a resident and went through the ERAS process. It just isn’t what people are looking for. You do have the ability to list this experience under work experience on your ERAS app though, and will be able to list people as contacts. If a program director is interested in how you were during this time, they will contact them.

Interesting thought but wouldn’t work unfortunately. Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

But you don’t think having this as well would be a bonus? I just have such a great report with them that I’m sure they’d be able to write a really great letter and I’d hate to miss that opportunity.

Again no. I doubt PDs would even give any sort of weight to this letter, regardless of how good it is.

 

[MSTP18]

Oh that’s fantastic that I can list it as an experience in my application, thank you.

Oh yes, I would definitely do that if you are applying for psych.