LOR question

[*hopefully*]

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I am doing an away rotation at a program that I am interested in from mid Oct-Mid Nov. If the program's deadline is Nov 1., is that too late to get a LOR from that rotation? And if not, would I just designate one less LOR on ERAS to that program anticipating a letter? I've heard that if you send the max number of letters (in this case, max is 4), you can't send any additional letters later. Is that true? Thanks! I appreciate the help!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I am doing an away rotation at a program that I am interested in from mid Oct-Mid Nov. If the program's deadline is Nov 1., is that too late to get a LOR from that rotation? And if not, would I just designate one less LOR on ERAS to that program anticipating a letter? I've heard that if you send the max number of letters (in this case, max is 4), you can't send any additional letters later. Is that true? Thanks! I appreciate the help!

If you're asking if you should try to send an LOR to a program from that same program, it really doesn't matter. Presumably, the PD will speak to whomever you work with to review your performance.

A program with a Nov 1st cutoff must be competitive -- as that's the first day that MSPE's are available.

Given that you can't really ask for the letter until end Nov, and then it may take awile for said letter to be done, I would make sure that all of your programs have three other letters on time, and then send this one as a fourth when available.

 

[felipe5]

Given that you can't really ask for the letter until end Nov, and then it may take awile for said letter to be done, I would make sure that all of your programs have three other letters on time, and then send this one as a fourth when available.

say you do this and add an extra letter after already being complete for a week or two before the program deadline for a complete app...does this process of adding a letter 'reset' the date of your completed app since you've modified what you've added or are you still kosher in terms of beating the deadline? sorry if my q doesn't make sense

 

[Dre1207]

I don't know why I did this, but I downloaded and transmitted 4 letters of recommendation to my ERAS not knowing that the limit was 4. I just got a great recommendation from a FP program director. He wanted to write this letter to the OB program that I am applying to in the same hospital. Since I am at my limit of letters, is it ok for the FP guy to send the letter directly to the OB program director? What do you think?

 

[Dre1207]

I don't know why I did this, but I downloaded and transmitted 4 letters of recommendation to my ERAS not knowing that the limit was 4. I just got a great recommendation from a FP program director. He wanted to write this letter to the OB program that I am applying to in the same hospital. Since I am at my limit of letters, is it ok for the FP guy to send the letter directly to the OB program director? What do you think?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

say you do this and add an extra letter after already being complete for a week or two before the program deadline for a complete app...does this process of adding a letter 'reset' the date of your completed app since you've modified what you've added or are you still kosher in terms of beating the deadline? sorry if my q doesn't make sense

If the program requires 3 LOR's and you have 3 in by the deadline, your application is complete. Adding another letter later doesn't change this at all.

I don't know why I did this, but I downloaded and transmitted 4 letters of recommendation to my ERAS not knowing that the limit was 4. I just got a great recommendation from a FP program director. He wanted to write this letter to the OB program that I am applying to in the same hospital. Since I am at my limit of letters, is it ok for the FP guy to send the letter directly to the OB program director? What do you think?

You can either send it directly to the programs, or send it via ERAS. To send it via ERAS, you would need to "withdraw" one of your previous letters. If you do so, the program will still get all 5 letters, one will be marked "withdrawn".

 

[buckley]

This is what I did--I emailed the PC about having a anew LOR, but that they have downloaded my application already. She told me to send her a copy, which I did. So there

 

[forex]

You can either send it directly to the programs, or send it via ERAS. To send it via ERAS, you would need to "withdraw" one of your previous letters. If you do so, the program will still get all 5 letters, one will be marked "withdrawn".

1. If I have received a stronger letter after I submitted my completer application, should I withdraw one and submit the new one? Any red flag or disadvantage?

2. Would it be a good way to send 4 LoRs to CA programs where we can normally send 3 LoRs as one is reserved for CA training letter? What do you think?

Thanks

 

[NotAProgDirector]

1. If I have received a stronger letter after I submitted my completer application, should I withdraw one and submit the new one? Any red flag or disadvantage?

2. Would it be a good way to send 4 LoRs to CA programs where we can normally send 3 LoRs as one is reserved for CA training letter? What do you think?

Thanks

1. A stronger letter is better. Best to send in three and save one for a late good letter. If you have four in, withdraw one and send your new one. Don't withdraw any more than one, that looks silly.

2. Yes, although I'm not in CA so that's only my personal opinion.

 

[forex]

1. A stronger letter is better. Best to send in three and save one for a late good letter. If you have four in, withdraw one and send your new one. Don't withdraw any more than one, that looks silly.

2. Yes, although I'm not in CA so that's only my personal opinion.

Thank you. I understood your explanation, but just to make sure.... withdrawing one letter and sending in a new one is an intelligent way to send in 4 LoRs to CA programs? (even though one letter is marked 'withdraw', the letter is in the program...so it is a kind of trick to send in 4 LoRs. Do you agree? Thanks for your opinion.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I am doing an away rotation at a program that I am interested in from mid Oct-Mid Nov. If the program's deadline is Nov 1., is that too late to get a LOR from that rotation? And if not, would I just designate one less LOR on ERAS to that program anticipating a letter? I've heard that if you send the max number of letters (in this case, max is 4), you can't send any additional letters later. Is that true? Thanks! I appreciate the help!

What specialty are you applying to? Surgery has a "nationwide" application deadline of November 1, with a few selected programs (like JHU) earlier...around October 15.

At any rate, getting a letter from this away rotation would only be helpful, IMHO, if you are applying to other programs/specialties without a November 1 deadline. It will take several weeks to get the letter from your rotation and have it uploaded to the ERAS server. Programs may not download application stuff after their own program deadline.

If you are using the letter only for the program at which you rotated at, I would tend to agree with APD - its probably not necessary. They'll just talk about you; no need to have a formal letter from the rotation unless you would be submitting it to other programs.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Thank you. I understood your explanation, but just to make sure.... withdrawing one letter and sending in a new one is an intelligent way to send in 4 LoRs to CA programs? (even though one letter is marked 'withdraw', the letter is in the program...so it is a kind of trick to send in 4 LoRs. Do you agree? Thanks for your opinion.

No, no.

Send three LOR's plus the CA letter.

Try not to withdraw a letter. ONly do so if you are really 100% sure that some new letter is really better than your old ones.

 

[mrdowntoearth]

I've been very frustrating to get my LOR out and it's been literally more than 3 months! Things seem to go wrong every time I follow up and I've been following up every freakin' day. I feel like I just want to kill myself now. It's so ridiculous!

Sorry for the vent, but is the deadline for LORs is around November 1st (when the Dean's letter is out)? I'm sure I'm losing my chances of getting interviews by not having all of my letters in. I only have 2 but unfortunately, of course, the last one that I've been expecting is the most important one. I don't understand why these docs just don't care about our letters? What took them so long? We, medical students, are just not important in front of their eyes.

 

[buckley]

i feel for you mrdowntoearth... i actually gave up on what might have been a good LOR. It's up to you, but I preferred to have my app complete as early as possible. About that particular consultant, however, I followed up like a dog, and he kept saying, yes, yes...I'll get around to it...Unfortunately, we are at the very bottom of the medical hierarchy food chain...