LOR specific to neurology

[funshine]

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Hi,

A couple questions: If I have 4 letters in the end (2 from neuro, 1 internal med, 1 psych), am I allowed to submit all 4? My school specifically says I can only submit 3 in its residency app guidelines, so I'm confused if they just discourage more than 3, or the system won't allow it to go through.

Also, I know it's been said that if you submit 3, then 2 should be from neuro, 1 from another area (most probably internal med). But, what if I have two non-neuro faculty (an internist and a psychiatrist) who I think will write me stronger letters than the neuro faculty? Isn't the quality of the letter what matters most in the end? Then, my only neuro letter will likely be my departmental letter (written by the chair).

Does anyone have experience sending in 3 letters with only 1 of them being from a neuro faculty? I want my letters to be as good as possible, but I don't know if it'll look weird if I only have one neuro letter!

Thanks!

 

[Amos]

Hi,

A couple questions: If I have 4 letters in the end (2 from neuro, 1 internal med, 1 psych), am I allowed to submit all 4? My school specifically says I can only submit 3 in its residency app guidelines, so I'm confused if they just discourage more than 3, or the system won't allow it to go through.

Also, I know it's been said that if you submit 3, then 2 should be from neuro, 1 from another area (most probably internal med). But, what if I have two non-neuro faculty (an internist and a psychiatrist) who I think will write me stronger letters than the neuro faculty? Isn't the quality of the letter what matters most in the end? Then, my only neuro letter will likely be my departmental letter (written by the chair).

Does anyone have experience sending in 3 letters with only 1 of them being from a neuro faculty? I want my letters to be as good as possible, but I don't know if it'll look weird if I only have one neuro letter!

Thanks!

One from neuro is fine so long as they observed you clinically and have good things to say.

You can especially get by with one neuro etter if they are a national leader in their field.

By far the most important thing is that the letters are glowing. "One of the best students I have ever worked with...tremendous potential....best of his/her class" etc.

So when you pick your 3 (although all 22 places I applied allowed 4) pick what you think your strongest letters will be.

The only thing that gets students into trouble is when they feel obligated to get a letter from "professor x" even though they did not work with them closely or they sent up some red flags that they may not give you a strong letter.

Remember a luke warm letter becomes of a letter of non-recommendation.

No worries.