LOR - Waive my right

[izchief360]

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One of my letter writers is finishing up a LOR for the upcoming ERAS cycle, and offered to send it my way. Frankly, I don't know how I should respond. On ERAS, I intend to waive my right to view the letter, but I don't know what the specifics surrounding this are and if there are any accommodations under FERPA that would allow me to view it?

If he sends me the letter voluntarily, can I upload it on his behalf while still waiving the right to view? Will programs see that it has been uploaded by me and hence not weigh it as strongly? Is it unethical if I skim it beforehand?

Any thoughts on this are welcome, especially from those with past experience and familiarity with the ERAS dashboard.

 

[ACSurgeon]

One of my letter writers is finishing up a LOR for the upcoming ERAS cycle, and offered to send it my way. Frankly, I don't know how I should respond. On ERAS, I intend to waive my right to view the letter, but I don't know what the specifics surrounding this are and if there are any accommodations under FERPA that would allow me to view it?

If he sends me the letter voluntarily, can I upload it on his behalf while still waiving the right to view? Will programs see that it has been uploaded by me and hence not weigh it as strongly? Is it unethical if I skim it beforehand?

Any thoughts on this are welcome, especially from those with past experience and familiarity with the ERAS dashboard.

waive your right means you can’t force your letter writer to share it with you. It’s meant to allow the writer the freedom to be honest without having to worry how you feel about it.

if they chose to show it to you, but you waived your right, you can read it.

 

[izchief360]

So will he upload it, or will I? Before he sends it to me, should I be upfront about waiving my right (I have not made this clear yet), but then follow up with something like "if you still feel comfortable sharing it, that is still within your authority."?

 

[throwaway1000000]

You should not upload it. Read ERAS on your prof should upload the letter.
He can send it to you for your reading pleasure. Sometimes profs let you add stuff to the letter they write, which is fine. But bottomline he should upload it.

 

[deleted480308]

One of my letter writers is finishing up a LOR for the upcoming ERAS cycle, and offered to send it my way. Frankly, I don't know how I should respond. On ERAS, I intend to waive my right to view the letter, but I don't know what the specifics surrounding this are and if there are any accommodations under FERPA that would allow me to view it?

If he sends me the letter voluntarily, can I upload it on his behalf while still waiving the right to view? Will programs see that it has been uploaded by me and hence not weigh it as strongly? Is it unethical if I skim it beforehand?

Any thoughts on this are welcome, especially from those with past experience and familiarity with the ERAS dashboard.

It’s not uncommon to have professors offer to let you see the letter before (I had some tell me to write it and they would sign it).

waiving rights mean you can’t demand eras show it you once they have it.

You shouldn’t be uploading it though. If your professor is just that incompetent on technology, your student coordinator or site coordinator should be able to do it for them (mine did for some)

 

[Sriddymopboi]

It’s not uncommon to have professors offer to let you see the letter before (I had some tell me to write it and they would sign it).

waiving rights mean you can’t demand eras show it you once they have it.

You shouldn’t be uploading it though. If your professor is just that incompetent on technology, your student coordinator or site coordinator should be able to do it for them (mine did for some)

Any idea where to begin with this? I've never seen or written a LOR before so I figure it would be obvious if I wrote it myself. Any examples out there that you recommend?

 

[kb1900]

Any idea where to begin with this? I've never seen or written a LOR before so I figure it would be obvious if I wrote it myself. Any examples out there that you recommend?

Also when applying to medical school I remember it being important to find writers who care enough/know you well enough to write a strong independent letter for you. But it seems like for residency it’s a lot more common to have students write LORs and have the attending modify/sign it

 

[throwaway1000000]

Any idea where to begin with this? I've never seen or written a LOR before so I figure it would be obvious if I wrote it myself. Any examples out there that you recommend?

Google will be your best bet for a structure of this LOR.

In terms of content, make it as personal as you can. Pick out specific anecdotes from your clerkship that highlights your qualities.
1) Example student was very inquisitive-used to bring papers relevant to patients during rounds and educate the team
2) student was very hardworking-acted at the level of a resident in evaluating and presenting patients
3) student was a team player-would come in voluntarily during weekends to help out the team in taking call
4) student was a leader-taught M3, M2s and M1s during the rotation and guided them

so on and so forth. i am sure google has a lot of examples. I would say this letter can really make you stand out.
My prof let me write a portion of my letter (she finished the basic outline and asked me to give her specific experiences and qualities like above and those anecdotes were brought up at every interview)

 

[Sriddymopboi]

Google will be your best bet for a structure of this LOR.

In terms of content, make it as personal as you can. Pick out specific anecdotes from your clerkship that highlights your qualities.
1) Example student was very inquisitive-used to bring papers relevant to patients during rounds and educate the team
2) student was very hardworking-acted at the level of a resident in evaluating and presenting patients
3) student was a team player-would come in voluntarily during weekends to help out the team in taking call
4) student was a leader-taught M3, M2s and M1s during the rotation and guided them

so on and so forth. i am sure google has a lot of examples. I would say this letter can really make you stand out.
My prof let me write a portion of my letter (she finished the basic outline and asked me to give her specific experiences and qualities like above and those anecdotes were brought up at every interview)

thanks a bunch. really appreciate it. will try to make it as personal as possible while following the general outline template that I can follow