LOR-- which is better ? from Faculty or Private practice MD

[Tylermall1]

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I am AMG, did not match last year. I have 3 letters from my medical school faculty from last year ( I don't know how strong are they ? ) and one letter from private practice MD ( very strong letter ). I am applying for IM and FP.

My question is:

should I use only 3 faculty letters or 2 faculty letters and one from private practice MD . Somebody told me that Faculty letters are more important than Private practice MD.

Please reply. Thanks

 

[survivordo]

Which ones did you use unsuccessfully this year?

Generally people would recommend using faculty letters - the reasoning being that if they see a lot of students then they are better able to compare you. If they are involved in training residents then their evaluation of how good of a resident you would be certainly holds some weight as well. However, if you truly think your private practice letter is the strongest then I would certainly use that. Two other LORs from faculty should be plenty to convince them you would make a good resident.

Survivor DO

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Since you can submit 4 letters, why not submit all 4?

 

[kdhmed]

Similar question. I'm a D.O. student doing most of my rotations at a small/med. sized community hospital with a small FM residency program. I'm applying IM (mainly large academic programs) with the following letter options:

IM Hospitalist - Very strong letter - No titles attached
Nephrology (private) - Believe a VERY strong letter - No titles attached
Cardiology (private) - Very strong letter - No titles attached
IM Chairman Letter (faculty) - No clinical experience with this letter writer - Great titles
MICU (faculty) - Strong letter - Chief of IM, Med Director of Critical Care at large comm hospital

I'm torn between choosing letters that I feel are very strong and those that are strong but are from letter writers with good "titles." Also, I am doing my Sub-Internship next month at an allopathic community program - should I aim to get a letter from this and update my application ASAP? Thanks for any input!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Remember that if you plan to submit the SubI letter (which I HIGHLY recommend), you need to save a slot. If you send four of these letters you have to programs, you will not be able to add the SubI letter.

 

[kdhmed]

Remember that if you plan to submit the SubI letter (which I HIGHLY recommend), you need to save a slot. If you send four of these letters you have to programs, you will not be able to add the SubI letter.

Thanks for the quick response. My gut tells me to choose the MICU, Chairman, and Nephro letters. Now I'm wondering, are some of these programs going to wonder "Where is his IM letter discussing clinical experience?" when they get my app? Is it poor form if that letter (my Sub-I letter) isn't submitted until mid-October?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

No that's fine.

You should send the chair letter. All of the rest are fine, pick 2.

 

[Staradmiral]

Submit all 4