Mindy, congrats on finishing your applications! I'm still working on my personal statement, which I am finding is almost impossible to write until I figure out whether I want to do AP/CP, AP only or AP/research. GP, do you have any insight into the flexibility of switching from one track to another midstream? I suppose if I am really undecided I should just go for AP/CP to be on the safe side, but I would also like to be able to do more than a few months of research during residency.
As for LORs, I have 2 from pathologists and 1 from a research mentor. I don't think having more than 2 LORs from pathologists is really necessary since they will all more or less be from the same perspective. In fact, it would probably help to have a letter outside of pathology, like surgery or medicine just to show that you are able to function and communicate with other clinicians.
As for the work hours thing, I don't mind working long hours as long as they are contributing to my education. I would not want to be at a program where I stayed late everday correcting transcriptions and waiting for slides to come out.