LORs when in medical school

[degoo_]

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When applying for something that requires an LOR, like residency etc., can LORs from undergraduate contacts be used, or do they expect all LORs to come from people post-matriculation? Assume you have kept good contact with your LOR writer, perhaps doing research with them over the summer of something.

 

[degoo_]

bump?

 

[soeagerun2or]

Depends.. Letters left over or re-written from undergrad are worthless. If however you continue research with someone then it may suffice.

Generally you want your letters from clinicians you round or conduct research with. Let's say hypothetically you want to do Internal Medicine. Get a letter from the program director at your school, get a letter from the attending you work most closely with, and get a letter from the doc you do a summer thing (be it research or shadowing) with.

 

[Bertelman]

Agree with above. 99% of your letters should either come from an attending from MS3 year or a PD or Chair, if necessary. Certainly none that are remotely from undergrad. The point is to show how you perform on the wards.

If the research happens to be in the same field you are pursuing, then it may be relevant. Even then, though, I would think you may want to get three standard LORs, then throw in the research contact as a 4th.

 

[RxnMan]

As a MS1, I'm getting some LORs from people I knew pre-matriculation. These are for a summer program I'm applying to and is in a field relevant to work I did pre-matriculation. After this summer, I'd ask people I'm working with now to write me letters. In 3rd year and for residency, I'd look to my attendings.