LORs - Which ones?

[Pinki]

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So I've got 4 LORs - strong from what the letter writers have told me - all had my CVs, clerkship reports, PS and personal meetings with me to make them as personal as possible. I'm not sure which ones to assign...
Letter 1 - Ob Clerkship Director - I'll use this one, as it's a no brainer
Letter 2 - IM attending letter from a outpatient month rotation - he took copious notes during out meeting, so I know this is a personal letter. We really hit it off during the rotation (our kids go to school together, too) and he even pestered me to write a letter
Letter 3 - Psychiatry clerkship/program director - He wrote me a personal letter after the rotation asking if he could write me a letter. Since he's a program director, he said in our meeting he'd write a LOR other program directors would appreciate.
Letter 4 - MFM attending from my Sub-I, also my research chair for my research elective. He's SOOO busy we haven't had quite the chance to know each other personally, but he's met with me many times to offer advice on the strength of varoius residency programs, my application, etc. I feel like this letter might not give as much personal insight, but is strong b/c it includes my sub-i capabilities and my research initiatives.

So my question is, which 3 do you guys think I should assign for my ERAS? Like I said, OB clerkship/program director is a slam dunk. I'm thinking the Psych letter and MFM letter, too. Any input or advice? TIA!

 

[nykka3]

I don't know all the specifics but in addition to the ob/gyn clerkship director, I would add the psych and MFM/research letter.

 

[luvOB]

hmm...i see your dilemma, IM is usually favored over pysch but then again it's oupatient and the psych guy is a program director...just upload all four and you can pick and choose for each program, depending on the program's requirements. some will ask for specifics (ie med, surg, or ob-only) most programs will download all of them and skim even if it's over their requirement. the number required just determines when your file is "complete"
hope that helps.

 

[Maitreyi]

I thought you could turn in 4 LORs to most programs?

Anyway, I have a similar problem. I have 5 letters - 2 OB, 2 surgery and 1 IM. If I can submit 4, should I do the 2 OB, 1 surgery and 1 IM or 2 OB, 2 surgery.

All of them know me well and wrote good letters.

HELP!

 

[Pinki]

I did end up assigning all 4 to all of my programs at the advice of my advisor (the OB program/clerkship director mentioned above) - he says 1 extra letter isn't a bad thing.

If I were you - I'd do the 2 OB, the 1 surgery and the 1 IM - the surgery letter will be great for your application, as will the 1 IM. Very well rounded in my opinion. Good luck!

 

[Maitreyi]

Hi,

Okay, I got ahead of myself - I am SUPPOSED to have five letters. only three are turned in - one from the OB program chair - who doesn't know me too well, but who writes good letters and two from surgery - one from the clerkship director who writes good letters also and another from the plastic surgeon. The clerkship director knows me better but the other guy is much more effusive (though more general) at least in his eval comments he was. So, which do I pick? Can I assign the IM one now and if I don't get it in time just send the other surgery?

Still waiting for the most important OB letter - the one from the residency director who I worked v closely with!

This is way too hard!