LORs

[sisyphus22]

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I know you can't submit a late fourth letter this year to CAS, but does anyone know if it's okay to submit your application to CAS with only two letters, and submit a third letter later? Will they distribute the application to programs with just the two letters, or will my application just sit around untouched until my third letter arrives? I can submit it soon with three letters, but if I hold off on the third letter for a few more weeks, I can probably get a better letter (i.e. from someone well-known from a more prestigious institution) from the rotation I am doing now.

 

[JA_Perez]

I know you can't submit a late fourth letter this year to CAS, but does anyone know if it's okay to submit your application to CAS with only two letters, and submit a third letter later? Will they distribute the application to programs with just the two letters, or will my application just sit around untouched until my third letter arrives? I can submit it soon with three letters, but if I hold off on the third letter for a few more weeks, I can probably get a better letter (i.e. from someone well-known from a more prestigious institution) from the rotation I am doing now.

CAll the SF Match help line. They can give a better answer. 👍

 

[sisyphus22]

i did email them about it, and they just replied saying that i do have the option of sending in the third letter late and that my application can still be distributed with only two letters (as long as i include a letter explaining that my third letter will arrive later). do you think this is worth doing? i would imagine that submitting only two letters initially would put me at a disadvantage, but i'm wondering if that would be offset by having a letter from a well-known attending.

alternatively, i was thinking of having said attending send a letter directly to programs a little later in the year, as a supplemental document to the places i'm more interested in. is this acceptable to do?

 

[MR1]

I have heard that you can get that person to make a bunch of copies of the LOR and put them into signed and sealed envelopes. Then when you interview you can give them to the program, if they will take it.

 

[DiveMD]

I have heard that you can get that person to make a bunch of copies of the LOR and put them into signed and sealed envelopes. Then when you interview you can give them to the program, if they will take it.

I do not agree with this approach since you want to submit that letter before the programs start granting interviews. You could you get another letter just to complete the application package. Then, after getting the fourth one, e-mail the PDF version to the SF match and/or programs you applied to. I am positive that this will work and nobody will fault you for it

 

[sisyphus22]

i'm not sure what you mean by a "pdf version" of the letter...i'm getting my letters in sealed envelopes, not online.
i may just contact some programs about it first, but i think the best tactic is to have the letter-writer send the letter to the programs directly. i would imagine that this could only help my application.

 

[DiveMD]

i'm not sure what you mean by a "pdf version" of the letter...i'm getting my letters in sealed envelopes, not online.
i may just contact some programs about it first, but i think the best tactic is to have the letter-writer send the letter to the programs directly. i would imagine that this could only help my application.

An Adobe Reader version of the letter (PDF file) can be created by the person who wrote you the letter (or by his/her secretary) by simply scanning the signed original letter and saving it as a PDF file. This file can be e-mailed by you to [email protected]. Why don’t you read the CAS instructions and find out the real facts? 😕

 

[sisyphus22]

ok, i didn't remember that part of the instructions. but in any event, since i would waive my right to see the letter, i wouldn't be the one emailing it out, i'd have to request the letter-writer to do this

 

[DiveMD]

ok, i didn't remember that part of the instructions. but in any event, since i would waive my right to see the letter, i wouldn't be the one emailing it out, i'd have to request the letter-writer to do this

Or they can do it for you. I am sure your med school is familiar with Adobe and PDF files...

 

[xaelia]

This atypical LOR->PDF->secondary distribution saga seems unlikely to be successful. I would make an effort to get three LOR now, and submit your application as soon as possible.

 

[DiveMD]

This atypical LOR->PDF->secondary distribution saga seems unlikely to be successful. I would make an effort to get three LOR now, and submit your application as soon as possible.

Is not a saga or atypical at all. Many LOR are submitted vie e-mail now in days. Just because is not your case doesn’t mean is atypical. Plus, once the letter is in PDF format you can save it, multiply it or e-mail it anywhere. Welcome to the internet age…

 

[sisyphus22]

xaelia, i agree that sending the application asap with three letters is important. but given that most people are doing away electives now, it may not hurt to have an attending that can write you a strong letter send an additional one directly to programs later in the year (prior to interview season). or, have the attending send it to your school, and your school can forward it to programs. i don't think this is a bad idea, provided that the letter is truly strong. it's not as if ophtho programs are unwilling to read a fourth LOR (they've been doing it in the past) - it's just that CAS will no longer distribute it.