LOR's

[koolkatmd]

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I know everyone talks about getting "good lors" from ophtho people, but what exactly is meant by a good letter? Is this from someone that has gotten to know you over an extended time...

But, it seems that a lot of people get letters from "big wig" ophthalmologists, so is their reputation in this case more important than the content of the letter as long as it is an 'ok' letter? ( assuming that the applicant only did an away rotation and obtained the letter, rather than spending a great amount of time with them?)

I am currently doing ophtho research for a month and have spent a decent amount of time with the Dr. But I was jsut wondering if I should ask this Dr. for a letter, or wait to get a few from "big wig" people?
Any advice would be appreciated....

 

[Haptic]

I had "good" letters and was told that on several interviews, but I do believe that my interview with Puliafito (chair of Bascom) put it best when he said "yeah these are letters are really good, but who's dr x in IM and who's dr. Y in G-surg." (At least he's honest)...A good optho letter is from someone well known in the field. I would recommed trying to get letter from the big wigs at your program...if they know you well all the better but I think my anonymous letters didn't help or hurt.

 

[lilybriscoe]

Hi Koolkatmd,
I agree with Haptic. I also got to know the people at my home program very well. I spent a lot of time working with one attending in particular because we got along really well and I was fascinated by the oculoplastics cases he did. Anyway, I asked him for a letter, with some hesistation because I didn't figure people at other programs would know who he was. To make a long story short, he turned out to be very well known, some might say a "big wig" and a bunch of programs told me his letter was the big reason I got an interview. The moral of my story is: the ophtho world is small and it is easier than you might think to get a letter from someone well known (as long as you get someone in academics).
One other piece of advice I have is to get a non-ophtho letter from someone who has known you for more than 1 or 2 years if possible. I think this serves to reassure programs that you are fairly consistent in you hard work or whatever other good qualities people have mentioned in your ophtho letter/s.

Lily

 

[eyefly]

I don't disagree with the earlier posts, but I don't think big wig letters are the only way to go. I had a departmental letter from our chair (well known but he did not know me that well), a IM letter, and a GS letter. My Step I was in the 230's, I did not have significant ophthalmology research. I applied to 40 programs, received 34 interview offers (including Wilmer, Emory, Baylor, UTSW, Wash U, Oklahoma) and matched at my #1. I had more postive comments regarding my surgery letter than my ophthalmology letter.

On a lighter note (now that the match is over), I actually had a PD make fun of a line in my letter from the ophthalmology chairman. He said the chairman has been using the same line for 20+ years.....I ended up matching at this program.