Lors

[34140]

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I'm an IMG, and have one LOR in my possession right now, working on the others. I'll submit them as I get them, but will this hurt me? If everything else is in (step 2 scores, etc) and just my LOR's arent complete (ie 3 min) is that bad?

 

[hippiedoc13]

If they aren't complete by when?

You can't even start working on your ERAS application until July 1.

And you can't actually apply to programs, nor can programs download any materials, until Sept 1.

It's in your best interests to have your application submitted as soon after Sept 1 as possible. Depending on how strong or weak the rest of your application is, and how strong or weak your LORs will be, it may be more or less urgent to have those LORs available at the same time the rest of your application gets submitted.

Probably more important for you is being on top of the ECFMG certification. This seems to be where many IMG/FMG applicants get hung up and end up stressing out on these message boards later in the season.

If you had your LORs in hand (or rather, in ERAS) by Sept 1, and everything else was done (including ECFMG), you would be well prepared and even somewhat ahead of the game.

 

[34140]

Thanks for your response.

Ya that was my question, that it takes 4 weeks to upload to ERAS, and since im in the process of getting them, and lets say i submit my 3rd LOR on Sept 1st, and its not uploaded until Oct 1st, is that horribly bad. That was the question I was trying to ask. I guess I already knew the answer to my own question.

I should be, God willing, ECFMG certifiable soon enough, so thats not a concern at the moment.

 

[hippiedoc13]

Well, get the LORs as soon as possible, but I think you're probably right on track with your timeline at this point.

You didn't say this directly, but it bears mentioning for anyone else reading: certainly do NOT delay submitting the rest of the application to wait for LORs. Many programs will start reviewing applications and sending out interview invitations based on the initial ERAS application, board scores, transcript, and personal statement.

 

[bigtymer]

hey sorry just on this topic, Im a Canadian/green card holder Irish IMG doing electives. Ill being doing 2 months of Internal Med/Cardio electives in Canada and an Endocrine elective at Mt. Sinai ELM

My question is how important are US LORs for us IMGs (even if we have 99 on step 1 and LORs from Canadian programs)?

As my schedule is right now, I would have Step 2 done end of Sept, score reported end of October. Would this seriosuly hurt my chances at a decent IM program because my application wont be ready until end of October? Would you recommend not doing the US elective so that my Step 2 score will be reported towards the end of Sept?

Basically what Im asking, is whats more important, having your application submitted at an earlier date or having US LORs (vs. Canadian)

 

[gutonc]

hey sorry just on this topic, Im a Canadian/green card holder Irish IMG doing electives. Ill being doing 2 months of Internal Med/Cardio electives in Canada and an Endocrine elective at Mt. Sinai ELM

My question is how important are US LORs for us IMGs (even if we have 99 on step 1 and LORs from Canadian programs)?

As my schedule is right now, I would have Step 2 done end of Sept, score reported end of October. Would this seriosuly hurt my chances at a decent IM program because my application wont be ready until end of October? Would you recommend not doing the US elective so that my Step 2 score will be reported towards the end of Sept?

Basically what Im asking, is whats more important, having your application submitted at an earlier date or having US LORs (vs. Canadian)

No, stay with your current plan. No matter what you get on Step 2, your IMG status will preclude you from decent interviews without at least 1 US LOR. Canadian are OK but US will be much better.

 

[bigtymer]

ok thanks boss and another question about which letters to send to programs if they have a limit of letters you can upload

Is it better in your opinion to send one letter of a total of 3 from each elective completed to show that you have been consistent (Even if those letters are Canadian) or to send as many US letters as possible (even if it is from the same elective/hospital/program) and then after that prioritize the Canadian/internional letters?

 

[bigtymer]

Hey just wondering as an IMG, how detrimental is it to ones application (internal med) to not have a faculty attending US LOR but to have a letter from a non faculty US doctor (like an interventional cardiologist) who is not affiliated.

I know that Canadian faculty LORs dont mean much but does a US LOR from a non faculty attending really help that much?

 

[gutonc]

Hey just wondering as an IMG, how detrimental is it to ones application (internal med) to not have a faculty attending US LOR but to have a letter from a non faculty US doctor (like an interventional cardiologist) who is not affiliated.

I know that Canadian faculty LORs dont mean much but does a US LOR from a non faculty attending really help that much?

First, a clarification is in order: Are you a Canadian grad or an IMG? (Or...worse yet for your chances of getting a US residency spot, a Canadian who went overseas for med school?) If you are a Canuck grad and get Canuck LORs, you're not an IMG and you'll be fine. If the other options are the case, less so.

As for the "non-faculty" question, the only LORs that matter are those from people you've worked with. If you spent a month working with a PP interventional cardiologist, a strong letter from that person will be good to have (not as good as if it were from the chair of your Univ Cards division, but still good). If it's your roommate's dad who happens to be a cardiologist and said he'd hook you up with a sweet letter if you washed his Bentley, or some dude you shadowed for a summer between M1/M2, it will actually be harmful to your application.

 

[turquoiseblue]

i have a question on LORs--
Is it better to waive your right to see them? will it improve your chances?
what if it was from a PD?

Thanks

 

[nope80]

it takes 4 wks to upload LORs to ERAS??

 

[gutonc]

it takes 4 wks to upload LORs to ERAS??

There are several variables involved in how long it takes for letters to get uploaded.

1. You - When you ask for your LORs
2. Letter Writer - How long it takes them to write it and get it to your dean's office
3. Your Dean's Office/ECFMG - Some are very quick (my Dean's office usually took 24-72h after receiving a letter to get it scanned in to ERAS), others (*cough* ECFMG *cough*) can take several weeks.
4. ERAS (they generally show up as soon as they're loaded by the Dean's Office but there are occasional problems).

 

[bigtymer]

Hey sorry another question from an IMG (med school in europe, graduating in 2011)/Canadian/Green card holder ,

1. I know a lot of ppl say that you should apply on Sept 1st even if you dont have your CK score ready, does this apply for LORs as well? Should you still apply to programs even if your LORs are still being processed at the ECFMG office for upload and won't be ready until mid to late Sept?

2. Gutonc, I know you recommended securing US LORs. When applying to programs, would it be best to assign only US letters to IM programs from only one elective in the US (thats all I was able to get, so if possible I will try and get 2 letters) or would it be beneficial to assign one Canadian and one US letter to show diversity in clinical experience?

Bare with me if these questions sounds stupid.

 

[atsai3]

Hey sorry another question from an IMG (med school in europe, graduating in 2011)/Canadian/Green card holder ,

1. I know a lot of ppl say that you should apply on Sept 1st even if you dont have your CK score ready, does this apply for LORs as well? Should you still apply to programs even if your LORs are still being processed at the ECFMG office for upload and won't be ready until mid to late Sept?

Yes. Just apply September 1st with whatever you have. Most people will only have the Common Application Form (CAF) ready at that point, so just apply with that. Many programs issue interview invitations solely on the basis of the CAF alone.

-AT.