MS1: Who writes LOR's in med school? Help!!

[lietsayri]

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Hi, I'm a little confused on how to make connections while in med school.
First off, how do you get an advisor to help you through the major decisions in med school? In undergrad there were assigned faculty for students, and I got to know my professors by visiting during office hours and asking questions. Can we do something similar in med school, or is that frowned upon? I ask this because many of the faculty are often busy in the hospital as well, and I'm wondering how to find one-on-one time to talk to them.
Also, how do you "get to know" people who will write your LOR's for residency applications? Who do you ask for LOR's for residency applications?

Help would be very appreciated!

 

[swamprat]

Only an ms1 so im not expert but im pretty sure 3rd year rotations are where u get ur LORs for residency from..MDs not PhDs

 

[Rollo]

To make connections, find a student interest group in the specialties you're interested in. For example, at PCOM there is a surgery club which coordinates many activities (such as grand rounds, morning reports, etc.) with the PCOM surgery residents. This is a great way to get early exposure to a field and get involved in research if you want.

Your LORs come from 3rd and 4th years, and from attending physicians under whom you rotate through.

 

[Smurfette]

This is all good advice.

LORs are from your 3rd and early 4th rotations. Generally one will be the chairman of the dept of your chosen specialty (this more or less is automatic, so don't panic if you don't rotate on service with the chairman---they will arrange a meeting with you to be able to get you your letter). If you do a substantial amount of research (i.e. MD/PhD or worked in a lab), you can also get an LOR from this person. However, generally speaking, you don't get letters from non-clinicians---so the anatomy profs and the like are not writing the letters for you. Also, LORs should be from people in your specialty of choice, if possible (this is pretty much mandatory for surgery, but varies by specialty). On interviews, people will often recognize or know your letter writers personally.

Advising is highly variable depending on your med school. Mine had a "figure it out on your own" type of mentality and you asked residents and attendings you worked with for information and program recommendations. Others have more organized systems. However, as a MS1, don't worry about this yet....it will work out.

 

[robu058]

Hi, I'm a MS1 this year and I'm very confused on how to make connections while in med school.
First off, how do you get an advisor to help you through the major decisions in med school? In undergrad there were assigned faculty for students, and I got to know my professors by visiting during office hours and asking questions. Can we do something similar in med school, or is that frowned upon? I ask this because many of the faculty are often busy in the hospital as well, and I'm wondering how to find one-on-one time to talk to them.
Also, how do you "get to know" people who will write your LOR's for residency applications? Who do you ask for LOR's for residency applications?

Help would be very appreciated!

Best way to make to make good connections in the first 2 years is to actually meet on a regular basis with your course director. I practically and regularly meet with my course directors (for reason explained below; well, see slacking off). Usually, i read the materials ahead and while I am doing that, I annotate as well and my annotation is in the form of a question. Questions that I can't get an answer are the ones that I discussed with the course director. I also show him/her questions from my annotations that I do believe I get the right answer. However, I always have a reasoning behind each of my question.

This is the best way to stand out. IMO, your course director will notice that you are not lazy and are just waiting for him to "lecture" you again. Rather, it will show to him that you are a hard worker and dedicated to learn. That, my friend, are essences of a letter of recommendation (LOR).

PS: my intent for doing the above is to force myself not to slack off. If I know i am gonna meet with my course director everyday, then I have no choice but to be in top of the materials. I DO NOT DO that for a mere LOR, but it so happens that it is a good strategy to get one!

 

[dude1344]

How important are letters from docs you did research with? I'm a MSII and I did research last summer. Are we expected to submit a letter in that situation?

 

[alwaysaangel]

How important are letters from docs you did research with? I'm a MSII and I did research last summer. Are we expected to submit a letter in that situation?

You can. But letters from faculty in the specialty you're applying to are going to be most important.

 

[Irish2010]

Can you get LORs from physicians during your away rotations too? I could see this benefiting you, if you are applying to that specific program. But I'm not sure how it would look to other programs.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Can you get LORs from physicians during your away rotations too? I could see this benefiting you, if you are applying to that specific program. But I'm not sure how it would look to other programs.

Yes most people do this.

 

[hot sauce]

How important are letters from docs you did research with? I'm a MSII and I did research last summer. Are we expected to submit a letter in that situation?

If you think you will get a strong letter from the person you did research with then go for it. If you do not except a strong letter from them then don't get it.

At most medical schools the dean's office keeps the letters on file and you assign them to schools through ERAS so if in doubt you can always get a letter on file and then decide if you want to use it later.