Need help with LORs

[Weinberg Angle]

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[bmcgilligan]

I would ask the attending about a week in advance if he/she would feel comfortable writing you a strong LOR. If he/she says yes, then I would give her your packet of info (personal statement, CV, coversheet) the last day of the rotation. Make sure you give him/her an expected date of completion.

I never gave my letter writers gifts. Most docs I worked >2 weeks with I would send thank you cards to, but never a card or gift for a letter.

 

[lankysudanese]

Hi. I'm an MS4 applying to IM this fall. I need some input regarding LORs.

1. After an attending has submitted an LOR for your residency application, what type of a "thank you" gift is appropriate? An email? A card? A pen?

2. I need an LOR from an attending I worked with during a 4-wk 4th yr medicine elective. When should I approach the attending about the letter? On the last day? Or should I let them know early in the elective.

Thanks for the input.

I would wait until I matched before I started showing gratitude. After all, Dr. X's letter might not be as strong as you think it is, and you might not get your top choice partly because of that.

pessimistic? yes. but any gift will be particularly unnecessary if they don't end up boosting your application.

 

[dragonfly99]

I don't think you need to give an attending a present. Anything you give them would be not as nice as what they could buy, and they won't expect a gift. I do recommend writing a thank-you/note card to anyone who writes you a letter of recommendation.

 

[Weinberg Angle]

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[gutonc]

How late is TOO LATE for an LOR (i.e., when should I start to really panic)?

As long as it beats the MSPE (Nov 1), you should be fine. Sooner is better but for IM, Nov 1 is fine. Programs generally start having their deadlines in mid-Nov to early Dec (with a few outliers on both ends) and that is the ABSOLUTE latest you can get an LOR in.

 

[Weinberg Angle]

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