obtaining letters of rec

[tropheus]

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As an ms3, my biggest concern now is getting letters of rec from non-radiologists. So far I haven't really gotten to know many attendings except for maybe a psych attending (from whom an LOR would be pretty worthless right?) and i only have one non-rads rotation left (internal medicine) before November. If I'm not able to get an LOR from IM what are my other options? Should I try to squeeze another non-rads elective before November and try to get a letter from that? And can we use rads letters toward our prelim apps?

Thanks.

 

[doc05]

You should get an IM letter. Don't assume you "won't be able to." You also have the entire summer to get letters from any other attendings who like you.

 

[Vince]

Here's about 2 cents to take with a grain of salt.

A Rads PD told me that he would rather have a letter from someone who really really knows me well, than someone I rotated with for 4 weeks who wrote me a good LOR. I understand his point and I did what he said...

I got a really good LOR from a basic faculty member who I had several classes with and whom I gave some presentations under. This PhD knew me and thought I was a great student, etc. so I asked him for a letter. I sent this one to a few programs including the program I am referring to above.

Not to say that everyone should do this....but if you know a basic science faculty or some other professional really really well, who can tell a bit about what kind of person you are, then maybe that would take care of a non-radiologist letter that you are having trouble getting.

Just a thought.

 

[siamesekat]

does anyone know when the absolute deadline is for having your LOR's in? i'm wondering if i do something in rads in september will that be enough time for faculty to write me a letter? thanks...

 

[samsoccer7]

Yes, that will be ok. I did a rotation in September, but had 3 LORs by mid Sept uploaded. I took the one I received at the very end of September and just tacked it on to the rest. It's definitely not too late. Just make sure every other part of your app is uploaded as early in Sept as possible: personal statement, transcripts, all that other BS that I forgot about already 🙂

 

[Rod Farva]

I've heard it's a good idea to get a letter from both IM and Surg attendings. I honored Surgery and have a letter lined up from that end. However, I'm in the middle of my IM rotation (and I'm miserable), and it's pretty apparent that I'm going to end up with a high pass no matter what happens with the rest of the rotation/shelf exam. My question is this: how does it look to get a letter of rec from a rotation you high pass? I mean, they clearly didn't think enough of you on the rotation to honor you, so does it look fishy to get a letter after a high pass? I'd really like to have all my ducks in a row early on so I can get my application in on time. What about a Peds letter instead of IM, would that fly?