Old/diff specialty LORs

[molten]

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IMG with tough luck. Will be reapplying the coming cycle. 3 LORs are IM, 1 is general, all 4 are old. Will have one new US-LOR from a rotation (can ask them to make it general). Is there any point applying to surgery prelim with old/IM LORs? Even if I do manage to get general LORs that do not state specialty, they will not be from a surgery rotation- so will there be any point applying to surgery prelim?

Also, will it be bad for IM as well if I have only 1 new LOR (and the others are old)? I'm hesitant, tired, embarassed etc..about asking for fresh LORs. What should I do?

 

[umean2tellme]

How old will the letters be? I don't have much experience in this area, but I would imagine if the letters are a year old or so that it's not a huge deal. But if you want fresh ones I would just ask the attendings who wrote them if they can give you a new one. It should be as simple as them just copying their old letter on their letterhead or w/e and submitting it. Why are you applying for surgery prelims? It's basically a year of scutwork with no guarantees.

 

[molten]

How old will the letters be? I don't have much experience in this area, but I would imagine if the letters are a year old or so that it's not a huge deal. But if you want fresh ones I would just ask the attendings who wrote them if they can give you a new one. It should be as simple as them just copying their old letter on their letterhead or w/e and submitting it. Why are you applying for surgery prelims? It's basically a year of scutwork with no guarantees.

I applied to the crappiest IMs that I could find last year- hardly got called- did not match. Even if surgical prelim is a waste- is applying to it with old and IM letters a wasted effort? IMG.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Looking at your post history, all I can tell is that you're a non-US IMG, and you have "mediocre" scores per your own description. You didn't match last year. I don't know if you got any interviews or not. You applied to both Cat and Prelim programs at the same program. That's what I know.

Thoughts:

1. If you're going to consider applying to prelim GS programs, you need to do so knowing the issues involved. You're probably thinking that any spot >>> no spot. That may or may not be true. Yes, the US experience you would get in a prelim surgery program would be very helpful, if that's the problem with your application. However, you'll get no credit towards IM for your prelim GS year (or minimal credit), so you'll be starting over again. And, interviewing while in a prelim GS program is not easy. And, since you'll be looking for a PGY-1 you'll likely be going through the match again, which means having letters in by Sept 15th, which means asking for letters in Aug. Most likely those letters will not be very helpful, will state "molten has just started working with us, hasn't killed anyone yet. so far so good". Last, if you'll need a visa (suggested on some old posts), then that's another problem -- you're very unlikely to get an H1b for a prelim spot, and if you get a J and can't land a PGY-2 for July, you'll run into visa problems which may be unfixable.

2. Your best chance of getting a spot if you do a prelim GS year is at that same program. The IM department might get a chance to know you, etc. Thus, you should look carefully at that program. A prelim GS spot at a program where you would refuse to do an IM residency, or where they will refuse to consider you at all, is probably not a good idea.

3. Are you considering applying to FM instead? It would be much better for you to be in a 3 year program now.

 

[elloco]

Deleted.

 

[molten]

I wanted to add a question to this post (instead of starting a new thread).

I wanted to ask for 2 different specialty LORs from the same rotation/attending. Is it going to be okay or absurd, asking that the same attending write an IM-LOR and a general LOR (which I will use for FM, and possibly EM).

Thanks.

 

[gutonc]

I wanted to add a question to this post (instead of starting a new thread).

I wanted to ask for 2 different specialty LORs from the same rotation/attending. Is it going to be okay or absurd, asking that the same attending write an IM-LOR and a general LOR (which I will use for FM, and possibly EM).

Thanks.

Not happening. In fact, if you ask for two, you're likely to get either zero or two bad ones.

 

[molten]

Not happening. In fact, if you ask for two, you're likely to get either zero or two bad ones.

The letters would be based on the written evaluations I have. These people are aware I did not match, so perhaps they would understand my need..?

Of course, I'm skeptical after your post.