Plethora of LOR questions

[prominence]

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1. do most psych residency programs expect or require 2 LORS from psych attendings, or even a psych chair?

2. do most psych residency programs pay much attention to LORs from non-psych attendings?

3. when is the latest one can submit a LOR thru ERAS (if i did an elective in the september or october, is that too late to submit the letter?)

if somebody could take a few quick moments to address these q's for me, i would appreciate it. thank you.

 

[DrIng]

Sorry i can't answermost of your questions but I have noticed that the web page of each program specifies how many letters they want- typically it's 3 but occaisionally 4 so it does depend on where you want to go. As to who wrote them I think common sense would indicate that at least one must be from someone who could identify your potential as a psychaitrist but the others may jsut evaluate you as a person and a useful member of a workforce... but that's not coing from a position of a huge amount of knowledge... Hoepfully someone else will be able to answer with more authority.

 

[willow212]

1. do most psych residency programs expect or require 2 LORS from psych attendings, or even a psych chair?

One is fine, two is probably ideal. Psych chair not expected. Most programs want 3 letters, some require 4.

2. do most psych residency programs pay much attention to LORs from non-psych attendings?

Yes, I got a lot of comments on a medicine letter I submitted.

3. when is the latest one can submit a LOR thru ERAS (if i did an elective in the september or october, is that too late to submit the letter?)

I did an elective in September and submitted that letter (though the letter writer did an excellent job turning it around quickly). I'd say as long as it got into the system near the Nov 1 Dean's letter time, it would be fine.

if somebody could take a few quick moments to address these q's for me, i would appreciate it. thank you.

 

[prominence]

2. do most psych residency programs pay much attention to LORs from non-psych attendings?

thanks for your reply willow. with regards to this question, i was referring to specialties that have no obvious association with psychiatry, i.e. pathology, radiology, anestehsiology, etc. do psych directors find these recommedation letters of any use in their evaluation of an applicant?

 

[kcrd]

Can I add my question to this thread? How do we know if a program requires a chair letter or not? Is it on Frieda, or somewhere on ERAS? Or somewhere else?

 

[Asher]

Use FRIEDA to find the program website. Generally, they will have information about applying, including the number of lettes that are required and other requirements. Some programs will require a letter from medicine or pediatrics. Of the programs I applied to, only one program (UNC) had information on their website about submitting a letter from the chair. As my home school was currently without a chair and I had had minimal interaction with the interim one I contacted the program. They let me submit a letter from a psych attending (who was writing me a letter anyway) instead.

 

[willow212]

thanks for your reply willow. with regards to this question, i was referring to specialties that have no obvious association with psychiatry, i.e. pathology, radiology, anestehsiology, etc. do psych directors find these recommedation letters of any use in their evaluation of an applicant?

I thing it depends on what these people say - a well-written letter from anyone would be helpful, if it gives insight into what kind of resident you would be (with regards to work ethic, communication skills, ability to learn quickly, knowledge base) . I did get good comments about quotes from my Dean's letter from rotations including surgery and ob-gyn.

Can I add my question to this thread? How do we know if a program requires a chair letter or not? Is it on Frieda, or somewhere on ERAS? Or somewhere else?

I didn't need a Chair's letter for any programs. I would suspect the website of the program would be the best place to go for LOR application requirements.

 

[purpledoc]

thanks for your reply willow. with regards to this question, i was referring to specialties that have no obvious association with psychiatry, i.e. pathology, radiology, anestehsiology, etc. do psych directors find these recommedation letters of any use in their evaluation of an applicant?

Yes, if they are used in conjunction with letters from psychiatry folks, so it doesn't look like you're avoiding that. Other than showing off your aptitude in psychiatry, the key point in all parts of applying to psychiatry programs -- and I can't stress this enough -- is that you want to look like you play well with others. Psychiatry residencies, especially, are screening prospective residents for personality disorders. Therefore, any letters from attendings that show that not only are they impressed with you, but actually like you (and/or that your peers like you), will be quite well-regarded.