Question About LOR

[Skialta]

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I have a question for you residents/surgeons. I am a MS2 set on doing general surgery, I have spent the summer doing research in burns and will continue with it probably through 4th year. I also spent half of my MS1 year spending time with the Chairman of the plastics department for one of my classes (clinic and OR time). I am also slated to spend the next half of this year with the same doc. He is a great guy and we get along well, but my question is how would a LOR from the plastics chair look when I would be applying to gen surg residencies? Thanks in advance.

 

[jc7721]

You're fine. Just remember that the more personal the lor, the better. If your letter you get from the burn research is from an MD, that's probably the best. I had letters from the chariman (a good one, did his service), the chief of surg onc (spent two months with him), and a trauma surgeon I did research with, but never worked with on a clinical rotation. His letter was by far the most personal, the most telling about my personality, etc. When it comes time to ask for letters, set up a time to meet with each of your potential letter writers, and let them know how important their letter is to you. Tell them you were hoping for a very strong letter from them and see how they respond. Most faculty who know you will let you read their letter so you can judge on your own if you want to send it out.