Question about LOR's for Prelim IM

[rdomingo]

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Hi guys,

I'm hoping someone might be able to help me out with this....

I'm applying for preliminary IM spots now, having recently completed my application for Neurology through the Early Match. In looking through various programs' websites for IM, I'm seeing that many of them require a LOR from the Chair of IM to be included in your application. My LOR's were from the Chairs of Neuro, Surgery, and Peds.

Does anyone know whether programs will consider PRELIM applicants who have not received LOR's from the Chair of IM? Should I rearrange my elective schedule at this late stage in order to get an IM Chair to write me a LOR?

Would greatly appreciate any advice!
Thank you

 

[pikachu]

I got a chairman's letter based on my 3rd year medicine core rotation. (As did everyone else in my class who applied to internal medicine, whether prelim or categorical.) I too am applying to prelim years, so I used the chair's letter, but the rest of my letters came from the specialty. A Medicine elective or subinternship might give the chair a little more information, or make up for a subpar 3rd year rotation, but it is a bit late in the game for this. Why don't you ask if you can get a letter based on the 3rd year rotation performance?

I don't know the specifics program by program, but many of the websites say specifically when they require a chair's letter, or you can call the programs directly.