Question about submitting a letter later

[gstrub]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have 4 letters in ERAS right now, 3 from faculty in my specialty (ENT) all from my home institution, and one from my PhD advisor.

I am at an away rotation at a top program now and a prominent faculty member has offered to write me a LOR at the conclusion of the rotation in mid-Sept.

My deans office is suggesting that I apply on 9/1 with all the letters I have now so my app will be complete (which they say are all excellent letters), and then withdraw my PhD advisor's letter when I receive my LOR from the away rotation and submit that one.

I read somewhere that it is inappropriate to do this because it is essentially submitting more than the required letters. I want to have a complete app on the 1st, but I want PD's to see this new letter. Should I follow the dean's advice, or pursue some alternate route?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
-G

 

[gstrub]

Beuler?

 

[Juxtaglomerular]

Bueller.

 

[Juxtaglomerular]

I think if it were me I would submit my app with the three MD 3 letters already in the system and the last LoR slot reserved for the prominent faculty member, leaving out the PhD letter altogether. When push comes to shove though you will be in great shape whether you have the fancy man's letter or not, since the 4 you have already are good. I agree with you that you should avoid doing the bait and switch move like your Dean's office recommended.

 

[gutonc]

I have 4 letters in ERAS right now, 3 from faculty in my specialty (ENT) all from my home institution, and one from my PhD advisor.

I am at an away rotation at a top program now and a prominent faculty member has offered to write me a LOR at the conclusion of the rotation in mid-Sept.

My deans office is suggesting that I apply on 9/1 with all the letters I have now so my app will be complete (which they say are all excellent letters), and then withdraw my PhD advisor's letter when I receive my LOR from the away rotation and submit that one.

I read somewhere that it is inappropriate to do this because it is essentially submitting more than the required letters. I want to have a complete app on the 1st, but I want PD's to see this new letter. Should I follow the dean's advice, or pursue some alternate route?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
-G

Here's my take on this (recognizing that I'm not in ENT but do have a PhD).

1. Don't do the "submit 4 letters, withdraw one and add a 5th" thing. It's the sort of thing that can result in your whole app just being ignored because you've clearly proven you can't follow directions.

2. Including a letter from your PhD advisor is essentially required. Otherwise you're saying "I spent 3-5 years working closely with this person, it's the person who knows my academic potential better than any other person at my medical school and I don't think they'll write me a good letter." This is clearly not the case (since you have a letter from him/her that is supposedly good) but PDs will wonder where that letter is.

3. 3 specialty-specific letters should be enough. No reason not to submit now with 2 ENT + 1 PhD letters and then add the away letter when you get it. This way your app will be "complete" and there's still room for the away letter when it comes. On the off chance it is bad/late, you can submit the original 4th letter and you're in business.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

Here's my take on this (recognizing that I'm not in ENT but do have a PhD).

1. Don't do the "submit 4 letters, withdraw one and add a 5th" thing. It's the sort of thing that can result in your whole app just being ignored because you've clearly proven you can't follow directions.

2. Including a letter from your PhD advisor is essentially required. Otherwise you're saying "I spent 3-5 years working closely with this person, it's the person who knows my academic potential better than any other person at my medical school and I don't think they'll write me a good letter." This is clearly not the case (since you have a letter from him/her that is supposedly good) but PDs will wonder where that letter is.

3. 3 specialty-specific letters should be enough. No reason not to submit now with 2 ENT + 1 PhD letters and then add the away letter when you get it. This way your app will be "complete" and there's still room for the away letter when it comes. On the off chance it is bad/late, you can submit the original 4th letter and you're in business.

This. Not submitting a letter from your PhD advisor would be a serious mis-step. And doing the submit/withdraw thing makes you look like a douche. In a field were there are no shortage of highly qualified applicants, they're just looking for reasons to toss an application. In other words, avoid doing anything that makes you stand out in a negative way.

As for the extra letter, if you feel it will certainly be better than one of the other 3 ENT letters, submit your app with your 2 best ENT plus the PhD letter. Not sure how ENT programs work, but that should be enough to make your file "complete" and not have it held up for review. When you get the 4th letter, go into ERAS and submit it to the programs. The programs should automatically update your file with it, though you can write a brief email to the program coordinator, asking them to make sure your file is updated with the new letter.

 

[DrMike24]

So, perhaps you all can help me clarify this. In order to be complete (at least at the majority of institutions, although I believe its institution specific), we need 3 letters, right? So here is my issue:
I had three letters going for me, but my institution screwed up and now one of my letters has to go through ERAS, which I think will take a while. Therefore, I need to fill in one of those letters for the time being. However, as soon as that letter goes through ERAS, then I will have four. This would be OK except for the fact that I am planning on getting at least 1 more letter from my current AI. How would this work now? Would I not be able to submit that AI letter, since I've reached the max of 4? What are my options?

Thanks