Rejected for LoR?

[emboli]

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Has anyone had that experience where you asked someone for a LoR and they said no?

I'm almost too scared to ask my attending because he is so intimidating and I have no idea how he feels about me as a student... I don't think I'm terrible as a student either. For my other rotations, I wouldn't even bother trying to ask this person for a LoR, but because this IS my Sub-I rotation, I feel even more pressure to get a letter for residency apps..

Advice?
Thanks!!

 

[DrAwsome]

Has anyone had that experience where you asked someone for a LoR and they said no?

I'm almost too scared to ask my attending because he is so intimidating and I have no idea how he feels about me as a student... I don't think I'm terrible as a student either. For my other rotations, I wouldn't even bother trying to ask this person for a LoR, but because this IS my Sub-I rotation, I feel even more pressure to get a letter for residency apps..

Advice?
Thanks!!

If you ask and they say no, they are doing you a favor in being honest. There is nothing worse than an attending saying yes because they feel pressured and then writing you a bad/poor letter. If you don't have good rapport with attending, I would not ask and see if someone else can write you a letter.

 

[FutureInternist]

Just like asking out a girl...The worst they can do is say no.
May try to touch base with the residents on your team to see their take on it.
If you do ask, make sure you mention that it needs to be a strong letter since during my interviewing days (students sometimes interviewed potential students at Touro) a saw quite a few letters that were likely written in order to be nice & avoid confrontation. Unfortunately candidates have no idea since we waive our rights to see it.