research and LORs

[therealdeal555]

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Hey...i have two questions that i'd like to hear opinions on:

1. Research--is it ok to not have done radiology research and still match in a top program? Personally, i've done 2 summers of basic science research with no publications but 2 poster sessions (at my home institution). Otherwise, I feel like I'm a strong candidate, numbers-wise.

2. LORs--is it better to go with more radiology letters than others? I currently selected as my 3 LORs for radiology programs a medicine letter, a surgery letter, and a radiology letter. Is it better to go with 2 radiology + 1 other, or is it reasonable to go the way I have so far? Plus, I have a letter from my basic science research--is this worth including as a 4th?

Thanks so much!

 

[colbgw02]

Hey...i have two questions that i'd like to hear opinions on:

1. Research--is it ok to not have done radiology research and still match in a top program? Personally, i've done 2 summers of basic science research with no publications but 2 poster sessions (at my home institution). Otherwise, I feel like I'm a strong candidate, numbers-wise.

2. LORs--is it better to go with more radiology letters than others? I currently selected as my 3 LORs for radiology programs a medicine letter, a surgery letter, and a radiology letter. Is it better to go with 2 radiology + 1 other, or is it reasonable to go the way I have so far? Plus, I have a letter from my basic science research--is this worth including as a 4th?

Thanks so much!

1) Radiology research is worth more than other clinical or basic science research, but any research is better than none. Since none of your research got published, that's a minus, but still better than nothing. If your numbers are otherwise solid, then you should have no problem matching. A top 5-10 program might be a reach with ho-hum numbers and no research, but stranger things have definitely happened.

2) I was told by my school's PD when I was applying to only do a radiology letter if it's going to be a 4th letter. Her reasoning was that radiology rotations don't permit students to spend more than 2-3 days with any given group of people, which doesn't really give someone a real opportunity to evaluate you (especially on radiology, when it's often difficult for students to participate). I followed this advice and submitted a surgery, medicine, and research letter.

The only exception might be if you did an entire month of a particular type of radiology - like interventional - and you worked with the same team daily.

All of that said, I know a fair number of people who did a radiology letter, but I think 2 radiology letters might be pushing it.