Residency application and LOR questions

[residencyomg123]

Hello,

I have a few questions regarding applying for residency and letters of rec.

Do all of your LORs need to be in before you can submit your application to programs? If not, will I still receive interview invites even if all of my LORs have not been submitted or if I haven't met their required number of recommendations?

The reason I ask is because I'll have my first LOR by the end of May but my second/third/fourth will not come until after my rotations in August/September/October. Is that too late?

Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[thethethe]

You can submit your ERAS without ANY LORS. But if a program states they need 3 LOR, then your application is incomplete. Depending on the program, they may or may not look over an incomplete LOR and give out an invite. ERAS opened this year on 9/15 I think, so if you get 3 letters by September, you should be fine. The latest I would submit a letter would be in October.

In my opinion, since MOST LOR say the same glowing types of things, getting a LOR late (after ERAS opens) won't really help your application much, and would probably hurt you more because programs will skip your app until it is complete.

 

[residencyomg123]

You can submit your ERAS without ANY LORS. But if a program states they need 3 LOR, then your application is incomplete. Depending on the program, they may or may not look over an incomplete LOR and give out an invite. ERAS opened this year on 9/15 I think, so if you get 3 letters by September, you should be fine. The latest I would submit a letter would be in October.

In my opinion, since MOST LOR say the same glowing types of things, getting a LOR late (after ERAS opens) won't really help your application much, and would probably hurt you more because programs will skip your app until it is complete.

Thanks!

 

[DrUKDO]

You can submit your application to the programs, but they will see you are missing LORs. It is possible to still get an interview, but it is best to have a complete application first in order for the highest chance to get an interview.

 

[HooliganSnail]

I highly advise you to have a complete application by Sept 15th, everything is easier then. ERAS opens July 1, applications go out on July 15, but most of the interviews get sent out late Sept, early Oct.

That means all LORs, Step 2 PE and CE scores, and personal statements. Fortune favors the prepared.

Also, this varies by specialty. I was ER and they sent interviews out a little later. My friends who were Ob were already interviewing by mid-Sept.

This is not absolutely necessary however.....

 

[koan]

ERAS opens July 1, applications go out on July 15, but most of the interviews get sent out late Sept, early Oct.

Just to clarify, this is only for AOA programs right? Apps to ACGME programs go out on 9/15 iirc.

 

[HooliganSnail]

Just to clarify, this is only for AOA programs right? Apps to ACGME programs go out on 9/15 iirc.

Correct

 

[itallbelongstoyou]

I did run into a program that capped their interviews to one day and so many spots. They basically had rolling invites for all of who met their certain criteria they had on a first come first serve basis. So this style would favor all of those that had a complete application as early as they could to get a spot. I recommend to just try to do everything you can to get your app done as soon as possible. You do not want anything to be a barrier between you and getting a residency spot - especially paper work. http://itallbelongstoyou.com/2013/09/19/eras-application-advice/