Sending LORs outside the match

[clinke]

Hey guys,

I tried to do a search on this, but I didn't find any information that was recent. I likely will be doing a prelim surgery year, and trying to find an open PGY2 position during the year. How do I go about sending my letters of recommendation that I are currently locked within ERAS to programs that will have vacancies outside the match? In the past, our schools would be able to forward these letters to the specific programs, but since our letters were sent directly to ERAS, how would I go about getting ahold of these to send during my prelim year? Furthermore, I will likely be getting at least a couple new letters over the course of of my prelim year, should I have my letter writers sent the letters to me instead of ERAS, so I am able to send them to vacant programs at a moments notice?

Thank you.

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[NotAProgDirector]

If you're applying for a surgery PGY-2, you will not be using ERAS. Save a PDF copy of your entire ERAS application now, and save it for next year to send to programs. I believe that surgery posts open positions on a centralized site (although I may be wrong about that). Your PD will hopefully help you find open PGY-2 positions. In any case, you'll want ALL of any new LOR's to be from your prelim year, and the one that will count the most is your PD's letter.

 

[clinke]

Thank you so much for your reply - for some reason I am just seeing this. On the APDS site where they post open positions, a lot of programs want the MPSE emailed with all of the other application materials. Do you know of a way to get this from ERAS? Thanks.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You will need to get it directly from your medical school. This should not be complicated -- ask them and they should give you a copy. It may be marked "unofficial" or "student copy". If so and programs require an official copy, you'll need to have your school send one directly to the programs.

Another option is to ask your current PGY-1 program to forward a copy of your MSPE (presumably part of your ERAS application last year) to the new programs. However, this is strictly against ERAS guidelines, so your program may not agree to it.