Sending supplemental materials?

[CastroViejo]

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How common is it for people to send supplemental materials directly to programs? Specifically, how many letters is too many? My ophthalmology advisor thinks that it's not uncommon for applicants to send 4-5 letters (with 1 or 2 being sent directly to programs), but I wanted to see what you guys thought about that. Do people send CV's directly to programs as well? I am concerned about annoying application reviewers by sending them too much paper. Do you think they would be upset or just ignore the supplemental materials? Thanks for your help guys!

 

[MAYOphtho]

How common is it for people to send supplemental materials directly to programs? Specifically, how many letters is too many? My ophthalmology advisor thinks that it's not uncommon for applicants to send 4-5 letters (with 1 or 2 being sent directly to programs), but I wanted to see what you guys thought about that. Do people send CV's directly to programs as well? I am concerned about annoying application reviewers by sending them too much paper. Do you think they would be upset or just ignore the supplemental materials? Thanks for your help guys!

probably wont hurt...in fact, one thing i sent as a supplement was spoken about numerous times at my various interviews...

whether the programs i didnt get an interview at saw it as a negative, i cant answer

good luck

 

[Pinkertinkle]

what would be on a cv that's not already on CAS?

 

[MR1]

I did this and think it helped, what I sent extra was just another LOR. I would call the programs coordinator first and just ask if they mind you send in extra stuff.

 

[CastroViejo]

Thanks MAYOphtho and MR1

PinkerTinkle - probably nothing extra, but I saw on one residency website (cant remember which one) that "if you would like to submit supplemental materials such as a CV or additional letters...send to..." I was confused but wondered if people are sending in CV's as well.

Anyone else have experience sending in supplemental materials? Anyone think they got a bad reaction for doing so?

 

[thalia44]

Anyone else have experience sending in supplemental materials? Anyone think they got a bad reaction for doing so?

Wondering if there's any new input on this question...?

I'm trying to imagine what would happen if I sent in a CV to a program as supplemental material, only to realize later that they specifically request CVs from applicants whom they've invited to interview. Wouldn't that seem a bit presumptuous then?

 

[snowbank]

I may be dense here folks, but a basic and practical question:

How exactly did you send the supple. material - email, fax, or mail?
And say you applied to 30 programs, you sent 30 sealed LoRs out?! Or did you scan and email it everywhere...

I ask because SF Match says specifically they will NOT send any supple. material out.

 

[MR1]

How I did it was I got an extra LOR after I had sent in all my SFMatch stuff, so I waited until I got my interview offers and then asked those programs if they minded I sent them another LOR. I figured one more letter wasn't going to get me an interview if I wasn't already going to get one so that is why I did it this way. So yes I had to send a sealed LOR to every program, actually I only sent it to about 8 out of 12, I didn't want to ask the letter writer for that many sealed letters.

 

[Tiger Eye]

If you are going to send an additional LOR, I would definitely send individual sealed ones, even if it means asking the letter writer for multiple sealed ones.

On the one hand, I know that the retina fellowship director at my program really hates receiving extra LORs. On the other hand, my residency program director, who is a retina specialist, and whose advice I asked on the issue, said that if there was a specific reason to send one, or if it provided a different perspective that was not in the other letters, that he would suggest sending it.

I did end up sending a 4th LOR to other programs (just not to my own). I did not call ahead to ask if they specifically discouraged 4th LORs.

We'll see how things pan out...