Should residency letter of rec include college accomplishments?

[alisepeep]

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One of my letter writers asked me to list for him a list of college extracurricular activities that he wants to include in my letter of rec for residency..is it common to include college activities in LOR for residency?

 

[zeyad]

I think it's fine. That said, it might not be the strongest letter considering that info is probably elsewhere in your application. Try and get the letter to focus more on your clinical skills, communication, professionalism etc..

 

[Doctor Bob]

One of my letter writers asked me to list for him a list of college extracurricular activities that he wants to include in my letter of rec for residency..is it common to include college activities in LOR for residency?

Undergrad activities? Unless they are directly related to medicine (medical mission trips, president of the pre-med club), and there's a way to tie them in to some activity you did during medical school, then no. They're not particularly useful to have in the letter.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Sometimes a letter writer wants to use them just to add a splash of personality to the letter, so that it seems like they actually know you rather than just the usual boilerplate "so and so was the best medical student I've worked with in years".

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Exactly. Especially if the things you did in undergrad were very unique or very prestigious-- they'll follow you nearly forever.

 

[Chickenandwaffles]

One of my letter writers asked me to list for him a list of college extracurricular activities that he wants to include in my letter of rec for residency..is it common to include college activities in LOR for residency?

Unless you did something extraordinary during undergrad - like amazing research or some other significantly noteworthy accomplishment that somehow relates to your specialty, I would say no.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Your letter writer should talk about their experiences with you. Regurgitating your CV is pointless. Plus, how do they know you even did any of that stuff, or did it well?

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Agreed, actually. That's what the Dean's Letter is for.