Submitting Additional LORs

[MDapp06]

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Hi Everyone!

I am a fourth year medical student applying to Ophthalmology residency programs. Although I have already submitted my CAS application, what is the best way to submit 1 or 2 additional letters of recommendation to Ophthalmology residency programs? One letter is from my IM Sub-I and the other letter is from another medicine elective. I want to submit either one or both of the letters, but I don't know how to go about doing this. Do I request multiple copies in sealed envelopes from the letter writers? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

mdapp06

 

[utswmedstd]

when i submitted additional LORs, i mailed them directly to the programs in sealed envelopes the way you are suggesting.

 

[Eyes T]

I submitted an additional letter last year when I applied. My 3 CAS letters were all from ophthalmologists and I wanted to send a letter from a more general field. I think the best thing to do is call the programs individually (yes this is time consuming, but worth it), and ask if it is ok to send additional supporting documents. A few times, the program coordinator thanked me for calling first because they get inundated with unwanted extra paperwork. Some will say yes, send the letter(s), some will say no. Better to be on the program coordinator's good side either way (they have more influence than you think at some programs). Plus, it gets your name out there and shows your interest in the program. If they said it was ok to send the extra letter, some said to just send an extra hard copy (I had my letter writer print off the needed number of copies and put them in sealed envelopes then addressed them myself), while others asked if I could send it via email. My letter writer had no problem with me seeing my letter, so I scanned a copy and emailed it myself. If your letter writer wants to be more strict about you not seeing it, you can always ask them to email it on your behalf.

Funny enough, the program where I matched said not to send any extra letters unless I received an interview.