Submitting more LORs than required?

[chitown82]

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I'm applying for IM and most programs ask for three letters. I did a research year so I will have an extra letter that I would like to submit. All of my letters are uploaded except the Department of Medicine letter (will take several more weeks). My question is if I assign my LORs now and programs download them, will they not download my Department letter (required by most programs) when it's ready? I'm afraid they will download the three submitted letters and since they only require three, they'll close out my file without downloading the required Department letter (which would be the fourth letter). Any suggestions?

 

[ChocolateKiss]

I actually have a somewhat related question. I know ERAS only allows 4 LoRs, but if I already submitted 4 and then got another one later (which I wasn't sure if I would get on time), is it okay to deassign one and reassign the new one? Then the program will have 5 letters, which I'm afraid will be a bit much. I'd be happy to get rid of one of my old ones, but they've already been downloaded, so I can't.

 

[marcus8]

I have 4. I want to stay at my home program and I didn't want someone on the committee to see that I didn't use their letter. My program only asks for 3, but I sent all four anyway.

 

[dragonfly99]

Others may have a different opinion, but I think sending 4 letters when they only require 3 is OK. It's not like you are sending 6 or 7, and it can be helpful to have a LOR from a research mentor, particularly if it's very positive or has more personal insight about you than more generic letters from a 1 month clerkship. It can also be helpful for getting into more research oriented programs.

For the person who wants to deassign a letter and put in a 5th one, if you do that the program will probably end up with 5 b/c they automatically download stuff off the ERAS web site. You can check and see which programs have already downloaded your LOR's...some might not have done so yet, in which case you are in the clear. I doubt anyone would get seriously mad if you had 5 letters, though they might ask you why so many.

 

[tfom08]

Hmm, I have 3 letters and then a department letter, so 4 total. I didn't even look at the requirements for each individual program, I just sent 4 letters everywhere. I hope that's not a problem, don't see why it would matter. Do any programs state to send not more than 3, or they just require at least 3?

 

[sore eye asses]

4 is fine if they only want three, if you ask me. it's when you start deassigning and reassigning, especially when it gets >5 that i think progs will start getting annoyed.

rule of thumb: if a prog already downloaded 4 LORs, then don't deassign and reassign to that prog. this can all be managed in assignment tracker in eras.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I'm applying for IM and most programs ask for three letters. I did a research year so I will have an extra letter that I would like to submit. All of my letters are uploaded except the Department of Medicine letter (will take several more weeks). My question is if I assign my LORs now and programs download them, will they not download my Department letter (required by most programs) when it's ready? I'm afraid they will download the three submitted letters and since they only require three, they'll close out my file without downloading the required Department letter (which would be the fourth letter). Any suggestions?

There is no easy answer. I expect many programs will review your application now, with three letters. Not all schools have dept letters, so it may not be noticed. If you have not yet assigned letters, you could assign 2 now. Some programs may start offering you interviews with just two letters, and then you can send the other two later when the dept letter is in.

I actually have a somewhat related question. I know ERAS only allows 4 LoRs, but if I already submitted 4 and then got another one later (which I wasn't sure if I would get on time), is it okay to deassign one and reassign the new one? Then the program will have 5 letters, which I'm afraid will be a bit much. I'd be happy to get rid of one of my old ones, but they've already been downloaded, so I can't.

As others have mentioned, I would avoid this. Unless the last letter is somehow incredible, I expect just as many people may be upset with "not following directions" as those that are impressed with your 5th letter.

 

[Seville]

Ok, so just to clarify (and so I don't start another thread on this same topic!), if it says on ERAS "available but not yet retrieved" next to a LOR and I deassign that letter, the program will not ever see it since they've not downloaded it? Or will they see it as "deassigned".

Alternatively, if a letter has not even been uploaded into ERAS and I delete that assignment to a program, will they ever see it was there?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Ok, so just to clarify (and so I don't start another thread on this same topic!), if it says on ERAS "available but not yet retrieved" next to a LOR and I deassign that letter, the program will not ever see it since they've not downloaded it? Or will they see it as "deassigned".

Alternatively, if a letter has not even been uploaded into ERAS and I delete that assignment to a program, will they ever see it was there?

Thanks in advance!!

I am not sure about either of these questions (which are actually basically the same question). If an LOR is deassigned before it is downloaded to a program, I do not know if that stops the letter from going or not. I would check with ERAS, and post the answer here.

 

[Seville]

I am not sure about either of these questions (which are actually basically the same question). If an LOR is deassigned before it is downloaded to a program, I do not know if that stops the letter from going or not. I would check with ERAS, and post the answer here.

will do.