Supplemental Letter

[Newt23]

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Hello again,

I had another question. This one is about LOR. I have 3 good letters from ophtho writers. I know you are supposed to have 2, including an internal med one- which I have.

The thing is that one of my letters is from a big shot, but I have heard repeatedly that she writes generic letters. The other two are from reasonably well known faculty and are very strong.

So I was wondering if I can add in my "famous person" letter as a supplement. I'd prefer to use the other ones as they are stronger and more personal, but it would be nice to have the punch of a famous person. What can I do?

 

[kid Icarus 3]

From what I've heard/read it seems that the best choice is always the solid letter, not the big shot letter. If you have someone that can vouch for your work ethic/character and clinical prowess I'd imagine that would serve you very well, especially compared to a bland letter written by a prominent faculty. Just my thoughts.

Question of my own here - I don't have an IM faculty I feel I can approach (I've done well on the rotation, just haven't been able to get to know anyone well enough for them to write a strong letter). I was planning on having the chief of pediatric surgery at a non-academic hospital write my supplemental. It would be strong. Does this raise red flags in anyones mind? I'd have 2 ophtho letters and 1 ped surg letter. Thanks.

 

[DrZeke]

Ped Surg letter does not raise any red flags. It doesn't really matter that the non-ophtho letter is super academic or well-known, as long as it can attest to your work ethic and other amazingness. As a sort of aside, it's good to have a letter outside of ophtho, because most ophtho rotations are not structured to where you are able to demonstrate how great you are on rotation. Things like: how you work on a team, your ability to follow through with patient care, completing assigned tasks relating to patient care, your note writing, ability to think through medical questions and so on... In ophtho we don't get to do as much of that as medical students. Obviously if your grades are good and people write good comments that get included in your dean's letter it's obvious that you are great, but I think it's nice to have that non-ophtho letter to personalize things.

 

[DrZeke]

Hello again,

I had another question. This one is about LOR. I have 3 good letters from ophtho writers. I know you are supposed to have 2, including an internal med one- which I have.

The thing is that one of my letters is from a big shot, but I have heard repeatedly that she writes generic letters. The other two are from reasonably well known faculty and are very strong.

So I was wondering if I can add in my "famous person" letter as a supplement. I'd prefer to use the other ones as they are stronger and more personal, but it would be nice to have the punch of a famous person. What can I do?

OK...few things to consider...

If it were me I would use the less known letter if you are certain the big shot will be generic. Generic letters can suck. However, a generic letter from a chair may have secret code in it. Like all a chair has to do is say "my highest recommendation for Newt23" and that means a lot. So you never know unless people who used his letters before have said people commented NEGATIVELY on his letters.

What can you do? You can try to use the big shot letter as a supplement, but many places won't accept a supplement.
Also, if you use the less known letter and you can get big shot to call for you. The problem is, if big shot puts in the call and mentions the letter and they are like...what letter... then you look like bad. I guess I'm paranoid and crazy, but something to think about. So if you don't use big shot, then be prepared to abandon personalized support from big shot. If big shot is a chairman, I might use the letter.

Sorry I don't have a better answer.

 

[Newt23]

Good advice, DrZeke. I worked with the big shot (like top in the world type big shot) on an away for 2 months; we had some interactions and they were cordial, but I don't think that I killed it or anything.

The other two (one being our chair), I have worked with for a long time and had a good personal relationship with both.

I'd like to have the benefit of the big name lady, but I don't want her letter to be the heavy lifter, as I don't think it will be anything special- other than her signature.

How can you figure out which programs will take supplemental letters?

 

[DrZeke]

Good advice, DrZeke. I worked with the big shot (like top in the world type big shot) on an away for 2 months; we had some interactions and they were cordial, but I don't think that I killed it or anything.

The other two (one being our chair), I have worked with for a long time and had a good personal relationship with both.

I'd like to have the benefit of the big name lady, but I don't want her letter to be the heavy lifter, as I don't think it will be anything special- other than her signature.

How can you figure out which programs will take supplemental letters?

Sounds like you know what to do. In terms of supplementals, this is tedious but you will literally have to email out programs individually.

 

[Newt23]

I actually meant 2 weeks, which changes things a bit, as it was not a huge amount of time.

 

[DrZeke]

I actually meant 2 weeks, which changes things a bit, as it was not a huge amount of time.

From everything you've said I would go with your other letters... Find out from programs which take supplementals if you still wanna send that one in.

 

[futuremd16]

Do you think I should get the non-ophtho letter from a FM attending that I worked with for a month and who thought I was the most knowledgeable student she has had or an IM attending who I only worked with for 2 weeks? I feel like the IM inpatient setting attests to my ability to work in a team environment, but I definitely shined more on my FM rotation.

 

[DrZeke]

Use the letter that is most personal and that says the glowing things about you. Generic letters are useless

 

[futuremd16]

As far as supplemental LOR goes, it should still be signed and sealed, right?
I have this one extra ophtho letter and some programs have mentioned in their emails, "Please feel free to email supplemental documents to xyz." So, should I open this letter and scan and email to programs? Or, somehow have my school open the letter, make copies, give them to me in signed and sealed envelops, and individually mail them out to programs?
Thank you for your feedback!

 

[docjlud]

I gave my signed and sealed letter to my school official; they scanned it and attached a cover letter stating briefly that the letter was recieved in a signed/sealed envelope and then they emailed the whole document as a .pdf file to each program for me..... Hope this helps