Too Many SLORs

[teo1753]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'll be doing EM rotations at more than 3 places. In total, I'll end up with 5 rotations (including my home institution) under my belt😱 . I'm assuming this is ok, but would asking every place where I rotate to write me a letter of recommendation be overkill? Should I just stick with my first 3 letters and then not ask the remaining two? Rotating through the last two and doing very well should be just as good as a SLOR right? Thanks in advance.

 

[ccfccp]

If it were me, I would definitely get SLORS from your first three rotations. That way you have it done and you could send off your application completed at that point. After that, I would feel things out. If you're doing a rotation at a place with a residency program, they are likely going to expect to write you a SLOR. I would then choose the three letters from the rotations I felt I clicked the best at for most of your applications (barring those five programs... always make sure you use the SLOR you got from that program if you're applying there) IE... don't rotate at in and out residency, get a letter, and then not use that letter when applying to in and out residency.

 

[Raryn]

I'll be doing EM rotations at more than 3 places. In total, I'll end up with 5 rotations (including my home institution) under my belt😱 . I'm assuming this is ok, but would asking every place where I rotate to write me a letter of recommendation be overkill? Should I just stick with my first 3 letters and then not ask the remaining two? Rotating through the last two and doing very well should be just as good as a SLOR right? Thanks in advance.

If you don't mind my asking, why on earth are you doing 5 EM rotations? The most I've ever heard people do is 3. I don't even think my school would allow us to do 5 even if we wanted to...

 

[Dwindlin]

If you don't mind my asking, why on earth are you doing 5 EM rotations? The most I've ever heard people do is 3. I don't even think my school would allow us to do 5 even if we wanted to...

We can only do 2 lol. Though you can get a 3rd done by calling it an Ultrasound elective.

 

[EM2BE]

I did 5 rotations in EM (including one in 3rd year). Don't regret it one bit. All were at different locations so I saw what I liked and didn't like in programs / types of hospitals. Remember that not all people are good about getting those letters in. Ask at all places if it isn't super late (Jan/Feb). You never know when / if you will need them again (not saying bad things happen, but on occasion people have to re-apply the following year).

 

[docB]

If it were me, I would definitely get SLORS from your first three rotations. That way you have it done and you could send off your application completed at that point. After that, I would feel things out. If you're doing a rotation at a place with a residency program, they are likely going to expect to write you a SLOR. I would then choose the three letters from the rotations I felt I clicked the best at for most of your applications (barring those five programs... always make sure you use the SLOR you got from that program if you're applying there) IE... don't rotate at in and out residency, get a letter, and then not use that letter when applying to in and out residency.

I agree. Go ahead and get SLORs from each of your rotations and then assign them to applications based on where you think each will be best received. For example you will probably want to use a letter from a program when you apply to that program. You also might want to group the by region as a program in a particular city would probably be better aquainted with a SLOR writer from that city.

 

[Flopotomist]

5 EM rotations seems a bit excessive. You are going to do plenty of EM in residency, and medical school is your last chance to do some wild different electives - I would say don't do more than 3 EM rotations, and get your SLORS there.

 

[hornsfan]

Most programs will also be fine accepting more than the standard 3 SLORs. I did a 2nd away rotation which made my 4th LOR (3rd SLOR) and then called around to the majority of my residencies just asking to make sure that a 4th SLOR wouldn't be looked down upon. Everyone was more than excited to let me send in another SLOR. If anything, I would think rotating at a program and not submitting a SLOR might be a red flag.

 

[NERDY]

Why are you doing five rotations? Three seems like more than enough. Use your 4th year to take fun/useful electives.