Trouble Getting Letters of Recommendation

[cecumbowels]

I am having a little bit of trouble getting letters of recommendation for internal medicine. My step 1 is a 215 and step 2 is a 230. I go to a US MD school and am applying to internal medicine. However, I currently only have one letter from my department head. I sent out some emails but have received replies saying they do not feel comfortable writing a letter for me. I have not had the chance to do many elective rotations or sub internships as I started my third year late. At this point I am even thinking of taking an extra year only because of the letters. This is really stressing me out.

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[AlteredScale]

I am having a little bit of trouble getting letters of recommendation for internal medicine. My step 1 is a 215 and step 2 is a 230. I go to a US MD school and am applying to internal medicine. However, I currently only have one letter from my department head. I sent out some emails but have received replies saying they do not feel comfortable writing a letter for me. I have not had the chance to do many elective rotations or sub internships as I started my third year late. At this point I am even thinking of taking an extra year only because of the letters. This is really stressing me out.

Are you only asking from attending within your IM clerkships?

I have a few questions:
- Why did you start your third year late
- Why are your attending stating they do not feel comfortable writing you one? Were you softspoken throughout the entire rotation?

 

[cecumbowels]

I asked multiple attending from different specialties which I thought would work for internal medicine. Only one so far said that. I did not mean to say multiple in my initial post. I started late due to delay in taking step 1.

 

[Tabiyou]

Can you talk to student affairs/academic dean and see if there is any clinical professors that would be comfortable writing you a LOR?

 

[studentdocftw]

Have you asked your dean for help? A year off for IM is pointless..matching as USMD is almost guaranteed given you apply broadly enough. Find a way to get them in!

 

[cecumbowels]

I will talk to them. I just want to go to a good program and have a chance at fellowship. Training and experience is more important than program name.

 

[libertyyne]

This is bad foreshadowing for evals. How have your evals been? How has your feedback been? Who have you been asking for letters? Have you already completed IM?

 

[cecumbowels]

My evals have been ok. I have gotten honors in everything except for two. One was high pass and the other was pass. Yes I have completed IM rotation already. I asked 2 people in IM rotation, one in nephrology elective rotation. I asked for one in peds rotation.

 

[GoSpursGo]

For rising and current third years, let this thread serve as proof that it's never too early to start asking for letters... much better to ask for letters during your rotation rather than trying to circle back 6 months later...

As others have said, talk with your dean ASAP. This is a silly reason to not apply.

 

[CidHighwind]

I asked multiple attending from different specialties which I thought would work for internal medicine. Only one so far said that. I did not mean to say multiple in my initial post. I started late due to delay in taking step 1.

Did you work with any preceptors? Anyone that you shadowed extensively during your first two years? What about someone you did research for?

 

[Staphylococcus Aureus]

Your school should be able to help, otherwise I would explain your situation and ask literally any attending from the rotations you honored if you’re having this hard of a time, this is the worst reason to delay income/loan repayment.

 

[jurassicpark]

I am having a little bit of trouble getting letters of recommendation for internal medicine. My step 1 is a 215 and step 2 is a 230. I go to a US MD school and am applying to internal medicine. However, I currently only have one letter from my department head. I sent out some emails but have received replies saying they do not feel comfortable writing a letter for me. I have not had the chance to do many elective rotations or sub internships as I started my third year late. At this point I am even thinking of taking an extra year only because of the letters. This is really stressing me out.

With your evals as you stated in a later post it seems odd that they are responding with the statement "they do not feel comfortable." Unless they had a problem with you, it would be very unusual to say "I'm not comfortable writing you a letter bud." The other side to this would be they didn't know you at all, if during rounds you never stood out or were like a shadow. Others have suggested talking to your dean, etc. Try talking to your residents that you had on your rotation. They're the ones who presumably knew you the best and may be willing to go talk to your respective attendings for you.