TY and Prelim LORs

[ChocolateKiss]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Are you guys sending the exact same LoRs to prelim and TY programs as to Derm programs? I'm not sure if they'd want letters from my derm research mentors since their main concern is having someone who is good clinically. I was thinking they might prefer medicine-type letters.

 

[asmallchild]

Are you guys sending the exact same LoRs to prelim and TY programs as to Derm programs? I'm not sure if they'd want letters from my derm research mentors since their main concern is having someone who is good clinically. I was thinking they might prefer medicine-type letters.

They typically don't care and most people will send their derm letters.

That being said, there are highly competitive prelims and TYs out there (notably, the ones that offer a remarkable amount of elective time) and in those instances, if you really wanted to end up there (or at another specific place because of location/SO/etc...), it may be in your interest to obtain a couple of solid medicine/surgery letters.

I ended up using a couple of medicine letters as I wanted to stay close to home for my prelim year and although the program was highly competitive (for an internship at least), I was almost "ushered through" because I had used letters obtained from teaching attendings in that hospital.

 

[IzzyMD09]

For Derm programs, I am just looking for feedback on this approach

I have included
1. IM letter from IM clerkship - extremely strong and very supportive
2. Derm Elective letter - Big name but from an elective (interchangable with other derm elective letters from different regions)
3. Derm Research from 2-3rd year letter - sort of big name but awesome letter
4. Derm research from year off during 4th year letter - derm god(ess?) Chair of entire dept, leading researcher and triple boarded writes 3 letters per year

Should i change this formula

thank you all

izzy

 

[Palintology]

I matched at one of the notoriously cush TYs (very few call months, 6 months of electives) and had only submitted 2 derm letters and 1 research letter to all the TY and prelim medicine programs I applied to. And I got plenty of interviews at other cush TYs, also. Honestly, all these places care about is your board score, what school you went to, and your grades. If you have medicine or surgery letters available (i.e. you've already asked for them), then by all means use them for PGY-1 applications, but otherwise don't waste a letter writer's time and just send the letters you're already using for derm apps.

 

[mohderm]

For Derm programs, I am just looking for feedback on this approach

I have included
1. IM letter from IM clerkship - extremely strong and very supportive
2. Derm Elective letter - Big name but from an elective (interchangable with other derm elective letters from different regions)
3. Derm Research from 2-3rd year letter - sort of big name but awesome letter
4. Derm research from year off during 4th year letter - derm god(ess?) Chair of entire dept, leading researcher and triple boarded writes 3 letters per year

Should i change this formula

thank you all

izzy

Sounds great. I can't imagine you would be able to get better letters. It sounds like you have all "big name" writers. But I have to ask, not trolling. Which one of these awesome letters is the one you wrote for yourself? I know you were asking about that earlier.

 

[IzzyMD09]

Sounds great. I can't imagine you would be able to get better letters. It sounds like you have all "big name" writers. But I have to ask, not trolling. Which one of these awesome letters is the one you wrote for yourself? I know you were asking about that earlier.

I know you are not trolling we are all good people here, that would be number 2 in the list, and again let me clarify, I have verbal confirmation that I am only writing a template not the letter itself.

Hard enough for me to do this morally and ethically! Still haven't decided if it is what I am doing

Thank you for the encouragement though

IzzyMD??

 

[xyzyx]

I matched at one of the notoriously cush TYs (very few call months, 6 months of electives) and had only submitted 2 derm letters and 1 research letter to all the TY and prelim medicine programs I applied to. And I got plenty of interviews at other cush TYs, also. Honestly, all these places care about is your board score, what school you went to, and your grades. If you have medicine or surgery letters available (i.e. you've already asked for them), then by all means use them for PGY-1 applications, but otherwise don't waste a letter writer's time and just send the letters you're already using for derm apps.

Wow that sounds really nice... good advice there. I agree that it is wasteful of another letter writer's time.
I'm going to go ahead and send the same letters to all programs.
The only problem I ran across is that some Prelim programs require 2 medicine letters or one medicine chairman letter... The only medicine letter I have is not a chairman. I might have to just not apply to those programs that require letters I don't have. 🙁

 

[IzzyMD09]

Can we start a list of all these "cush" prelim years

I keep hearing about them , and to be honest i dont even know what that means except for more elective months, less Q3 or something

anyways

i have heard st. lukes roosevelt is pretty chill

 

[N-Surge]

If you are going into academic dermatology it sounds like the best anyone could ask for. 🙂

 

[annieh123]

MacNeal in Illinois is supposedly an easy TY.

I have a question...I only have one derm letter because there is only one doc at my school who works with students (the other just left). I have a really really great letter from anesthesia, but it ends with "she has the potential to become an outstanding resident and anesthesiologist". Anyone think I can get away with using it? It's pretty specialty-neutral up until that last line.

Thanks!

 

[mohderm]

MacNeal in Illinois is supposedly an easy TY.

I have a question...I only have one derm letter because there is only one doc at my school who works with students (the other just left). I have a really really great letter from anesthesia, but it ends with "she has the potential to become an outstanding resident and anesthesiologist". Anyone think I can get away with using it? It's pretty specialty-neutral up until that last line.

Thanks!

My understanding is that prelim programs understand that you are ultimately applying to another specialty and your letters are more focused to that particular field. Some of the more academic programs require a letter specifically from an internist but those are rare.

 

[annieh123]

Thanks for your reply...I didn't word that question properly. I was wondering if I could use that LOR for my derm application. Thoughts?

 

[asmallchild]

Thanks for your reply...I didn't word that question properly. I was wondering if I could use that LOR for my derm application. Thoughts?

I think you'd be shooting yourself in the foot with that LOR.