Using LOR from Aways

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toastytoes

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Hello,
In the middle of ERAS season here and hoping to get some insight from others who are applying/have applied before. What are you all advised on in terms of using LOR from away rotations to apply to programs that are neither your home institution or the place you went on the away at. Our school warns us against using away letters elsewhere as they think programs will say 'oh they went here for an away, so clearly they're not interested in us...' on the other hand, i'd like to use away letters as it shows i can succeed outside of my home school and get a glowing letter from someone at a competitive institution.
thoughts? what are you doing? what are your schools telling you to do?
applying to a noncompetitive specialty in competitive locations.

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Probably need to state the specialty specifically. Aren't away LORs expected in some specialties (e.g. EM)?

If I were reviewing residency apps, I would think an outside LOR has extra value. The faculty at another institution have no incentive to help you match anywhere whereas your home institution has some skin in the game with regards to your results. Now if I'm on the west coast and you're sending me LORs from east coast programs or vice versa I might take the approach you are warned about but otherwise that's something I'd address at the interview day if I were actually concerned. There are many reasons to not do an away at a specific program that have nothing to do with lack of interest.
 
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