When you are asked to write your own LOR?

[IzzyMD09]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Is this a gift, and if so what are the requisites

Are there certain things you should mention and focus on?

For derm how can you work this to your advantage?

 

[IzzyMD09]

150+ hits no replies???????

 

[asmallchild]

Is this a gift, and if so what are the requisites

Are there certain things you should mention and focus on?

For derm how can you work this to your advantage?

I've heard of this being done but never actually seen it or witnessed it first-hand (even among classmates or friends of classmates)

I'm thinking this is NOT a gift

If this physician doesn't think enough of you to actually write a letter, you're probably better off finding someone else. Derm is a small community. Phone calls are often made to clarify things or expand on things within a letter and you want someone who is very enthusiastic and who would be willing to "bat for you"

 

[IzzyMD09]

and if the party in question clarified the request by stating that my LOR would be used as a template so that he/she could expedite the letter

then what

this is someone who i have both worked with and know very well, and who is willing to write an LOR but also they obviously know the gravity of these letters which i think is why they want me to write a template.....assuming i know what PD's want to hear

I hear you though on finding someone else, and I would if this person wasnt so well known amongs dermies, i have already been told by them that whatever I write would be altered by the authors own words...????

😱

 

[Aljazera]

If thats the case this is a gift!

Focus on your work ethic, reliability and overall character. Don't use extremes and recall from experiences which the person who will be using your rec as a template will remember and discuss at least one of them.

 

[reno911]

If this physician doesn't think enough of you to actually write a letter, you're probably better off finding someone else.

This.

 

[IzzyMD09]

So I was thinking, this physician is probably asked to write a letter for every single person that attends the home medical school, and probably by everyone who rotates through, based on what I have seen and heard.

I know for a fact they only write about 5 per year, and I am thinking now, that a lot of students the physician has supported in the past have matched, so is it possible he offered them the same type of "support" did they have to create templates for their own LOR's too....

The mystery continues.........😱

 

[dermRus]

It always sounds scary when you are in the position of having to write your own letter because you are faced with trying to figure out what is the best way to form your letter. Truth is, if your writer is using this as a template, this is truly a gift and you'll see this when you look back on the application process...hard to appreciate it when you are in the thick of things. I would do my best to not use superlatives but you have to be comfortable in talking about yourself tactfully...no room for being overly humble here but don't be cocky in the letter either.

I was asked to template one of my letters and my letter writer did indeed put in superlatives after I gave that person my template and was told so later. Interestingly, this was the most talked about letter in my interviews and most people found it very striking. Here's the catch. My letter writer was called by many programs to get more details about me and so be careful what you put in the letter. Only put in things that the letter writer can truly talk about in detail with a program if they were to call. Direct calling of letter writers happens more often than you might think, especially in such a small field like dermatology. So....you'll want to discuss with your letter writer not only the "what" of what you put in the letter but also the "why" so that your letter writer can see your perspective...of course your letter writer is at liberty to change or even delete things that you put in your draft.

Just my two cents...and my letters of recommendations were highly praised at my interviews, especially the one that I templated...keep them honest though because you may get outed if you lie and that will not look good at all.

 

[sensitive skin]

^^What dermRus said.

Also - detail, detail, detail. Write about specific moments and examples. Superlatives look great if there are detailed examples backing them up.

 

[IzzyMD09]

could maybe one of you define superlatives for me, I mean this is someone I spent a month on an elective with, met with during and after the elective, and someone who I call every so often

maybe throw around some of these "superlatives" i should or shouldnt include

also are the LOR's coded like the MSPE's?

thanks

Izzy

 

[Aljazera]

Don't include superlatives at all. Templates are not a place for superlatives.

 

[IzzyMD09]

Still dont really know what anyone means by superlatives

thanks

 

[Aljazera]

Izzy is a fantastic student that once invented water and killed a nazi all while having sex with my wife.

 

[dermRus]

Umm...don't think there were any superlatives in that sentence...a lot of shock value but no superlatives...

Superlatives are things like "the best ever", "the smartest I have ever met", "the top student of my career"....basically any statement that compares you to everyone else in some manner and goes over the top with the comparison...appropriate in some situations but that's for your letter writer to decide and not you.

English in the US is chalk full of superlatives such as: "your are the best ever person," "that dinner was the best that I have ever had, "that was the hottest girl/guy I've ever seen", etc.

 

[opencomedo]

I didnt put superlatives in the one letter I was asked to write. I attempted to focus on things like working as a teammember, having a good knowledge base, getting along with people, being fun to work with and putting in a few examples highlighting these things. It was my hope that the letter writer would put the superlatives in for me when they expounded on the skeleton letter that I wrote. I was told they said nice things about me at a couple of my interviews but who knows. I would hope that you wouldnt be able to hurt yourself by writing the wrong thing in your mock-up letter but it sure is a bit of a mind job. Of course if you were able to kill nazis this may be a different story...

 

[IzzyMD09]

I did actually kill several nazis during my clinical elective, which I think is why I honored.....but you are right I will leave that out of the template

😀

 

[IzzyMD09]

Just wanted to thank everyone who helped me out on this the doc used my template said it was excellent and that it helped him complete my LOR

so here's hoping....


I luv you guys

🙂

 

[Aljazera]

I hope you didn't mention having sex with his wife...