Which LORs to use? Help!

[drdr2B]

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Sorry if this is redundant, but I have an LOR question rather specific to my situation.

I am an MD/PhD student applying to Urology. I currently have 5 LORs and don't know which 4 to choose. They are: 2 Urology, 1 general surgery (clerkship director), 1 research co-advisor (well known surgeon/chief of staff), 1 primary research advisor (PhD).

Obviously, I will send the 2 Urology letters. I got the gen surg letter b/c my gen surg grade was not great, however, I wonder if the academically oriented programs would prefer my research advisors.

I have received very conflicting advice so far regarding this....

 

[calvinNhobbes]

The advice I have received is that clinical letters are valued much higher than research letters. However, that being said, I have been told that for MD/PhD students a letter from the PhD advisor is almost expected as they should know you well and have greater insight on how well you work with others (ie. are you socially adept, a common issue apparently). It helps if your advisor is some how well known in the area you are applying to.

Did you work with your co-advisor at all clinically? Are they a urologist?

The gen surg letter seems kind of pointless if its only purpose is to explain a single grade.

 

[gutonc]

Sorry if this is redundant, but I have an LOR question rather specific to my situation.

I am an MD/PhD student applying to Urology. I currently have 5 LORs and don't know which 4 to choose. They are: 2 Urology, 1 general surgery (clerkship director), 1 research co-advisor (well known surgeon/chief of staff), 1 primary research advisor (PhD).

Obviously, I will send the 2 Urology letters. I got the gen surg letter b/c my gen surg grade was not great, however, I wonder if the academically oriented programs would prefer my research advisors.

I have received very conflicting advice so far regarding this....

If you have a PhD, the letter from your PI is a must. Otherwise PDs will wonder what you were wasting your time on for those 3-5 years and assume you must be hiding something.

As to which one you should use as your 4th letter, it kind of depends. If you worked with the co-advisor in any clinical capacity (even going to clinic a few times), I'd use that one. Otherwise, the extra clinical letter from Gen Surg is the better option. Alternatively, you could just send 3 letters.

 

[thesauce]

If you have a PhD, the letter from your PI is a must. Otherwise PDs will wonder what you were wasting your time on for those 3-5 years and assume you must be hiding something.

As to which one you should use as your 4th letter, it kind of depends. If you worked with the co-advisor in any clinical capacity (even going to clinic a few times), I'd use that one. Otherwise, the extra clinical letter from Gen Surg is the better option. Alternatively, you could just send 3 letters.

Agree with this. If you have a PhD or did a 1-year research program, a letter from your PI definitely should be included.

 

[QofQuimica]

Agree with this. If you have a PhD or did a 1-year research program, a letter from your PI definitely should be included.

What about for people who did separate degrees? I will have finished my PhD five years before residency and have not done research in that field since then. Would I still need a research letter from my PhD advisor? Also, I am taking a year off in med school to do research. It is clinical research, but I have never worked in a clinical capacity with this PI. But wouldn't he be a better person to ask for a research letter if I am going to have one?

There's absolutely no way we can have five letters, right??? 😳

 

[medsRus]

What about for people who did separate degrees? I will have finished my PhD five years before residency and have not done research in that field since then. Would I still need a research letter from my PhD advisor? Also, I am taking a year off in med school to do research. It is clinical research, but I have never worked in a clinical capacity with this PI. But wouldn't he be a better person to ask for a research letter if I am going to have one?

There's absolutely no way we can have five letters, right??? 😳

Then, probably the clinical letters are most important and using only those are fine/expected then.

 

[thesauce]

What about for people who did separate degrees? I will have finished my PhD five years before residency and have not done research in that field since then. Would I still need a research letter from my PhD advisor? Also, I am taking a year off in med school to do research. It is clinical research, but I have never worked in a clinical capacity with this PI. But wouldn't he be a better person to ask for a research letter if I am going to have one?

There's absolutely no way we can have five letters, right??? 😳

I would not use 5.

You probably don't need a letter from your PhD advisor at this point. Def use the clinical research letter, though. You can justify it by saying that it was your most recent research experience.