Yet another LOR question....

[Toadkiller Dog]

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Sigh....

I hate to post another one of these, but if anyone is feeling generous, feel free to offer advice.

My school has no ophtho department, so my only eye letter comes from a community ophtho that I rotated with. I am finishing up an away rotation at a well known place right now, but I just don't feel like I got to know any faculty well enough to ask for a letter. I only worked with each one for 2-3 days.

On the flip side, several faculty at my own school have actually *offered* to write letters for me, including:
--the chair of our surgery department (a well known plastic surgeon)
--the director of our pediatrics clerkship (not well known, but he really likes me)
--A surgical oncologist on staff at our VA.

Any advice on which to choose for the other 2? Or should I really bite the bullet and ask a faculty member at this (away) institution for a letter?

The rest of my application is fairly strong (junior AOA, 240+, some optics-related neuro research), but everyone says that letters are SO important in a small field like ophtho, I can't help but stress! 😱

Oh well. Maybe I just need a good kick in the shorts......

 

[mdkurt]

Take the surgery letter AND ask an ophthalmologist at your rotation. I know it feels strange, but these people are accustomed to having students ask for letters after just a little exposure. It's a known fact that a 4th year student working with you in July is going to ask you for a letter. Knowing this, your attendings pay attention to their limited experience with you and will write an informed letter.