How Many Lor Can Be Uploaded To Eras

How to get the best rec letters for medical residency, including a sample letter of recommendation for residency

THE ERAS LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION IS A CRITICAL PART OF YOUR MEDICAL RESIDENCY APPLICATION

Introduction

An important function of applying to residencies is getting physicians to vouch for your clinical skills. Over the course of medical school, you've probable developed some great relationships with doctors and professors who will be excited to write on your behalf. But when, how, and who exactly to ask can exist a claiming. Perhaps you've been diligent, requesting letters of recommendation from the commencement of your rotations. Or mayhap you're requesting letters of recommendation a few months before ERAS begins processing medical residency applications on September 15th.

Regardless of where you are in the procedure, you probable have questions like:

• "I had good working relationships with a number of doctors throughout the final four years, simply I never got to know whatever of them personally. How well does someone need to know me in order to write for me?"

• "I have a good relationship with Dr. Gupta, but she's spread thin and is known to write curt, and not e'er warm letters. I don't know Dr. Braswell as well, merely he has connections at Stanford, which is my ideal residency program. Who'due south the better person to write for me?"

• "Should I get a recommendation alphabetic character from Dr. Lee? I don't think I did a stellar job when he was supervising my radiology rotation, but I'm applying for a radiology residency and I feel like the two radiology-specific letters I take might not be plenty."

• "One of my recommenders fell off the map. Volition it be besides late to submit their letter of recommendation if they get it to me next month?"

We've written a comprehensive guide to the ERAS letter of recommendation to answer these questions and more. Though letters of recommendation are one of the materials in the residency application procedure that you don't have much control over, information technology'southward important to know equally much about these letters as possible.

In the NRMP's 2020 Program Managing director Survey, letters of recommendation were rated the second-well-nigh of import factor in selecting which candidates to interview, with 84 percent of program directors stating that they took letters of rec into business relationship. Additionally, messages of recommendation received an boilerplate "importance rating" of iv.three, on a scale of ane–5.

Why are these letters then pregnant? Because everything yous've done up to this point on the road to becoming a doctor has been more or less academic—y'all've been in the classroom, studying, acing tests, and so on. Only at present residency programs are hiring you lot as part of a job application process. That's why references and bear witness of how you've worked with others are crucial.

This guide covers the ins and outs of the ERAS letter of recommendation to make sure that your 2d-most of import awarding piece shines.

Click on any question beneath to jump direct to information technology.

• What types of recommendation letters for residency should I avoid?

• Should I enquire for a residency recommendation alphabetic character in person or via email?

• How should I ask for an ERAS letter of recommendation in person?

• How should I inquire for a residency recommendation letter via e-mail?

• When and how should I remind my recommenders to submit?

• Should my recommendation messages be addressed to specific residency programs?

• Will I be able to view my ERAS messages of recommendation?

• What should I include in my give thanks you notes to recommenders?

• What is included in a letter of recommendation?

• How many letters of recommendation do I need for the residency application?

• From whom should I asking ERAS letters of recommendation?

• Do I have to transport letters exclusively from physicians working in my called specialty?

• When should I request letters of recommendation for residency?

• When is the ERAS letter of recommendation deadline?

• How many letters of recommendation should I send to residency programs?

• Can I send unlike letters to different residency programs?

• Does the MSPE count as a letter of recommendation?

• Does a department letter count as a letter of recommendation?

How many letters of recommendation practice I demand for the residency application?

You need at least three messages of recommendation per residency, and y'all can submit upwardly to four per residency. Y'all can bank check school-specific requirements using the AMA's FREIDA database.

From whom should I request ERAS messages of recommendation?

You lot should request messages of recommendation from those who take worked with you in clinical settings, know you well, and tin persuasively articulate your strengths. Though iii letters are conventional, you will want to enquire for more than 3 letters in case a recommender goes M.I.A. as the deadline to submit approaches or yous're concerned that one of your letter writers may non write a strong letter of recommendation. (It's worth mentioning: if yous believe a author volition not write you a strong letter of recommendation, ask someone else.)

We recommend requesting messages from 4–v recommenders for each specialty to which you plan to apply.

Finally, you want to make sure that you lot've worked with the writers of your letters inside one year of applying to residencies.

Do I have to send letters exclusively from physicians working in my called specialty?

No, yous practice not accept to send letters exclusive to your called specialty, merely yous should have at least one alphabetic character of recommendation from a dr. in your specialty of choice. Ideally, yous should take 2 messages of recommendation from physicians in your specialty of interest, most likely attendings with whom you worked on your rotations.

When should I request letters of recommendation for residency?

You should request letters of recommendation at least one month before September 29th. Ideally, you would request messages of recommendation at the very start of a rotation, especially if you know information technology's a specialty you hope to pursue for residency. Though request for a letter earlier you've fifty-fifty worked with a doc may seem counterintuitive, there are sure perks to doing so, including the post-obit:

• Making your intentions clear since the beginning indicates to letter writers that you accept a strong and 18-carat involvement in their specialty, and they can and so comment on this in your letter of the alphabet.

• Letter writers will make a greater effort to assess your functioning during the rotation, and their deep knowledge of your performance will come up across more than strongly in their alphabetic character than it otherwise might if you ask them for a letter of the alphabet later the fact.

• Information technology will challenge you to perform your all-time during the rotation if yous know from the get-go that your operation will exist included in a letter to residencies.

• Information technology incentivizes you to seek feedback on your functioning throughout the rotation, which can both make you a stronger applicant and outcome in higher quality messages.

However, information technology'southward understandable if yous'd rather wait until after a rotation is washed to request a letter of recommendation, specially if you're interested in seeing the class you lot received in a rotation or elective before doing so. If you're uncomfortable or unsure about requesting a letter of recommendation from the beginning of a rotation, y'all should request letters at the end of rotations in which you've performed well. Just exist sure that you've communicated the seriousness of your interest in that specialty well in advance of requesting the letter of the alphabet. If you take this approach, you may have your letter of the alphabet writers save the letter for you lot in their files or with an advising service at your schoolhouse if bachelor.

In addition, some attendings may offering to write you lot a letter of recommendation later your rotation. If this happens, accept their offer. Fifty-fifty if you decide to submit other letters when you ultimately send in your application, having that additional letter of the alphabet available may assistance reduce stress if a writer is lagging on their submission. Plus, anyone who volunteers to write for y'all is likely pretty excited about your candidacy.

Finally, if you submit letters well in advance of the borderline, make sure to communicate with alphabetic character writers before they submit to have them update the dates on the letter and include any additional information, peculiarly if you've fabricated recent additions to your CV and certainly if you lot have a polished personal statement to show them.

(Farther reading: The Ideal ERAS Timeline)

When is the ERAS letter of the alphabet of recommendation borderline?

Letters are accepted throughout the application process, but you never want to be the bidder who sabotages their match by submitting late. And "late," in the example of the residency application, is September 29th, the kickoff twenty-four hours that ERAS sends applications to programs. Make sure to communicate with your alphabetic character writers to upload their messages before September 29th to make sure y'all're in the running for those early on interview notifications. Many programs crave that an applicant accept a minimum of two letters uploaded before they will schedule an interview, which is yet some other reason not to miss the September 29th engagement.

How many letters of recommendation should I send to residency programs?

We recommend sending 4 messages of recommendation, even if three is conventional. That additional letter, assuming it's as strong as the others, will make you a more competitive applicant.

Can I ship different letters to different residency programs?

Yes. While yous tin simply send 4 letters of recommendation to any given program, ERAS allows y'all to shop every bit many messages as you lot'd like and to pick and choose which letters you'd like to send to each program.

Does the MSPE count as a letter of recommendation?

The Medical Schoolhouse Operation Evaluation (MSPE), besides known as the Dean's Letter of the alphabet, is i of the required materials you lot'll need to submit as part of your ERAS application. However, the MSPE does not count towards your iv letters of recommendation.

Does a department letter count as a letter of recommendation?

Some residency programs volition enquire you to submit a "section letter" or "chair's letter," which is a letter of recommendation written past the chair of the department (i.eastward. the specialty) yous've chosen to go into. While department letters are frequently standardized, this letter does count every bit one of your four letters of recommendation.

Considering many medical schools take an established protocol that facilitates the writing of department letters, first cheque in with your department's administrative staff or your school's clerkship director. If no such protocol is in place, you lot can reach out to the department chair via electronic mail, adjusting the script given below, to asking a meeting. Information technology'due south okay if you have no prior relationship with the chair—they volition be familiar with the requirement and will accept written enough of these messages before.

What types of recommendation letters for residency should I avoid?

Don't ask someone with whom you have not worked closely to write you a letter of recommendation, even if they're superstars in their specialty—you'll fare better having a letter from someone who knows you lot well and can speak to your strengths in detail, even if theirs isn't the splashiest name in the field. Avoid accepting letters of recommendation from writers who hesitate when you lot ask if they can write you lot a "strong letter of recommendation." A lukewarm letter will reverberate poorly on your potential.

Finally, consider fugitive letters from someone who is hard to communicate with or unresponsive to your emails or requests to see in person. This is non, however, a rule. Sometimes these people are flaky schedulers considering they're passionate about their field and may still be able to write a strong letter for y'all. In other cases, though, these people can be scattered, which may affect their power to write about your specific strengths. In deadline situations like this, it'due south better to request more letters of recommendation in the upshot that i of your writers doesn't come through, rather than to count them out entirely.

Should I ask for a residency recommendation letter in person or via e-mail?

Ask for letters from professors in person whenever possible, and definitely if it'due south been a while since you've interacted with them.

Before you ask for a letter of the alphabet of recommendation, prepare a packet for your recommenders that includes:

• Your CV or resume

• Your final or well-nigh-final personal argument

• Letter request grade from ERAS

• A biographical sketch including career goals

• Copy of USMLE Pace 1 and Step 2 scores if bachelor

• Medical schoolhouse transcript

How should I inquire for an ERAS letter of recommendation in person?

Below are email scripts you can employ to adapt an in-person meeting:

Give-and-take-for-discussion email script when planning to ask someone y'all know well in person

Dear [Professor/Physician's Name],

I promise this bulletin finds you well. I'm applying to medical residencies in [specialty] this fall and was wondering if y'all'd exist willing to share your insights on the process. I've always valued your perspective and your guidance would exist much appreciated every bit I begin drafting materials. If yous are willing, please let me know when y'all would be available to run into in person. Give thanks you lot for your consideration!

Best,

[Your Name/Last Proper noun]

Discussion-for-give-and-take email script when planning to ask someone in person whom you oasis't seen or spoken with in a while

Love [Professor/Md'south Name],

I hope this bulletin finds you well. My name is [Name/Final Proper name], and I participated in your [rotation/elective/class] during [Semester/yr]. I really enjoyed working with you and learning virtually [specific and authentic details about your experience]. Since nosotros last talked, [major update in your professional life, i.e. 'I did rotations in San Francisco in [specialty] and became sure I want to pursue [xyz].']

I'm applying to residency programs this fall and was hoping you'd exist wiling to offer your perspective on the process. If so, please let me know when you lot would exist available to encounter in person. Give thanks you for your consideration!

All-time,

[Your Name/Last Name]

Boosted guidance for asking in person

Whenever you meet in person with someone to request a alphabetic character, information technology's important to let them know why you lot would value a letter from them. You'll want to explicate why yous feel they are best equipped to speak well-nigh the specific qualities and experiences that would make you an excellent fit for the programs to which you are applying.

Don't be afraid to request that they highlight specific qualities and experiences in the letter of the alphabet. This will work in your favor when the content of the letter confirms how y'all describe yourself throughout the residual of your awarding.

Once a letter author agrees to write you a letter of the alphabet, provide them with the materials mentioned earlier.

How should I inquire for a residency recommendation letter of the alphabet via e-mail?

Hither is an exact email script y'all tin can use to request a letter of the alphabet via electronic mail:

Word-for-word electronic mail script when planning to ask someone you know well via email

Dear [Professor/Physician'due south Name],

I hope this e-mail finds y'all well. I'chiliad applying to residency programs this fall and was wondering if yous'd feel comfortable writing a potent letter of recommendation. [Authentic sentence describing why you would value a letter from them (e.m., why you value their perspective, which of your qualities they can speak to, etc.)].

If yous're willing to provide a alphabetic character, I will provide the following supporting materials: 1) my CV, 2) a typhoon of my personal statement, 3) the letter form for ERAS, iv) a biographical sketch for more than context, 5) a copy of my USMLE scores, and 6) my transcript. Thanks for your consideration!

Best,

[Your name/last name]

(Notation: We have not included a script for requesting a alphabetic character via e-mail from a professor who may not retrieve you lot because yous shouldn't ask them for one.)

When and how should I remind my recommenders to submit?

Recommendation letter writers often procrastinate on submitting letters on time. Therefore, you should e-mail them using the following electronic mail script ii to three weeks earlier September 29th:

Dearest [Professor/Physician's Name],

I hope this e-mail finds you well. I plan on certifying my ERAS application past September 29th, so I wanted to ship a reminder regarding your recommendation letter. Please let me know if there's any boosted information I can provide.

Thank you again for your back up!

All-time,

[Your Proper noun/Last Name]

On top of this first reminder electronic mail, feel gratuitous to send additional reminder emails every 1 to 2 weeks if you lot don't hear back from a alphabetic character writer. If you're unable to get a response via email, call them. Simply say you're aware it'southward a decorated time, but you lot want to be sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Should my recommendation messages be addressed to specific residency programs?

No, this is not expected.

Will I be able to view my ERAS letters of recommendation?

You tin can, but you shouldn't. You should waive your right to read your messages. Not waiving your right is a ruby flag.

What should I include in my thank you lot notes to recommenders?

Once a person submits a letter on your behalf, you can utilize the following thank you notation script to express appreciation (personalize this however yous'd like):

Dear [Professor/Physician's Name],

Thanks again for offer your perspectives on the residency application process and for submitting a letter of recommendation on my behalf. I am very grateful for your guidance and support throughout this procedure.

I'll brand sure to inform you of any updates!

Best,

[Your Name/Terminal Name]

What is included in a letter of recommendation?

Here is a sample letter of recommendation for residency:

Dear Plan Managing director,

I am writing in support of Ms. Rachel Armendariz for your residency programme. I have 15 years of experience in pulmonary and disquisitional care medicine and a background in translational research. I worked closely with Ms. Armendariz during her third-yr clerkship and during her pulmonary elective. In improver to her many accomplishments, Ms. Armendariz'due south clinical abilities, leadership, advancement, and patient focus ready her apart. I take observed Ms. Armendariz during workups, taught her in form, and I oversaw her clerkship.

Ms. Armendariz's excellence goes well beyond her outstanding USMLE scores. She is warm and engaged with patients and colleagues. In addition, she is capable of synthesizing new information. In function, this is a product of her meticulous preparation; before Ms. Armendariz had even encountered pulmonary edema, she had already assimilated the key points of responding to respiratory failure into a detailed poster for our care team, ensuring fifty-fifty those new to the rotation could hands be brought up to speed.

Moreover, Ms. Armendariz has fabricated advocacy a key part of her medical education. When she discovered that a series of arrhythmia pamphlets were bachelor in English only, Ms. Armendariz communicated with the caput of Cardiology about the lack of Spanish-language informational materials and even recommended a fellow classmate with translation experience to accost the discrepancy. Her leadership in addressing gaps in intendance has prompted several positive responses, especially during inpatient procedures. In fact, Ms. Armendariz'south intuitive sense of patient needs made her an informal mentor to students entering the clerkship after she had finished.

Ms. Armendariz's skill also extends to research. She has designed a report on the effectiveness of auxiliary treatments during outpatient procedures to assist our hospital in providing more comprehensive care.

Ms. Armendariz is in the top 10% of medical students with whom I have worked in the last fifteen years. Her attending to detail, willingness to learn, and well-rounded arroyo to patient care, including research design and developing all-time practices, make her an outstanding candidate for residency. I give her my highest recommendation for your programme.

If you crave any farther information, delight do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jackson Abrams, M.D.

Source: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/eras-letter-of-recommendation

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