Can You Still Upload Letter of Recommendation Eras

How to get the best rec messages for medical residency, including a sample alphabetic character of recommendation for residency

THE ERAS LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION IS A CRITICAL Function OF YOUR MEDICAL RESIDENCY Awarding

Introduction

An of import office of applying to residencies is getting physicians to vouch for your clinical skills. Over the form of medical schoolhouse, you've likely developed some nifty relationships with doctors and professors who will be excited to write on your behalf. But when, how, and who exactly to ask tin can be a claiming. Peradventure you've been diligent, requesting messages of recommendation from the first of your rotations. Or perchance 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 process, you likely have questions like:

• "I had good working relationships with a number of doctors throughout the last four years, but I never got to know any 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, just she's spread thin and is known to write short, and not always warm letters. I don't know Dr. Braswell too, but he has connections at Stanford, which is my ideal residency program. Who's the better person to write for me?"

• "Should I become a recommendation letter of the alphabet from Dr. Lee? I don't remember I did a stellar job when he was supervising my radiology rotation, but I'k applying for a radiology residency and I experience like the 2 radiology-specific letters I take might non be enough."

• "Ane of my recommenders savage off the map. Will it be too belatedly to submit their letter of recommendation if they go it to me next calendar month?"

We've written a comprehensive guide to the ERAS letter of the alphabet of recommendation to reply these questions and more than. Though letters of recommendation are one of the materials in the residency application process that you don't have much control over, it'south important to know as much about these letters equally possible.

In the NRMP's 2020 Program Managing director Survey, letters of recommendation were rated the second-most important factor in selecting which candidates to interview, with 84 percent of program directors stating that they took letters of rec into account. Additionally, letters of recommendation received an average "importance rating" of iv.3, on a scale of 1–v.

Why are these messages so pregnant? Because everything yous've done up to this bespeak on the road to becoming a dr. has been more or less bookish—y'all've been in the classroom, studying, acing tests, and so on. But now residency programs are hiring you lot as part of a job awarding process. That's why references and evidence of how you've worked with others are crucial.

This guide covers the ins and outs of the ERAS letter of the alphabet of recommendation to brand sure that your second-almost important application slice shines.

Click on any question below to bound directly to it.

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

• Should I ask 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 ask for a residency recommendation letter via electronic mail?

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

• Should my recommendation letters exist addressed to specific residency programs?

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

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

• What is included in a letter of recommendation?

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

• From whom should I request ERAS letters of recommendation?

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

• When should I request letters of recommendation for residency?

• When is the ERAS letter of the alphabet of recommendation deadline?

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

• Tin can I transport different letters to dissimilar residency programs?

• Does the MSPE count as a alphabetic character of recommendation?

• Does a section alphabetic character count equally a letter of recommendation?

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

You need at least three letters of recommendation per residency, and you can submit upwardly to four per residency. Yous can check school-specific requirements using the AMA's FREIDA database.

From whom should I request ERAS letters of recommendation?

Y'all should request letters of recommendation from those who have worked with yous in clinical settings, know you well, and can persuasively clear your strengths. Though three messages are conventional, yous will desire to enquire for more than three letters in case a recommender goes M.I.A. as the deadline to submit approaches or you're concerned that 1 of your letter writers may not write a strong letter of the alphabet of recommendation. (It'due south worth mentioning: if you believe a author will not write you a strong letter of recommendation, ask someone else.)

We recommend requesting letters from 4–5 recommenders for each specialty to which y'all plan to use.

Finally, y'all desire to brand sure that you've worked with the writers of your letters inside one twelvemonth of applying to residencies.

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

No, you do not have to ship letters exclusive to your called specialty, just you should accept at to the lowest degree i alphabetic character of recommendation from a physician in your specialty of choice. Ideally, y'all should have two letters of recommendation from physicians in your specialty of interest, most probable attendings with whom you worked on your rotations.

When should I request letters of recommendation for residency?

You lot should asking messages of recommendation at least one month earlier September 29th. Ideally, you lot would request letters of recommendation at the very beginning of a rotation, especially if y'all know it'due south a specialty you lot hope to pursue for residency. Though asking for a letter before you lot've even worked with a physician may seem counterintuitive, there are certain perks to doing so, including the following:

• Making your intentions articulate since the showtime indicates to letter writers that you lot have a strong and genuine interest in their specialty, and they can then comment on this in your letter.

• Letter writers will make a greater endeavour to assess your performance during the rotation, and their deep knowledge of your performance will meet more strongly in their letter of the alphabet than it otherwise might if you ask them for a letter after the fact.

• It will challenge you to perform your best during the rotation if you know from the beginning that your performance will be included in a alphabetic character to residencies.

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

Notwithstanding, it's understandable if you'd rather wait until after a rotation is washed to request a letter of recommendation, especially if yous're interested in seeing the grade you received in a rotation or elective before doing and then. If you're uncomfortable or unsure about requesting a letter of the alphabet of recommendation from the beginning of a rotation, you should request messages at the end of rotations in which you've performed well. Just be sure that you've communicated the seriousness of your involvement in that specialty well in advance of requesting the letter of the alphabet. If you lot take this approach, you may have your letter of the alphabet writers save the letter for you in their files or with an advising service at your school if available.

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

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

(Further reading: The Ideal ERAS Timeline)

When is the ERAS letter of recommendation borderline?

Letters are accepted throughout the application procedure, but you lot never desire to be the applicant who sabotages their match past submitting late. And "late," in the case of the residency application, is September 29th, the get-go day that ERAS sends applications to programs. Brand sure to communicate with your alphabetic character writers to upload their messages earlier September 29th to make sure y'all're in the running for those early interview notifications. Many programs require that an applicant have a minimum of two letters uploaded before they will schedule an interview, which is even so another reason not to miss the September 29th date.

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

We recommend sending 4 letters of recommendation, fifty-fifty if three is conventional. That boosted letter, assuming it's as strong as the others, will make you lot a more competitive applicant.

Can I send unlike letters to different residency programs?

Yeah. While you can simply ship four letters of recommendation to any given programme, ERAS allows yous to store as many letters as y'all'd like and to pick and cull which letters you'd like to transport to each plan.

Does the MSPE count as a letter of recommendation?

The Medical School Functioning Evaluation (MSPE), also known as the Dean'southward Letter, is one of the required materials you'll demand to submit as part of your ERAS awarding. However, the MSPE does not count towards your four messages of recommendation.

Does a department letter count every bit a alphabetic character of recommendation?

Some residency programs will enquire y'all to submit a "section letter" or "chair'south letter," which is a letter of the alphabet of recommendation written by the chair of the department (i.due east. the specialty) you've chosen to become into. While department messages are ofttimes standardized, this letter does count as i of your iv letters of recommendation.

Because many medical schools have an established protocol that facilitates the writing of department letters, first check in with your department's authoritative staff or your schoolhouse'due south clerkship manager. If no such protocol is in place, you can achieve out to the department chair via email, adjusting the script given beneath, to request a meeting. Information technology's okay if you have no prior human relationship with the chair—they volition be familiar with the requirement and volition accept written plenty of these letters before.

What types of recommendation letters for residency should I avert?

Don't ask someone with whom y'all have not worked closely to write you a letter of recommendation, even if they're superstars in their specialty—you'll fare meliorate having a letter from someone who knows yous well and tin speak to your strengths in detail, fifty-fifty if theirs isn't the splashiest proper name in the field. Avoid accepting messages of recommendation from writers who hesitate when y'all inquire if they tin can write you a "stiff letter of recommendation." A lukewarm letter volition reflect poorly on your potential.

Finally, consider fugitive letters from someone who is difficult to communicate with or unresponsive to your emails or requests to meet in person. This is non, however, a dominion. Sometimes these people are flaky schedulers because they're passionate about their field and may still be able to write a strong letter for you. In other cases, though, these people tin can exist scattered, which may affect their ability to write virtually your specific strengths. In borderline situations like this, it'southward better to asking more letters of recommendation in the event that one of your writers doesn't come through, rather than to count them out entirely.

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

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

Before you ask for a letter of recommendation, gear up a parcel for your recommenders that includes:

• Your CV or resume

• Your final or near-final personal statement

• Letter request grade from ERAS

• A biographical sketch including career goals

• Re-create of USMLE Pace i and Step 2 scores if bachelor

• Medical school transcript

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

Below are email scripts you can use to accommodate an in-person coming together:

Give-and-take-for-give-and-take e-mail script when planning to ask someone y'all know well in person

Dear [Professor/Doc'south Name],

I hope this bulletin finds you well. I'chiliad 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 be much appreciated as I begin drafting materials. If you are willing, please let me know when you would be available to meet in person. Cheers for your consideration!

Best,

[Your Name/Terminal Proper noun]

Word-for-word e-mail script when planning to ask someone in person whom you haven't seen or spoken with in a while

Love [Professor/Physician's Name],

I promise this message finds you well. My name is [Proper name/Last Proper name], and I participated in your [rotation/elective/course] during [Semester/year]. I actually enjoyed working with you and learning about [specific and authentic details about your experience]. Since we last talked, [major update in your professional life, i.e. 'I did rotations in San Francisco in [specialty] and became certain I want to pursue [xyz].']

I'm applying to residency programs this fall and was hoping y'all'd be wiling to offer your perspective on the process. If then, please let me know when you lot would be available to see in person. Thank you for your consideration!

All-time,

[Your Name/Last Name]

Additional guidance for request in person

Whenever you lot meet in person with someone to asking a letter, information technology'due south important to allow them know why y'all would value a letter from them. You'll want to explain why you experience they are best equipped to speak well-nigh the specific qualities and experiences that would make you lot an excellent fit for the programs to which you are applying.

Don't exist afraid to request that they highlight specific qualities and experiences in the letter. This will piece of work in your favor when the content of the alphabetic character confirms how you describe yourself throughout the residuum of your application.

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

How should I enquire for a residency recommendation alphabetic character via email?

Here is an verbal email script you tin can use to asking a letter via electronic mail:

Discussion-for-word electronic mail script when planning to ask someone yous know well via electronic mail

Dear [Professor/Physician'southward Proper noun],

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

If you're willing to provide a letter of the alphabet, I volition provide the post-obit supporting materials: i) my CV, ii) a draft of my personal argument, 3) the letter form for ERAS, 4) a biographical sketch for more than context, v) a re-create of my USMLE scores, and 6) my transcript. Thanks for your consideration!

Best,

[Your name/concluding proper noun]

(Notation: We have not included a script for requesting a letter via email from a professor who may not remember you considering you 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, y'all should email them using the following email script ii to three weeks before September 29th:

Dear [Professor/Md's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I plan on certifying my ERAS application by September 29th, so I wanted to send a reminder regarding your recommendation letter of the alphabet. Delight allow me know if there'due south any additional information I can provide.

Thanks again for your support!

Best,

[Your Name/Last Name]

On top of this first reminder email, feel complimentary to send additional reminder emails every one to two weeks if you don't hear back from a letter writer. If you're unable to get a response via email, phone call them. Just say you're aware information technology's a busy time, but yous desire to be certain cipher falls through the cracks.

Should my recommendation letters be addressed to specific residency programs?

No, this is not expected.

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

Yous can, simply you shouldn't. You should waive your right to read your letters. Not waiving your right is a ruby flag.

What should I include in my cheers notes to recommenders?

Once a person submits a alphabetic character on your behalf, you can employ the following thank you annotation script to express appreciation (personalize this still you'd similar):

Dear [Professor/Physician'south Proper name],

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

I'll make sure to inform y'all of any updates!

Best,

[Your Name/Last Proper name]

What is included in a letter of recommendation?

Here is a sample letter of recommendation for residency:

Dear Plan Manager,

I am writing in back up of Ms. Rachel Armendariz for your residency program. I have fifteen years of experience in pulmonary and critical intendance medicine and a background in translational research. I worked closely with Ms. Armendariz during her tertiary-year clerkship and during her pulmonary constituent. In addition to her many accomplishments, Ms. Armendariz'southward clinical abilities, leadership, advocacy, and patient focus set her apart. I have observed Ms. Armendariz during workups, taught her in class, 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 role, 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 even those new to the rotation could easily be brought upwards to speed.

Moreover, Ms. Armendariz has made advancement a key part of her medical instruction. When she discovered that a series of arrhythmia pamphlets were available in English only, Ms. Armendariz communicated with the head of Cardiology virtually the lack of Spanish-linguistic communication advisory materials and fifty-fifty recommended a fellow classmate with translation experience to address the discrepancy. Her leadership in addressing gaps in intendance has prompted several positive responses, particularly 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 study on the effectiveness of auxiliary treatments during outpatient procedures to assist our hospital in providing more comprehensive intendance.

Ms. Armendariz is in the top 10% of medical students with whom I have worked in the concluding fifteen years. Her attention to particular, willingness to learn, and well-rounded approach to patient care, including research blueprint and developing best practices, brand her an outstanding candidate for residency. I give her my highest recommendation for your program.

If you require whatever further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jackson Abrams, M.D.

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

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