Letters of Recommendations (LoRs): List of Guidelines

[StepTaker]

Here's a list of guidelines to follow for your letters of recommendations for your residency match application:

• The more LOR's the better, minimum three. Each program you will apply for cannot accept more than 4 LoRs. But you can assign different LoRs to different programs and therefore you can have an unlimited number of LoRs but using only 4 of them to each specific program.

• Clerkships LoRs rank higher than Externship LORs which in turn rank higher than Observership which in turn ranks higher than non-obervership LOR's.

• Better to have a specialty specific LoR rather than just a generic LoR. Even more better to have program specific LoR!

• Physicians writing your LOR's would better be from different nationality and ethnicity (though many may disagree but skepticism is a prominent trait of most program directors!). Never take an LoR from a relative.

• If you did not spend enough time with the doctor who's writing your LOR, ask him/her not to specify the time spent with them. Like by saying during the month of February instead of saying 2 days per week for two weeks in February.

• The LoR must be written on an official Letterhead paper of the institute in which the writer is working or affiliated with.

• Non-black color of the signature is no longer a requirement. See Details

• Better to mention your AAMC ID in the subject of the LoR. (not mandatory).

• The LoR should be addressed "Dear Program Director".

• It's better to waive your rights to see the LoR as this will add more weight to it. However, make sure that the writer is going to meet the time line deadlines and that he/she actually likes you enough!

• You are not going to send your LoRs to the ERAS. You will send it to your designated Dean's office such as the ECFMG in the case of IMGs. (if you have waived your rights to see the LoR the same applies to the letter writer).

• Each LoR should be clipped with a coversheet. You can obtain the coversheet template from ERAS resources to download.

• Important that writers include contact information in details because they might be contacted by residency programs.

• Don't take LOR's from a remote specialty, like for example you are applying for surgery and you give dermatology LOR's!

• A good LoR is not necessarily a very long LOR, a precise descriptive single page LOR may be more than enough.

• Let the LoR be realistic not unduly praising you. If the writer says you are the century's superman, program directors will likely laugh at it.

• Don't worry if the LoR is mentioning some negative aspects about you such as areas that you have to improve on. In fact, this may make the LoR even stronger as it carries more objectiveness and honesty.

• DO NOT FAKE an LoR. You will be caught and you may damage your entire medical career.

• Although, not mandatory, but it's better if your LoR is recently dated (within last one year is desired).

• For IMGs, your California Letter and Dean's Letter is not counted as an LoR. You still have to find additional minimum of three LoRs.

• For IMGs, let the writer mention your English language communication skills if English is not your native language.

• For IMGs, LoRs from your home country are OK but it is better to fortify them with US LoRs.

• If you want to apply by mid-September then your LoR should reach your designated dean's office no later than mid-August.

• LoRs are arguably the most important part of your ERAS application after your scores.

[cortymle]

I have a question
I was working in my country with a US doctor for around 6 months (he was a visiting doctor to the hospital where I worked) back then he wrote me an LOR.
then he left back to US

Now I came to US looking for residency
Can I use that LOR!!

[StepTaker]

Originally Posted by cortymle

I have a question
I was working in my country with a US doctor for around 6 months (he was a visiting doctor to the hospital where I worked) back then he wrote me an LOR. then he left back to US Now I came to US looking for residency
Can I use that LOR!!

This LOR would definitely work
But it's great if you still have contact with him
Call him and ask him to update the letter as of a current date, they don't like old letters

Good luck