[khanar]

Right now am doing hands-on externship but I just started and they won't give me the LoR until the end of August!

What to do? I don't want to miss this match, I already finished all the steps and I am ECFMG certified.

 

[lee-usmle]

Two tricks and some recommendations

If you have three LoRs apart from the externship that you are currently doing then send them right now and do not postpone your application.

There are two tricks that you can include your current externships without sending the actual LoR right now!

First: Mention it in your personal statement that you are currently doing externship

Second: If you know the name of the attending who's going to write for you the LoR and you are 100% sure that's he's going to writ an LoR later then you can assign his/her LoR in ERAS without actually sending the LoR to ECFMG, this way the PDs will see that you have assigned the LoR but they won't be able to read it and they then will understand that it's not reached the ERAS inbox and may understand that.

You can also try to explain the situation to your current attending and tell him/her that you are running out of time and she/he may then write for you the LoR right now before your finish your externship with them.

 

[prachu85_v]

hey

If you have three LoRs apart from the externship that you are currently doing then send them right now and do not postpone your application.

There are two tricks that you can include your current externships without sending the actual LoR right now!

First: Mention it in your personal statement that you are currently doing externship

Second: If you know the name of the attending who's going to write for you the LoR and you are 100% sure that's he's going to writ an LoR later then you can assign his/her LoR in ERAS without actually sending the LoR to ECFMG, this way the PDs will see that you have assigned the LoR but they won't be able to read it and they then will understand that it's not reached the ERAS inbox and may understand that.

You can also try to explain the situation to your current attending and tell him/her that you are running out of time and she/he may then write for you the LoR right now before your finish your externship with them.

I was sure I would send my LoRs by this week but there r some mistakes n I think it may get delayed.
Should I wait till at least one of my LoRs is uploaded or just apply for programs on 1st Sept........am just fed up of all this...
I already sent one LoR with an incorrect AAMC ID now I have to get back all the others corrected and resend them

 

[lee-usmle]

I was sure I would send my LoRs by this week but there r some mistakes n I think it may get delayed.
Should I wait till at least one of my LoRs is uploaded or just apply for programs on 1st Sept........am just fed up of all this...
I already sent one LoR with an incorrect AAMC ID now I have to get back all the others corrected and resend them

I tried my best to understand your question and I could not :redcheeks;
Please clarify further.

Are you going to send more LoRs next week?
Answer: Then I think they'll be uploaded in time.
Are you asking what to do if your LoRs are not scanned by September 1st?
Answer: Wait until they are uploaded and then apply to programs.

 

[prachu85_v]

hey

I tried my best to understand your question and I could not :redcheeks;
Please clarify further.

Are you going to send more LoRs next week?
Answer: Then I think they'll be uploaded in time.
Are you asking what to do if your LoRs are not scanned by September 1st?
Answer: Wait until they are uploaded and then apply to programs.

I sent one LoR with an incorrect AAMC ID now I have to resend it.....
If I apply for programs in mid Sept....have I lost a lot of opportunities for interviews????

 

[lee-usmle]

I sent one LoR with an incorrect AAMC ID now I have to resend it.....

You have to contact the ECFMG and tell them to ignore the initial wrong LoR.
Once again, if you are able to sent the LoR by next week then I think they'll make it in time even before September 1st.

If I apply for programs in mid Sept....have I lost a lot of opportunities for interviews????

I wouldn't say you'll lose many opportunities, I'd say you'll lose few opportunities. ERAS and ECFMG will strive to get all LoR uploaded before mid-September, they did not say before September 1st. So mid-September is a good time to apply.
But, if your LoRs are going to be late until October then what you can do. Is apply to programs in mid September and assign the LoR to them even if it's not scanned yet. This way program directors will see that you have an LoR, it's just not scanned yet and they may wait for the scanning for a week or two.

 

[prachu85_v]

hey

You have to contact the ECFMG and tell them to ignore the initial wrong LoR.
Once again, if you are able to sent the LoR by next week then I think they'll make it in time even before September 1st.

I wouldn't say you'll lose many opportunities, I'd say you'll lose few opportunities. ERAS and ECFMG will strive to get all LoR uploaded before mid-September, they did not say before September 1st. So mid-September is a good time to apply.
But, if your LoRs are going to be late until October then what you can do. Is apply to programs in mid September and assign the LoR to them even if it's not scanned yet. This way program directors will see that you have an LoR, it's just not scanned yet and they may wait for the scanning for a week or two.

About the incorrect AAMC ID LoR should I send another one or wait for the ECFMG email????
When do programs start looking at the applications????
Even if 1 or 2 LoRs r uploaded can I start applying or wait for all of them???

 

[lee-usmle]

About the incorrect AAMC ID LoR should I send another one or wait for the ECFMG email????

Am not sure what do you mean by ECFMG email. If you sent an LoR with incorrect AAMC ID then you need to call the ECFMG and tell them that you are correcting the LoR and will be sending a new LoR so that you ignore your previous one and do not upload it. They are likely not uploaded even if you don't call them because they may figure out the incorrect AAMC ID.

When do programs start looking at the applications????

Few programs start in early September, most programs will start in mid September.

Even if 1 or 2 LoRs r uploaded can I start applying or wait for all of them???

You can apply before waiting for all LoR to be uploaded if your LoR are going to be later than mid September. Otherwise don't do it if your LoR will be scanned before or at mid September.

 

[gauri]

LOR sent NOT Scanned ,can I Apply?????????????

Hi, I have sent my LORs , but still not scanned by ECFMG. I expect them to be scanned between SEPT 15-20th......
Can i apply to programs before LORS are uploaded??????
My scores are ordinary.....
will I lose many opportunities if i apply around 15th sept?????????
Please reply ......Thanks in advance......

 

[rasheed]

Hi, I have sent my LORs , but still not scanned by ECFMG.I expect them to be scanned between SEPT 15-20th......
Can i apply to programs before LORS are uploaded??????
My scores are ordinary.....
will I lose many opportunities if i apply around 15th sept?????????
Please reply ......Thanks in advance......

Sabio answered your question here
http://www.usmle-forums.com/residency-match-forum/3894-no-lors-yet-apply-early-wait.html#post14946
Please let me know if you have further queries

 

[lee-usmle]

ECFMG Instructions

Here's a quote from the ECFMG

If you are submitting a replacement LoR from the same writer, attach a note to it that reads, "This replaces the previous LoR." Otherwise, we might mistake it for the LoR we have already scanned and discard it without scanning.