Sending too many or too few letters may disqualify your application.
Managing recommendation letters for residency programs can be stressful, even though attempts to streamline it have been introduced recently. The development of an electronic residency application service helps applicants manage all parts of their applications. Yet, each program has different requirements, and applicants must still individually research the residencies they'd like to attend to make sure they are sending the correct number of recommendation letters. These letters are an important component of the application.
Instructions
1. Check the residency program's website. The number of recommendation letters you will need should be clearly outlined in the application procedures section. You will need to check the website of each program you are applying to. Be sure you are looking at the application requirements for the proper specialty and year.
2. Contact the admission's office. If you cannot access the program's website or believe the information is outdated, email or phone the residency selections office and ask. Make sure to ask which types of recommendation letters are required.
3. Confirm how many of each type of recommendation you need. One type of recommendation letter is from a faculty member of your choice. Some schools require an official departmental letter, which is a less personal, more objective letter written not by one faculty member but generated by a department chairperson. Other schools may require a dean's letter, which is a letter written by your Dean's Office.
4. Never assume one residency program will be like another. While some programs will only require three letters, others may require as many as six. These extra letters are sometimes required if you are applying for an advanced specialty.
5. Determine whether you are required to send a specific number of recommendations or a range. Always be sure to ask what will be done with extraneous letters. Generally, do not send extra letters unless they will strengthen your application significantly.
Tags: recommendation letters, each program, extra letters, faculty member, letter which
