Special requirements

I also did not realize that CWRU wanted an undergrad transcript. I couldn't find any mention of it on their website. However I did email their "more information" person, and she confirmed that they would like an undergrad transcript...hard copy acceptable.

As for the number of LORs, I discussed this with my dean's office. Their recommendation has always been to send what is requested...no more, no less. My school has had a very good record of placing people in top programs, so I am willing to trust their advice.

University of Michigan's website mentions a "Voluntary ID" form to be completed also but I spoke to the department secretary today and she says that all the info is also on the electronic ERAS application so you are no longer required to fill out this form.

For everyones info... I would advise everyone to beware of the info posted here. Some of it is dead wrong! While most of it is correct, would you take someone else's word for it?

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Lantus,

On your dean's office getting people into good residencies. . . . .From my experience the dean's office generally has good advice for getting into residency, but unless your residency contact in the dean's office is an orthopod, I would take all advice with a grain of salt. I have no doubt that people match very well from your school, but believe you me that's based on each person's individual merit and not the dean's office. "I" kicked butt on the wards, "I" pulled down great letters, and "I" did well on the boards. So I feel as though "I" got myself into a great residency and not our dean's office. our head guy in med skool was an internal medicine guy. He has absolutely no clue what it takes to match ortho. so just be careful about the advice that you get from the residency office. most of it is good, however some of it is just off base. A good rule of thumb is to go right to the horses mouth and find out what's acceptable in terms of the app.

Bone Jock,

My intention was never to suggest that anyone's dean's office could get him or her into a residency program, and I apologize if that's how my post read. I could not agree more that candidates earn their way into residency. Personally, I think that people get way too worked up about application processes in general, and I agree with The pounder that everything on this board (my posts included) should be read with a very critical eye.

I was trying to add a different perspective to this debate by sharing what I perceived to be some good advice from a source that people have not mentioned. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the dean's office just because they aren't orthopods. The woman in charge of all things ERAS related at my school has (I'm guessing) 15 yrs of experience of guiding 10-12 applicants/yr through the ortho match process. That's a lot of familiarity with the process to dismiss with a grain of salt. I guess my point was just that there are a lot of potential information sources out there.

As for going directly to the programs, that's ideal for determining if 4 letters will be acceptable. However, there is a difference between acceptable and advantageous. I have always been told (i.e., for grad school, med school, etc.) that if you have three "outstanding" letters, a fourth "outstanding" letter may or may not add to your application. However, if you have three "outstanding" letters, a fourth "good" letter can introduce some rather unpleasant doubt. I don't pretend to have any clue what the right answer is for the match, but I do think it is something worth considering.

Aargh, this is driving me nuts.

My office has also told me to send only the # of letters requested. And this office really seems to know what they're doing!

My problem is that I took time off to do research, and, though I've got 3 really outstanding letters (or so I've been told), I'm thinking I really ought to submit the research letter just to explain my time off. What do you guys think?
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Here's my list of extra stuff:
LA County-Harbor-UCLA -- MCAT
UCLA Med Center -- MCAT written in PS
UCSD -- MCAT after CV in PS, Undergrad Tx as 4th LoR (originals can be sent)
Iowa -- Undergrad Tx (hard copy) -- did not see info about MCAT or SAT scores
Kalamazoo -- Questionairre scanned & attached to PS
Mayo -- Undergrad & Grad Tx, CV
NYU/HJD -- why HJD specifically in PS, other info (check their website)
Akron Gen Med -- Med stdnt performance eval (what is this? the residency coordinator never replied to my e-mail)
Cleveland Clinic -- Cleveland Clinic Application Form
Summa -- CV ?
U Pitt -- CV

If you guys have advice on my LoR question, I'd REALLY appreciate it! (Though I guess it's another case of the blind leading the blind, right?)
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h well:

Regarding the number of letters. Although it is a painful hoop through which to jump, you should send the number requested by a program if that program has a specific number. For schools that specify "at least" or do not specify, send four letters.

Mayo, for example asks for 2 letters, but is thrilled to receive 4 if you send them.

Hopkins, on the other hand, requires 4 CLINICAL letters, and at least one from someone in Internal Medicine. This is an institutional requirement, not a hoop placed by the orthopaedics department there.

Yes, there are a painful number of hoops, but this will all be over soon enough. Simply do your homework and find out what each program wants to receive.

As for LOR forms, if your school will not go to the trouble of scanning in extra copies of LORs with the specific forms attached, simply have your letter writers send the forms by mail directly. No program will have a problem with this. Many would PREFER the ERAS method, but they will be happy to get the form however it comes.

Regarding a separate CV, whoever was complaining about "having" to do this earlier is frankly crazy. You should mail a paper CV to any program that will let you add it to your record. Some programs do not want to receive these until they have a paper file for you, later in October or November. However, keep in mind that ERAS puts some information that is not all that pertinent, and leaves out some fairly pertinent stuff. A slick, single page CV formatted how you want to format it and presenting the strengths of your experiences is so much more powerful than a lengthy, ugly CAF (2 pages are acceptable only if you truly have a number of publications to list.)

Where did you get that info about the IM letter for Johns Hopkins? I looked all over their website, saw the four CLINICAL letters thing, but nothing about IM. Not that it would be that hard, but I just don't have one of those.
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From looking at the CCF website, my understanding is that the Cleveland Clinic Application form is only if you are applying to a program not participating in ERAS or the SFMatch. Can anyone confirm or deny???

Hmmm... yeah, I was trying to figure that one out, too. What I posted is just *my* interpretation of the various webpages (and pages like Mayo and CCF can be rather ambiguous). Unless I get a chance to contact the program and ask, I figure I'll just fill out the form and send it, and if they don't want to read it, they can just toss it!

btw, i'm also curious about the Hopkins IM LoR. where'd that info come from?

The way I'm going to play it is not send it unless they ask for it. I've already emailed them w/o a response so I'm not even going to try again. Besides, having not rotated there, my chances are already pretty slim.

Well,
Found out that the info about the IM letter for Hopkins is wrong, none needed. The reply I got was "just another one of those rumors" )

As far as the CCF application, right after they list programs affiliated with ERAS they say:
"For any programs that do not have a special application process, applicants will submit a Cleveland Clinic application."
Presumably, "special application process refers to ERAS. So, for ortho you don't need to fill out the CCF application.

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New info on the Univ. of Colorado program.
I spoke with Katherine Robbins, the res. contact person....They have extended the application deadline from Oct 1 to Nov 1, and do NOT need a CV other than what is included in the CAF. Good luck with the applications.
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I apologize for the misinformation on Hopkins.

I was trying to give examples, not specific information. You might double check the Mayo two letters as well.

Both of these were rules last year when I applied. The IM letter was not a rumor, it was just not current information.

In some profound way, I am very pleased that I do not have to keep track of so many useless pieces of information anymore. . .

Only four months and all this is over for all of you as well.

Again, sorry for the mistake.

bbmf03, OldSouthernBones -- thanks for the info!

I thought I would bring this back to the top now that the students of the class of 2004 are beginning to apply. If anyone has any other information to add to this post, please do so. Thanks. Good luck.

Anybody know the best way to send them your CV via ERAS ??
I have a really pimp lookin' CV, but when I type all that info into ERAS it spits it out all jumbled and disorganized, and I can't seem to get the text to line up or be spaced properly no matter what. Sucks to spend an hour or two coming up with a really nice CV, and then to send that sh_tty looking thing that ERAS spits out. Anybody heard if you can just scan your CV in and send it seperately, leaving the CV info on the CAF out ??
Just a thought..

Just as a comment.. How about all these special requirements ?? I can just envision the chaos and pain of checking this box, not checking that box for every frickin' program I apply too. Ugh
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.

dude, the average program gets over 400 applications with the eras information and 3-4 letters of rec. The last thing they want is a "pimp looking CV" to read through on top of all that. Just fill out ERAS and submit.

Sorry, shouldn't have used "pimp lookin' ", when allI really meant was "straight and alligned with the margins"
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.

I wanted to send the CV as I have it formatted, INSTEAD of (or in the place of) the ERAS one. I dont' care, but my CV in ERAS, no matter what I do, ends up looking like this:

Activities:
1.) Playboy photoshoot powder and body make up "applicator"2.) Official beer taster for local drinking establishments (weekends only)3.)blah blabh blah...
and so on, no matter how I line it up, hit return/tab/space bar, whatever on the input screen, it's all run together when I view it.

I don't want to send any more than I have to, but I dont' think programs want headings followed by 5-6 line run on sentences either. Just wondering if there were any other ways to do it so you get around having to use ERAS formatting. Then again I guess if everybody's looks like that, it doesn't matter.