number of letters

In advance, this might seem petty, but it is something that has been on my/my classmates' mind recently.

In a Q/A session, my med school's administrator for residency application (all specialties) responded to the following question in this way:

Q. If programs we are applying to require 3 LOR, but we have 4 letters, is there any benefit to sending all 4? Or should we stick to just sending 3?

A. If a program asks for 3 letters, only assign three. I know it seems like a little thing, but programs will actually take note if you send 4 when they asked for 3.


The head of our ortho residency program said it is fine to send 4 even if a school states they "require 3" or "recommend 3."

***Does it hurt to send 4 if a school has the number 3 listed anywhere on their website next to the number of letters of recommendation?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Don't think it matters if you send 4 personally. However, do not send 5 (which some applicants have done) - that gets a bit much.

good luck --

wnl

If a program requires a "minimum" of three letters, is it frowned upon to only submit the minimum and not 4 letters of req.?

Absolutely not - submit your 3 and be happy and remember 3 very strong letters of support are better than 3 and 1 not so strong, etc...