Special requirements

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.)

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:

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

This has already been mentioned a bunch, but I know Newark wants undergrad. transcripts. Just curious, where did you see that Case wants this info. as well?

I'm sending 4 letters unless the programs specifies otherwise on their webpage. No way I'm calling everywhere to ask.
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I know alot of pixels have been spilt over this one is the past, but after getting that HJD book (previous post), I'd be hesitant to send any more LOR's than what's asked. Zuckerman mentions like twice or three times that it looks bad and shows 'lack of attention to detail' to send more than asked for. So i dunno. dosent seem like should be a big deal, i agree, but i guess you shouldn't bend over for the soap and give em a reason to f- you. )

Case Western Requires an Undergraduate Transcript.

Anyone know of the other programs that requires Undergraduate Transcripts?

I think the best thing to do (especially if your applying to more than 20 programs) is to just go ahead and submit four to all the programs. I highly doubt anyone is gonna hold you from an interview for submitting one more LOR than what they require.

The University of Iowa website also indicates that in addition to sending a scanned med school transcript via ERAS, you should mail a hard copy of your college transcript to them at:

University of Iowa Hosptials & Clinics
Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery 01008JPP
C/O Jeanette Marsh
Iowa City, IA 52242-1009
(319)356-2595

NJ Med is the Newark program, which is different than the UMDNJ program in New Brunswick. I can't believe Newark needs my friggin undergrad info.

I'm having nightmares of endless lines of hoops...everywhere I look...hoops
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University of Rochester has a form that needs to be filled out by the Chairman of the department at your school and I think Iowa requires MCAT and SAT scores

I see that "NJ med school" requires some stuff,
does anyone know which program in Jersy

Thanks :pimp:

Anyone been able to get the "Voluntary Id" form needed for application to Univ. of Michigan? It's mentioned on the website but I couldn't find it for downloading and I got no response to my e-mail to the dept. secretary. I guess I'll call her if you guys haven't seen the form either.

Must be nice to have such helpful and cooperative staff at your school! I wish that I had such luxuries! Maybe my school could call your school and get some lessons in how to do things to HELP it's own students. For some reason they just don't understand that concept!
Sorry. Just had to vent a little. :smokin: :evilgrin:

last year, i was able to attach my professional looking cv onto my medical school transcript. that way, i didn't have to sacrifice my 4th letter. so, every place i interviewed had a great looking cv and all my letters! my med school was very helpful and didn't mind scanning my cv at the end of the transcript.

Just a note - the supplementary form required by UMDNJ (at Newark) is not for your LoR writers...rather it's a form to put your SAT/USMLE scores/etc.

One take one sending more than three letters if the program only asks for three. Our director says that he tosses one of the four an only reads three. It is possible that he will toss your worst, but it is also possible that he will toss your best. He said it doesn't hurt your standing to send more than three, but only three will be read and make your file.

they get a CV from ERAS...no need to send in another one.

Ooh, ooh, I forgot to ask.

For those programs above that ask for a CV, do you guys know if that means a hard copy, or is that just the CV that they get from ERAS? It's friggin ridiculous if they need a hard copy as well...I guess them's the breaks.

Word