LOR deadline

LOR have to be in by Nov 1st at most programs. You should ask no later than mid Oct to give them time to write it. The sooner you ask the better but sometimes you have no control over this if you're doing rotations late. But don't sweat it if your letters aren't in till late Oct. Just get your application in as soon as you can (early sept if possible)...the letters can be sent later.

Letters from orthopods are preferable. Only send letters from non-orthopods if you don't have enough or if a gen surgeon will write you a walk-on-water letter. Don't send medicine/peds/obgyn letters in my opinion. But then again, i've heard of people sending peds letters. I just don't think they'll be taken as seriously.

A few programs may require letters (with the exception of the Dean's Letter) and all other application material to be in by mid-October. If you have a particular program in mind where you really want to be invited for interview, check their deadlines just to be sure. You might want to also come up with a polite way of getting back with the attendings to make sure they mailed their LORs for you. Hardly anything worse than missing on a deadline for a program you want because the LOR did not arrive to ERAS on time.