I know that Wash U requires a special form sent to all of your letter of rec writers in which they do further "evaluation." Although I don't know of anymore, I am sure there are plenty of programs with additional requirements. I was wondering if there is a place other than the programs websites to find all of these additional requirements.

I imagine the only option of finding out about all of these additional special requirements would be to actually go to the websites. This is why I wanted people to compile a list in this forum, so that there would be a centralized place and everyone would be able to view it them all at once as opposed to searching 30-60 websites depending on how many programs an individual applies to.

http://www.orthogate.org/forums/viewtop ... quirements

www.osrr.org. Check out the residency programs section and get info on letters of rec requirement through FRIEDA

For programs that request 3 letters, is it OK to send 4?

For programs that request 3 letters, is it OK to send 4?

I am not trying to be a jerk here, but why would you INTENTIONALLY not follow their request/instructions? It may or may not matter (depending on the individual program) but why take the chance? What will the extra letter get you? I can remember several programs that frown upon applicants taking "liberties" with the application process, whether it is LOR's, supplemental apps, strange personal statements, etc. There are enough well qualified applicants you are competing against that giving programs an easy way to screen you out (i.e. dropping applicants whose file is incomplete or improperly formatted) is just shooting yourself in the foot, but thats just my opinion.

For programs that request 3 letters, is it OK to send 4?

I am not trying to be a jerk here, but why would you INTENTIONALLY not follow their request/instructions? It may or may not matter (depending on the individual program) but why take the chance? What will the extra letter get you? I can remember several programs that frown upon applicants taking "liberties" with the application process, whether it is LOR's, supplemental apps, strange personal statements, etc. There are enough well qualified applicants you are competing against that giving programs an easy way to screen you out (i.e. dropping applicants whose file is incomplete or improperly formatted) is just shooting yourself in the foot, but thats just my opinion.

I second this. My PD states that you should just follow their directions too.

I think the issue here with how many letters to send deals with unclear wording. I can understand not sending an extra letter to programs who say, "Only 3 letters of rec." But, most say, "you need to following for a complete application, x, y, z, 3 letters of rec, etc." I take that to mean, in order to have a complete application, they require at least 3 letters. Since ERAS allows you to send 4, where is the harm in sending an extra one?

Since ERAS allows you to send 4, where is the harm in sending an extra one?

what if only some people sent in 4? Would that be "fair" to those who did not? (I dont know the answer, I am just making a point). If they only want to look at three, to make it "even" amongst all their applicants, how should they pick the one to throw out? What is the fourth letter going to get you that the third did not? If you thinkyou have three mediocre letters then one good one will not make up for it. When I was interviewing applicants and reviewing applications it was easy to see what the letter writers thought after the second and certainly after the third letter. Do whatever you want, but I am telling you that you may hurt (i.e. get screened out) yourself at some places who think you cant even follow instructions on the application. we would get literally over 350 apps for 3 spots. most of the ones we took seriously all had USMLE over 235 (once you are over that the difference is only a few questions, so to us the difference b/t a 240 and 250 does not matter). A lot(not all) were AOA. Everyone had "interesting" personal statements/stories on why they wanted to go into ortho. An applicant that has a incomplete/erroneus application makes it easy to put in the "no interview pile". It seems dumb and trivial, but we were not/are not the only place to have such screening to get the interviewee pool to a reasonable size. play it safe, just do exactly what they ask for. there is "no harm" in that.

"we would get literally over 350 apps for 3 spots. most of the ones we took seriously all had USMLE over 235 (once you are over that the difference is only a few questions, so to us the difference b/t a 240 and 250 does not matter)." Sounds like Kalamazoo is out of my reach ! Guess us low 230 guys are just jokes Since only 235+ gets a serious look.

Sounds like Kalamazoo is out of my reach ! Guess us low 230 guys are just jokes Since only 235+ gets a serious look.

that was just the previous chairmans number he used. That number is not out of wack with many other programs cutoffs I have seen, so I dont know why that merits the eye roll icon? I have no idea what the new chairman will use this year, although since he was already on staff it may not change or he may choose to do his own thing. Smaller programs, in my experience, often have somewhat higher cutoffs than you might think b/c they need to know you are a good test taker b/c they cannot afford to have you fail your written ortho boards b/c it screws up their pass rate more adversely if 1 guy fails than if 1 guy out of a class of 10/yr does. The RRC looks at pass rate as part of their review, and likes it when programs have a 100% pass rate (which kalamazoo does). Dont assume that just b/c somewhere is "just a community program" that their standards for admission are lesser vs bigger university programs

Sounds like Kalamazoo is out of my reach ! Guess us low 230 guys are just jokes Since only 235+ gets a serious look.

that was just the previous chairmans number he used. That number is not out of wack with many other programs cutoffs I have seen, so I dont know why that merits the eye roll icon? I have no idea what the new chairman will use this year, although since he was already on staff it may not change or he may choose to do his own thing. Smaller programs, in my experience, often have somewhat higher cutoffs than you might think b/c they need to know you are a good test taker b/c they cannot afford to have you fail your written ortho boards b/c it screws up their pass rate more adversely if 1 guy fails than if 1 guy out of a class of 10/yr does. The RRC looks at pass rate as part of their review, and likes it when programs have a 100% pass rate (which kalamazoo does). Dont assume that just b/c somewhere is "just a community program" that their standards for admission are lesser vs bigger university programs

When you put it that way I can relate to what you're saying in the previous post(s).

I agree that some programs have cutoffs near 230, but just a word of reassurance for applicants reading this post. In my experience and those of many applicants I met last year on the trail, the vast majority of programs do not have strict cutoffs that are quite that high. In fact there are a number of big "academic" programs that were willing to interview guys in the 220s if the rest of their application was strong.