If a Program Asks for 3 Letters of Recommendation Can I Upload 4

• #2

I want to assign four LORs to each program so they will get a more comprehensive impression of me (in instance that one of the letters is not very positive).
Simply I've as well heard that if a program only require three LORs, they will randomly discard 1 of the iv LORs
Is that true?
Thank you!

i'm applying this cycle every bit well and then i don't know this from feel simply i heard at programs where i rotated at that they don't like when ppl seem to "non be able to follow directions" and send actress LORs (which they won't look at the extras, non certain if its random or not or just by the society they were downloaded). sounds similar its non in your best involvement to send 4 if they ask for 3. i know we don't get to read our letters but if the person u asked to write your rec didn't give u a feeling that they would write a potent one, u might not wanna use that letter.

• #3

Where do programs land their directions? Is it on ERAS or their websites. Information technology'd be hard for me to follow directions if I don't read them in the get-go identify.

• #5

Alot of programs' websites say either:

Three letters of recommendations
At least iii messages of recommendations

Never do they write:
No more than three letters of recommendations
More than two but less than four letters
Hey don't send me four or I will throw one out and and then pee on your application.

I don't retrieve it matters. If they come across iv but want iii, they will print out iii. I don't think information technology really takes an incredible corporeality of effort not to click on the 4th link for an LOR. And if information technology really pisses off the person, is that someone you truly want to work with?

Now if you send two, you deserve what'south coming to you. Which is absolutely nothing. Eastward-static.

• #seven

Alot of programs' websites say either:

3 letters of recommendations
At least three messages of recommendations

Never exercise they write:
No more than three messages of recommendations
More than 2 merely less than four letters
Hey don't send me four or I volition throw ane out and then pee on your awarding.

I don't recall information technology matters. If they meet 4 but want iii, they will print out 3. I don't think it really takes an incredible amount of effort not to click on the fourth link for an LOR. And if it really pisses off the person, is that someone you truly want to work with?

Now if you send two, you deserve what's coming to you lot. Which is absolutely nothing. Due east-static.

really i was talking to a fellow today who was on his admissions committee (urban, state university based, primary care specialty) when he was a resident and he told me that at his program, they just didn't read the extra letter of the alphabet (he didn't say how they chose which 1 out of the four was dropped if someone sent four). but he did say that they didn't have time (and he kinda said it as if they institute it abrasive if someone sent more than what was asked esp since they were volunteering their fourth dimension with everything else they have to do) to read more than than what they asked for (three, dunno if it said max or not on his programme's website since he's non in my specialty of interest; for my intended spec, they did not say on their website how many lors i had to transport in but they did tell me three when i emailed and i found out on freida later that it too said 3 if u look under the "general info" tab for the program)...so but have that for any its worth (i'm not saying what he said is in favor or confronting any particular argument since everyone can decide on their own what they want to do). i know nosotros're all stressed out but i ask myself, too, would it actually make a difference if i sent that extra letter since i practice take 4+ and why do i feel similar i need to send the actress? like i said b4, i decided, for me, but to transport what they inquire for and so at present i'one thousand more in the stage of having to decide which letter to drop for which programs...i'k certain nigh programs won't Non interview someone b/c they sent an extra lor (exc maybe that one highly competitive one where i rotated where i heard the comment about applicants 'non post-obit instructions') tho u but won't know that they didn't read one of your letters is all...so prob no biggie though i'm not the gambler blazon so i won't and i think at to the lowest degree iii of my lors r prob sufficient since the recommenders said that they could write "strong" lors.

Concluding edited: Sep 9, 2011

• #9

Otherwise, the programs get what they get. And if the program is dinging students for erring on the side of more rather than less in the face of less than articulate directions, so that'due south probably non the almost warm and fuzzy grooming environment.

I totally agree! If a program is that anal-retentive (with less than articulate directions), I'll count it equally a blessing when I become rejected from there and end upwards matching at a warm and fuzzy programme Consider this my litmus test for programs But just like you I'll be retracting these words if I take to end up scrambling in March fourth dimension..haha

• #x

as i said b4, i don't think it really matters and its really a personal decision. if they actually only desire 3, we'll about probable never know if they "dropped" and didn't expect at 1 of the 4 sent (like my young man friend said they do as his program) anyways. i've only heard a nasty comment at 1 competitive plan most the 'not following directions' thing. though my school did tell me not to send more than than 3 if that'south what they ask for. i'chiliad in the same predicament since i have 4 LORs coming (accept 3 already and the ane missing is the i from a large proper name and won't come til late sept or early oct) and take to make up one's mind as well.

Terminal edited: Sep nineteen, 2011

• #thirteen

i have 4 letters assigned to programs, but the last letter writer will not be able to submit my letter till much later. So they have 3/iv assigned letters. This should be fine right? even if the last letter of the alphabet even never makes it?

I'd "uncheck" the 4th letter from your programs. You don't want them waiting on a alphabetic character that's never going to come. If it makes it, yous tin can then add it later.

I asked the program coordinator's communication at my home institution's OBGYN dept. They say "we require 3 letters" on the website. She then said I could submit three OBGYN letters and 1 medicine letter (so at least one program confirmed "nosotros require" = at least).

I'm with all you lot: the stupid "we require" language is bogusly cryptic. Additionally, we're all friggin overachieving med students and then of course nosotros'll do/give more unless explicitly told non to. And don't even get me started on programs that say they want 4, and so seem to count the MSPE/Dean's letter of the alphabet. What a mess.

Last edited: Sep 19, 2011

• #xiv

I'd "uncheck" the fourth letter from your programs. You don't want them waiting on a alphabetic character that's never going to come. If it makes it, you can then add it later on.

FYI, this is non necessary. I tin't meet a alphabetic character until information technology is downloaded to my programme. If you assign a letter and it never is uploaded to ERAS, I would never know the divergence. I can't see that letters have been assigned but not uploaded.

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Source: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/sending-4-lors-harmful-if-the-program-only-require-3.853688/