What if you get that LOR AFTER Applying to Residency Programs ?

Sometimes good things in life come after the time you wanted them the most, which somehow takes the fizz out of them when they come to you, nevertheless they still might have some might remaining ;-)

Likewise, it is always possible that you finally get a new Letter (or letters) of Recommendation (LOR) AFTER you already applied - for example, if your observership term got over or the recommender was out of town. etc.

Oh a question first : Does ERAS accept new LORs after you already applied ? = Yes, they do ! But that will take time for the letter to reach them by post, to get scanned and available for download the programs and finally time for the programs to see the new document and download it. Lets say at least 7 to 10 days or more


1. In case your experience was ONGOING while you applied but got the LOR later, it may worth your time to send an email (or even better to call) all programs about the availability of the new letter of recommendation. Tell them that it will be available on ERAS shortly and also mention that if they wanted, you could fax it to them (since ERAS thingie takes time as I mentioned above). Now, to be able to fax the letter, two things are automatically implied:

a. Send the original LOR to ERAS as soon as you get it - BUT make a copy of that letter before you do so for faxing

b. Obviously this can happen if you DO NOT "waive" your right to look at the LOR (an analysis of waive or not to waive LORs will be posted soon)

Now, I understand that some recommenders might insist (especially US LORs) that they will send the LOR to ERAS directly - in that case you may not be able to fax it to the programs but you can always write an email to programs to applied along with providing them with the email address or phone number of your recommender


2. In case you land an a clinical experience or a research project AFTER you applied, you might wanna still send an email to all the programs you applied along with providing them with the email address or phone number of your potential recommender.

[ Note: At this point, I would also like to point out that getting an experience would make you eligible for some more programs that you have not applied to before - so consider applying to those programs after emailing them to find out if they would consider your application.]



Psst....You might begin to understand why its a good tip to have all email addresses of programs that you applied to, to be stored in a separate file on your computer with commas separating them. So when the time comes to update programs, you merely have to copy paste that list and put them onto the BCC section when you compose that email. Other way to do so is to store them on your online email address as a group and then all you have to do is compose an email to that group!


Also, do not forget that some physicians would not mind calling up some programs personally for recommending you (depends on how your rapport builds up during your experience). This can be pretty powerful interview-fetcher if you can manage it ;-)

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