Reference letters for FM

[Fortress]

Hey everyone,

I am applying to FM and planning my electives. I am in a bit of a conundrum. I have a 2-week block where I can either take either a dermatology elective or a palliative care elective. I really like dermatology and feel that it will be super helpful for residency later on and I don't have much interest in palliative care. However, I feel forced to take the palliative elective because I can get a letter from it that speaks to my empathy and communication skills etc. I won't have any psych or pediatrics letters to cover that aspect. So far I have a letter from neurology (I did well but by the looks of it the staff won't care too much to write a detailed letter for someone not applying to neuro) and a letter from FM clinics (staff genuinely liked me but his english is not good so not sure). Coming up, I have FM hospitalist + IM electives (GI, cardio, ERC) + Emergency + derm/palliative.

I am just stressed about letters. Is a letter from Dermatology useful for FM? How about letters from IM?

[JohnGrisham]

13 hours ago, Fortress said:

Hey everyone,

I am applying to FM and planning my electives. I am in a bit of a conundrum. I have a 2-week block where I can either take either a dermatology elective or a palliative care elective. I really like dermatology and feel that it will be super helpful for residency later on and I don't have much interest in palliative care. However, I feel forced to take the palliative elective because I can get a letter from it that speaks to my empathy and communication skills etc. I won't have any psych or pediatrics letters to cover that aspect. So far I have a letter from neurology (I did well but by the looks of it the staff won't care too much to write a detailed letter for someone not applying to neuro) and a letter from FM clinics (staff genuinely liked me but his english is not good so not sure). Coming up, I have FM hospitalist + IM electives (GI, cardio, ERC) + Emergency + derm/palliative.

I am just stressed about letters. Is a letter from Dermatology useful for FM? How about letters from IM?

Any letter that talks about being a good clerk will be helpful for residency, and IM would be great.  Derm could be fine too. I wouldnt do palliative just for a letter, because you likely might work with multiple preceptors on a service like that and end up not getting a letter anyways.