Letter of recommendation for residency (LoR) is the essential part of entering the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) residency program. The admission officers will not review an ERAS application without two to four letters of recommendation, even if other package elements are perfect. The fundamentals of a letter of recommendation are Letter ID, applicant data, and personal statement of the residency application. It allows final approval for selection by the admission committee.
LoR for residency is a reproduction of the academic performance of an applicant. It serves as a source of information about the unique qualities of a candidate. Unlike resumes which have many similarities between applicants, LOR allows distinguishing the factors that highlight the exceptional features of an applicant. Their purpose is to strengthen the application and increase the chances of entering the ERAS program subsequently.
ERAS may demand LoRs from specific departments. Submitting more LoRs than requested is not welcome. Some programs review only the first letter to conclude an applicant while ignoring the others.