It is required that you submit the cover sheet along with a LOR. What if you already have your LOR from an attending earlier before the application opened and would like to to submit it - do you check I waive or I do not waive? I have read that not waiving may be looked upon as a red flag. Comments?

Needs to have the cover sheet. Follow the ERAS rules and make your life easier.

From now on, your dead uncle and almost dead priest can't write you a fake LOR anymore. You will have to take it to the grave and have it stamped and blessed before you can take that LOR for the test drive

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Something that bothers you, just flush it off and wipe the remaining patiently. RS-Stanislas

Waitaminute. How are we supposed to waive it if the attending gave the letter to us directly? Dammit. I hope its not a red flag. Getting paranoid the closer I am to finishing MyERAS.

i already sent mine, and i have the same problem as you my friend. i already saw it, but "didn't" if you know what i mean.

i'm not too worried, and i'll tell you why. there were 12 cases, and "most" of these 12 cases the program director contacted the letter writter, and found probably no one, or found out somehow a false letter. if they contacted your letter writter, they would vouch for you because they actually wrote it. ECFMG just validates that it is an original copy by visual inspection.

this whole waive or do not waive mess kinda stinks, but you are right that your letter will not mean as much if you've "seen" it, (or you do not waive your right to see it).

12 cases, over a few years, 30,000+ applicants/year, 3 letters + per person, comes out to being 100,000+. i would be concerned if you did something to the letter, and then the person who wrote it found out.

we should be fine.

The fact that you waive or do not waive your rights for LOR's is made available for PD's?

yes, they know, and i don't care what people might say, IT DOES make a difference. you want to waive your right.

if you dont waive youre right no one will take it seriously at all. you may as well throw it away. but remember waiving your right doesnt mean you cant see it if its offered to you.

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Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

thanks for clarifying steph, because i was getting a bit worked up by this ECFMG email i just got. because i have seen my letter (as it was offered to me), but i checked that i waived my right.

not a problem at all. when you give the letter writer your form you have checked the box. it is up to them to show you or not; they are aware that you have waived the right. Many people see their letters.

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Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.