Impact of Single Away?

[AI_Question]

Hi all, I’m applying neurosurgery this upcoming cycle. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I had to take a bit of time off during third year and now will only be able to do one away and one home sub-I before ERAS submission. Everything else is pretty solid about my app (H/HP clinicals, lots of research) and I’m giving myself 4 weeks to study for Step 2, never had an issue with taking tests.

I have mentors willing to vouch for me in a free form letter, but I don’t know what the calculus is for an optimal application. 

Should I apply with 3 letters, do an October sub-I and then upload the last one after submission? Or have a full 4 letter complement with 2 mentor letters and one away letter, with no additional aways? How damaging is this?

[Guest]

I had a similar question posted here about a month ago. Just do the 2nd away in October and have the letter uploaded afterwards.

[Guest]

You can apply with 3 letters, and by that I mean when you submit ERAS there must be 3 letters assigned to each program.

There are some programs that require 4 letters, and you can assign an extra letter to those programs once it comes in.