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Edit: I merged the two threads. -Shyrem
(This thread is for folks applying for 2012 matriculation) to ask questions about letters of recommendation.
Note: most of this is copy pasta from the respective allo thread here.
As always,each thread has a search function you should use first before posting.
LOR Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kinds of letters do I need to apply to DO schools?
1a. But doesn't every school have different letter requirements?
1b. Do I have to have a letter from a DO?
Take a look at ChocolateBear's spreadsheet here.
1c. But do I really really have to get X type of letter? (2 non-science, 1 science, a letter from my PI)
2. I am a non-traditional student and have been out of school for awhile. Can I get around the letter requirements?
3. My school has a medical school admissions committee, and they produce a committee letter. But the letter won't be released until really LATE! (August, September, October). Can I just skip the committee and collect my own letters?
The general wisdom on this topic is that if your school has a committee, USE IT! If you don't, you will be asked why and will need a very good reason. You are circumventing the committee at your own risk.
4. How/when can I submit LORs to AACOMAS?
Unlike the AMCAS procedure, LORs are not submitted to AACOMAS. The only items you should be sending to AACOMAS are your college transcripts. Letters of recommendation are submitted directly to your school.
5. Do I have to know which letters are going to which school when I first submit my AACOMAS application?
6. Is it in my best interest to have my letter writers write different letters for each school?
7. What are letter services such as Interfolio, and why do people use them?
Interfolio and other companies provide secure online letter holding services. You can have your letters uploaded to these services at any time so that you're not scrambling at the last minute (or during the summer!) to get letters into your application. This can be especially beneficial when you are 9 months or so out from your planned application cycle, but know the professor you have NOW will write you a great letter. You can have them write the letter, upload it to a letter service, and then many months later have the letter sent to AACOMAS once the application opens. When you do this, you have the ability to add on both your AACOMAS ID and the Letter ID to the letter. All your letter writer needs to do is upload the letter (or mail it in) on letterhead and with a signature. These sites are secure and they do not allow you to read the letter beforehand.
8. What else about letters do I need to know?
Your letter must be SIGNED, and should be on OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD whenever possible. This is something that holds people up every year. Some schools will even hold up your application because of this.
9. How should I ask someone for a letter of req?
(On this one, I will give CougarMD's advice from the allo thread
For each letter writer, I prepared a packet. In the packet I had:
A list of all of my science grades (or non-science grades for a non-science prof)
A copy of my resume
A rough draft of my personal statement
A guide to writing medical school letters (which can be found by googling), a reminder that the letter needed to be signed and on letterhead.
Before handing them this (because who wants all that before they even say yes!) I asked them point blank if they "would feel comfortable writing me a strong letter of recommendation for medical school". Always do this in person!!! If they hesitate...walk away. Seriously. You don't want this person writing your letter.
When they enthusiastically said yes, I pulled the packet out of my backpack and gave it to them.
Because I used Interfolio, I did not need to provide them with my AMCAS ID or Letter ID, but instead told them that they would get an email from Interfolio that evening with instructions on how to upload the letter. Give them a FIRM deadline (2-4 weeks seems to work best) for when you need the letter. Don't ask at the last minute. Don't ask when you think a billion other people will be asking. Do offer to provide them with any other supplementary information they would like. And do give them a thank-you note (and maybe a Starbucks card) when they submit the letter.
10. OMG! My letter writer has not written my letter!!! It has been minutes/hours/days/weeks/months and I'm freaking out!! What do I do!?
First, stop by or email and gently remind them that you need the letter by X date. If this doesn't work, I have given them a premature Thank-You note with a small token, and this seems to light a fire. I recommended this method to someone on SDN last year and it apparently worked like a charm.
If this isn't working....you do the same thing you do whenever something goes awry - find a plan B. Ask someone else...two other people even, just in case this person does not come through. You can't have too many letters. But you can have too few.
11. Do I have to waive my right to see the letters?
No. But if you don't schools might not see them as letters that carry much weight. Waive your right. If you know the person well enough, you should have a pretty good idea of what they are going to write.
12. Can I submit my application without the letters? Say I have an extra LOR that I'd like to send to all my schools, do I have to snail mail to it them all?
You will submit your LORs with your SECONDARIES. You can add a letter at ANY time in Interfolio, and they will distribute it for you.
This is just copy pasta from the allo thread. Please help me make this better and reply to any to which you have a respectable answer to. Thanks!
(This thread is for folks applying for 2012 matriculation) to ask questions about letters of recommendation.
Note: most of this is copy pasta from the respective allo thread here.
As always,each thread has a search function you should use first before posting.
LOR Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kinds of letters do I need to apply to DO schools?
1a. But doesn't every school have different letter requirements?
1b. Do I have to have a letter from a DO?
Take a look at ChocolateBear's spreadsheet here.
1c. But do I really really have to get X type of letter? (2 non-science, 1 science, a letter from my PI)
2. I am a non-traditional student and have been out of school for awhile. Can I get around the letter requirements?
3. My school has a medical school admissions committee, and they produce a committee letter. But the letter won't be released until really LATE! (August, September, October). Can I just skip the committee and collect my own letters?
The general wisdom on this topic is that if your school has a committee, USE IT! If you don't, you will be asked why and will need a very good reason. You are circumventing the committee at your own risk.
4. How/when can I submit LORs to AACOMAS?
Unlike the AMCAS procedure, LORs are not submitted to AACOMAS. The only items you should be sending to AACOMAS are your college transcripts. Letters of recommendation are submitted directly to your school.
5. Do I have to know which letters are going to which school when I first submit my AACOMAS application?
6. Is it in my best interest to have my letter writers write different letters for each school?
7. What are letter services such as Interfolio, and why do people use them?
Interfolio and other companies provide secure online letter holding services. You can have your letters uploaded to these services at any time so that you're not scrambling at the last minute (or during the summer!) to get letters into your application. This can be especially beneficial when you are 9 months or so out from your planned application cycle, but know the professor you have NOW will write you a great letter. You can have them write the letter, upload it to a letter service, and then many months later have the letter sent to AACOMAS once the application opens. When you do this, you have the ability to add on both your AACOMAS ID and the Letter ID to the letter. All your letter writer needs to do is upload the letter (or mail it in) on letterhead and with a signature. These sites are secure and they do not allow you to read the letter beforehand.
8. What else about letters do I need to know?
Your letter must be SIGNED, and should be on OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD whenever possible. This is something that holds people up every year. Some schools will even hold up your application because of this.
9. How should I ask someone for a letter of req?
(On this one, I will give CougarMD's advice from the allo thread
For each letter writer, I prepared a packet. In the packet I had:
A list of all of my science grades (or non-science grades for a non-science prof)
A copy of my resume
A rough draft of my personal statement
A guide to writing medical school letters (which can be found by googling), a reminder that the letter needed to be signed and on letterhead.
Before handing them this (because who wants all that before they even say yes!) I asked them point blank if they "would feel comfortable writing me a strong letter of recommendation for medical school". Always do this in person!!! If they hesitate...walk away. Seriously. You don't want this person writing your letter.
When they enthusiastically said yes, I pulled the packet out of my backpack and gave it to them.
Because I used Interfolio, I did not need to provide them with my AMCAS ID or Letter ID, but instead told them that they would get an email from Interfolio that evening with instructions on how to upload the letter. Give them a FIRM deadline (2-4 weeks seems to work best) for when you need the letter. Don't ask at the last minute. Don't ask when you think a billion other people will be asking. Do offer to provide them with any other supplementary information they would like. And do give them a thank-you note (and maybe a Starbucks card) when they submit the letter.
10. OMG! My letter writer has not written my letter!!! It has been minutes/hours/days/weeks/months and I'm freaking out!! What do I do!?
First, stop by or email and gently remind them that you need the letter by X date. If this doesn't work, I have given them a premature Thank-You note with a small token, and this seems to light a fire. I recommended this method to someone on SDN last year and it apparently worked like a charm.
If this isn't working....you do the same thing you do whenever something goes awry - find a plan B. Ask someone else...two other people even, just in case this person does not come through. You can't have too many letters. But you can have too few.
11. Do I have to waive my right to see the letters?
No. But if you don't schools might not see them as letters that carry much weight. Waive your right. If you know the person well enough, you should have a pretty good idea of what they are going to write.
12. Can I submit my application without the letters? Say I have an extra LOR that I'd like to send to all my schools, do I have to snail mail to it them all?
You will submit your LORs with your SECONDARIES. You can add a letter at ANY time in Interfolio, and they will distribute it for you.
This is just copy pasta from the allo thread. Please help me make this better and reply to any to which you have a respectable answer to. Thanks!
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