Thanks for the advice Cougar!
I had a question about Interfolio (if anybody could answer it). I read somewhere that the letters of recommendation that you need to include your AMCAS ID on the LORs. Is this the same ID we got for the MCAT or are we not getting it until May? If the latter is true, what do you do if you get a LOR early and want to send it to Interfolio? Thanks!
You won't get it until May.
Here is how Interfolio works.
1.) You set up an account. The account has NOTHING to do with AMCAS. You could potentially store letters here and use them for ANYTHING; a job, a volunteer position, to adopt a puppy, whatever.
2.) Once you set up an account and you have talked to a person you want a letter from, you will "Send a Letter Request" through Interfolio. This will send an email to that person saying that you want a letter. They will then upload the letter directly to interfolio. You need to waive your right to read the letters (just do it). Make sure when you ask for letters that you remind the letter writer that the letter needs to be on official letterhead when possible, and SIGNED. They need to upload a scanned copy! This is important for several schools; they will kick back your letter if it isn't done this way.
3.) Once you start an AMCAS account, you will have your AMCAS ID. Then, whenever you want, you can have Interfolio send letters directly to AMCAS. They are actually sent electronically so they get there in 24 hours most of the time. You can specify in Interfolio that both your AMCAS ID and the Letter ID (you have to "create" a letter in AMCAS so that AMCAS knows that the letter is coming) is stamped on the letter.
It really is a simple process, I swear!!!
slightly confused by this, spring grades usually would be in mid-may...how will they not be on the transcript of i submit june 1?
First, if you're on the quarter system, your "Spring" doesn't end until late June. So for some people their grades aren't available until July.
Also, at a lot of schools, even if the semester ends Mid may, official grades may not be out for a few more weeks. Plus, the transcript still has to get there which may take a few more weeks. This really really depends on the school. At a lot of schools, you can pre-order transcripts and have it held for Spring grades. But even then the policy may be that they don't guarantee that they will get sent out until 2-3 weeks after grades are finalized. It just depends. If you go to an awesome school that has finals on May 15th, grades posted May 16th, and, if you pre-ordered transcripts, will send them out May 17th....then you're golden.
I would also suggest "rushing" transcripts whenever possible. The peace of mind is worth the extra money.
Also, keep in mind; you can submit without transcripts. The problem is that you will not be
verified without them. The verification process is what takes time. If you submitted the first instant on June 1st, this year, you got verified on June 1st.
If you were like me and submitted in the evening of June 1st, it took about a week to get verified.
If you submitted June 3rd, it took 13 days or so; etc.
But you don't get verified until the transcripts are there.
It is not clear to me what your "place in line" is without transcripts. I can imagine one of two scenarios. Either you are in "line", and as soon as they get there, they will start verifying you. Or, you don't get put in line until your transcripts actually get there. I have a feeling it is the latter; I would check the "Official AMCAS Questions" Thread from this year if you really want to know. (I would suggest reading that thread over the next few months ANYWAY so that you know all there is to know and aren't asking questions in a panicked fashion last minute)
If you have more than one transcript to deal with (I had 8) starting to order them and get them in is especially important. If you only have 1....then maybe you can have a different approach.
Edit: One more thing to remember....your application isn't sent to schools until June 25th/26th. So getting verified on June 7th is NO different than getting verified on June 24th.
If you don't have MCAT scores yet, a good strategy is to create your AMCAS account, just add a single school that you are sure you want to apply to (either your state school or a school you have zero chance at, if you are that worried about your score) and then once your score comes in, immediately add the other schools. That way if things go horribly wrong, you haven't wasted your money applying to a dozen schools if you think you need to defer your app a year. And you won't be a reapplicant at those particular schools (though you would still be a reapplicant in general).