Gathering LoR timeline

[Krebby Patty]

Looking at gathering LoR since the university I attend doesn’t do a committee letter and had some questions:

1. What is the ideal timeframe to start collecting LoR? I am looking to apply for the ‘25-‘26 cycle, would it be too far out to start gathering now and storing them in Interfolio?

2. Speaking of Interfolio, any feedback on how it is/is it worth using? Have some folks in mind and want their LoR on official letterhead while they’re still in their current positions.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

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[chssoccer7]

I'm not sure how it works with years before, maybe someone with experience there can chime in and help. I reached out to all my professors that I wanted to use for LoR's at the end of the fall semester, then they wrote it in march-april timeframe and uploaded to interfolio in time for me to submit day 1 when AMCAS opened. The ideal timelineto ask is just whenever you think you professor will 1-actually do it and 2- in time to submit early if that's your intent. I go to a bigger school so I aimed to ask pretty early because those professors get dozens of requests for letters. Unless you go to a smaller school, imo asking for a turnaround <4-5 months is asking for trouble and placing a lot of stress on a part of the process that can be relatively stress-free. One of my letter writers told me she only writes up to 10 a year to make sure she's not cranking out a bunch of mediocre letters, so you've gotta be ahead of that possibility.

Interfolio is fine, it performs a fairly simple function well so I don't really have any complaints with it.

 

[Krebby Patty]

I'm not sure how it works with years before, maybe someone with experience there can chime in and help. I reached out to all my professors that I wanted to use for LoR's at the end of the fall semester, then they wrote it in march-april timeframe and uploaded to interfolio in time for me to submit day 1 when AMCAS opened. The ideal timelineto ask is just whenever you think you professor will 1-actually do it and 2- in time to submit early if that's your intent. I go to a bigger school so I aimed to ask pretty early because those professors get dozens of requests for letters. Unless you go to a smaller school, imo asking for a turnaround <4-5 months is asking for trouble and placing a lot of stress on a part of the process that can be relatively stress-free. One of my letter writers told me she only writes up to 10 a year to make sure she's not cranking out a bunch of mediocre letters, so you've gotta be ahead of that possibility.

Interfolio is fine, it performs a fairly simple function well so I don't really have any complaints with it.

Yeah the plan is definitely applying relatively early on in the cycle.

My biggest concern was if I have letters from over a year ago, I’m not sure if there is a recency bias from adcoms but I would want the letter as soon after my classes as possible so those letter writers remember me in the greatest detail possible. Makes sense in my head at least.

 

[Dral]

Yeah the plan is definitely applying relatively early on in the cycle.

My biggest concern was if I have letters from over a year ago, I’m not sure if there is a recency bias from adcoms but I would want the letter as soon after my classes as possible so those letter writers remember me in the greatest detail possible. Makes sense in my head at least.

I would go with this. However, if you have continued interaction with a letter writer (such as one with whom you are doing research), wait a bit longer.

 

[Krebby Patty]

I would go with this. However, if you have continued interaction with a letter writer (such as one with whom you are doing research), wait a bit longer.

Good point, thank you!