1. What kinds of letters do I need to apply to DO schools?
It depends on the school. Almost all DO schools ask from a letter from a DO. The other letters are usually requested to come from science faculty who know you well and whom you have worked closely with in research, etc.
1a. But doesn't every school have different letter requirements?
Not always, but frequently.
1b. Do I have to have a letter from a DO?
Ok, let's logically think about this. Almost all of the DO schools either REQUIRE or STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you have a letter from a DO. If I am sitting on an admissions committee, what I am I supposed to think of the applicant who could not get a letter of recommendation from a DO that they were REQUIRED to shadow? Yes, you do need a letter from a DO. Not having one just ended your application to a school that requires one, and sent your application to the bottom of the pile at schools that STRONLY RECOMMEND a letter.
1c. But do I really really have to get X type of letter? (2 non-science, 1 science, a letter from my PI)
Follow directions. The application process is not only the process where schools will get to know you better, but is also an exercise in attention to details and following directions. So yes, you DO really have to get X type of letter.
2. I am a non-traditional student and have been out of school for awhile. Can I get around the letter requirements?
No. Shadow a DO (which is usually required for letter #1). For additional letters, volunteer, do more shadowing, or hunt down that professor that you knew really well.
3. My school has a pre-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?
This can be difficult to answer. If you are applying early decision, most schools with a committee will require you to show proof of this and will get the letter ready ahead of time. My school had a committee and I chose not to use it and did not have any problems. In fact, the committee letters are generally so generic, that most admissions committees look at the first two sentences then toss them (I was told this by a medical school admissions director).
4. How/when can I submit LORs to AACOMAS?
Start by reading the AACOMAS directions which someone spent a great deal of time writing.
5. Do I have to know which letters are going to which school when I first submit my AACOMAS application?
No. But again, see the answer to question #4
6. Is it in my best interest to have my letter writers write different letters for each school?
No. Even if by some slim chance that someone on an admissions committee at school A knows someone on an admissions committee at school B, and they do discuss an applicant (which at this point we are talking about a 1:1,000,000,000,000,000……. chance), they know that one letter is usually written for an applicant from a faculty member or physician and sent to each school. Don't ask for a different letter either, you will likely get a weird look, and worst case no letter.
7. What are letter services such as Interfolio, and why do people use them?
The letter services are in operation to make things easier. People use them for an easier method to send letters, etc. However, I have found that most letter writers hate using this, and would rather see self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Remember, some of the people who will write your letters are old and will not have kept up with the technology. The other downside, Interfolio charges for the letter service; and it is a lot more than a stamp.
8. What else about letters do I need to know?
I will repeat some good advice left by the last person; and please FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! 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.
.ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT! You CANNOT mail out your own letters. This is one of the seven deadly sins in applying to medical school and can end your career when discovered..
9. How should I ask someone for a letter of req?
Previous advice on this topic is good.
(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!?
The advice below is sound.
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.
You also usually have to indicate this BEFORE handling the letter to the writer. I know that one of my writers had another student ask him for a letter without waiver and he refused to write the letter; I would have done the same.
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 it to them all?
Good advice below.
You can add a letter at ANY time in AACOMAS, have it sent to AACOMAS, and AACOMAS will distribute it. You may want to shoot an email to each school letting them know to expect another letter just in case. They should be updating your file continuously (they will want your current contact info, and often people change their addresses mid cycle) but they may not always do it in a timely manner.
kinda bummed, because this was my major activity, for med app, and major ref as well. ofcourse, doctors are busy people, so i shud've been more careful. but this means, MSU ref. is out of the question.
