Age of Recommendation Letters

[aceegreene]

Hi everyone

I recently got done with the first semester of my post bacc and built relationships with two of the instructors I was taking courses with (one science and one nonscience). I could easily ask them for recommendations and should get strong ones too. I will be applying in the 2023-2024 cycle and was made aware that it matters how old your recommendation letters are and more specifically how old are the courses/experiences from which those letters are coming.

Given this, would it be unwise to use these instructors at all for recommendations as my interaction with them will be 'old' by the time I apply? Or could I ask them for letters down the line and since the letters will be dated closer to my application, it would be okay to use them? Would really appreciate advice on how to proceed.

Thank you.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Chief117]

It's great you built strong relationships with your professors. You can actually ask them for letters of rec right now and store them in Interfolio. When you actually apply, you can ask them to update the letter of rec.
You want to make sure Professors have fresh memories of you when they write these letters. Updating letters in the future wouldn't be too hard for them since the bulk of the letter is already written.
I say this with personal experience because I built relationships with professors early on in undergrad and failed to ask them for letters of rec as soon as I could. Now I sit here 4 years after the class asking myself if I will still be remembered. Don't be me lol.

 

[aceegreene]

It's great you built strong relationships with your professors. You can actually ask them for letters of rec right now and store them in Interfolio. When you actually apply, you can ask them to update the letter of rec.
You want to make sure Professors have fresh memories of you when they write these letters. Updating letters in the future wouldn't be too hard for them since the bulk of the letter is already written.
I say this with personal experience because I built relationships with professors early on in undergrad and failed to ask them for letters of rec as soon as I could. Now I sit here 4 years after the class asking myself if I will still be remembered. Don't be me lol.

Thanks for your response, that does make sense and what I was planning on doing. But then I was told that these courses will be too far in the past and their recommendations won’t be as worthy as a course I took nearer to application time. There’s so many weird intricacies to this process.

Also, could you explain what you mean by update the letter? Is it just the date or will they be changing something else in the letter as well?

 

[Chief117]

Thanks for your response, that does make sense and what I was planning on doing. But then I was told that these courses will be too far in the past and their recommendations won’t be as worthy as a course I took nearer to application time. There’s so many weird intricacies to this process.

Also, could you explain what you mean by update the letter? Is it just the date or will they be changing something else in the letter as well?

I think you pointed out a misconception I basically had in undergrad as well. The courses will NOT be too far in the past (I don't know where the source of these rumors are but they are totally untrue). It would be unwise to tell premeds to wait until junior or senior year to get all the letters of rec since that would severely limit the palette of professors they could experience. Of course, I do believe it would be helpful to have letter writers at different stages of your process. But these writers could be job supervisors, volunteer coordinators, etc.
In terms of updating the letter when the time comes, you basically send an updated resume & personal statement that the letter writer can then use to add additional information. I think it really depends on the professor, but I surmise most would add new parts to make it up to date accounting for new activities and such.
Until you update, I would suggest finding some way to keep in touch without being a hassle to them. Perhaps stopping by/emailing, although I'm not the best person to ask about social interactions lol. You want it to be a genuine connection, rather than you simply keeping in touch for the letter. Maybe some of the adcoms can offer their wise advice @Goro @Catalystik @Moko

 

[Catalystik]

I think you pointed out a misconception I basically had in undergrad as well. The courses will NOT be too far in the past (I don't know where the source of these rumors are but they are totally untrue). It would be unwise to tell premeds to wait until junior or senior year to get all the letters of rec since that would severely limit the palette of professors they could experience. Of course, I do believe it would be helpful to have letter writers at different stages of your process. But these writers could be job supervisors, volunteer coordinators, etc.
In terms of updating the letter when the time comes, you basically send an updated resume & personal statement that the letter writer can then use to add additional information. I think it really depends on the professor, but I surmise most would add new parts to make it up to date accounting for new activities and such.
Until you update, I would suggest finding some way to keep in touch without being a hassle to them. Perhaps stopping by/emailing, although I'm not the best person to ask about social interactions lol. You want it to be a genuine connection, rather than you simply keeping in touch for the letter. Maybe some of the adcoms can offer their wise advice @Goro @Catalystik @Moko

Just the date change is fine. We'd really rather they do not add additional details from your CV that they have no personal knowledge of.

 

[Goro]

Hi everyone

I recently got done with the first semester of my post bacc and built relationships with two of the instructors I was taking courses with (one science and one nonscience). I could easily ask them for recommendations and should get strong ones too. I will be applying in the 2023-2024 cycle and was made aware that it matters how old your recommendation letters are and more specifically how old are the courses/experiences from which those letters are coming.

Given this, would it be unwise to use these instructors at all for recommendations as my interaction with them will be 'old' by the time I apply? Or could I ask them for letters down the line and since the letters will be dated closer to my application, it would be okay to use them? Would really appreciate advice on how to proceed.

Thank you.

You're fine

 

[deleted936268]

Just wanted to ask - How long do letters 'last' before they need to be updated? I heard there's an expiration date of 1 year from the time it's uploaded but am not sure.

 

[drstranger]

Just wanted to ask - How long do letters 'last' before they need to be updated? I heard there's an expiration date of 1 year from the time it's uploaded but am not sure.

If you use a service like interfolio, they will last for as long as you want. I had a few teachers I like to write me letters but I had to apply one year later so I used Interfolio. Bonus they also proofread your letter and let you know if anything is missing.

 

[KnightDoc]

Just wanted to ask - How long do letters 'last' before they need to be updated? I heard there's an expiration date of 1 year from the time it's uploaded but am not sure.

Uploaded where? It sounds like you are confusing "expiration," which, as noted above, doesn't happen with letters kept on file at your pre-med advising office or with Interfolio, with an AMCAS application, which has to be launched anew each cycle.

"If you submitted a previous year’s application and did not withdraw it, most of the information you entered will “roll over” to the current application.

Although your information will roll over, the Main Menu will show all sections of your new application as "Incomplete". You must go through each section and confirm that the information is still correct. When you verify that information and click Continue at the end of each section, the Main Menu will show that section as complete. We suggest you print your application from the previous year to see what you submitted.

Please note, that if AMCAS makes improvements to a section of the application, you will need to reenter information into this section for the subsequent year's application cycle.

You will also need to resubmit official transcripts and letters of evaluation to AMCAS for each application cycle you apply."

 

[aceegreene]

I think you pointed out a misconception I basically had in undergrad as well. The courses will NOT be too far in the past (I don't know where the source of these rumors are but they are totally untrue). It would be unwise to tell premeds to wait until junior or senior year to get all the letters of rec since that would severely limit the palette of professors they could experience. Of course, I do believe it would be helpful to have letter writers at different stages of your process. But these writers could be job supervisors, volunteer coordinators, etc.
In terms of updating the letter when the time comes, you basically send an updated resume & personal statement that the letter writer can then use to add additional information. I think it really depends on the professor, but I surmise most would add new parts to make it up to date accounting for new activities and such.
Until you update, I would suggest finding some way to keep in touch without being a hassle to them. Perhaps stopping by/emailing, although I'm not the best person to ask about social interactions lol. You want it to be a genuine connection, rather than you simply keeping in touch for the letter. Maybe some of the adcoms can offer their wise advice @Goro @Catalystik @Moko

Just the date change is fine. We'd really rather they do not add additional details from your CV that they have no personal knowledge of.

You're fine

Thank you all for your responses! So basically I can go ahead and ask them for the recommendation right now, store it on Interfolio and closer to the app cycle ask them to update the date, right?

Also, if I am asking for an LOR this early in the process, do I need to have a personal statement ready? Or should they be okay writing one based off of the AAMC guidelines?

 

[Catalystik]

1) So basically I can go ahead and ask them for the recommendation right now, store it on Interfolio and closer to the app cycle ask them to update the date, right?

2) Also, if I am asking for an LOR this early in the process, do I need to have a personal statement ready? Or should they be okay writing one based off of the AAMC guidelines?

1) Yes.

2) This: they should be okay writing one based off of the AAMC guidelines.