AMCAS LOR service

[rHinO1]

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I'm applying next June 2010. So I'm starting to collect LOR and I intend to use interfolio, then forward my letters to the AMCAS LOR service. I was looking on the AMCAS LOR service website and it says:

"Interfolio: AMCAS can receive letters sent to Interfolio if you are an Interfolio user or your institution/organization uses Interfolio to deliver letters of evaluation/recommendation. Make certain to add your AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID in your Interfolio account, as these IDs must accompany your letter in order for your letter to be matched with your application."

It also says:

"You will then be asked AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID found on the AMCAS Letter Request Form for each individual letter"

So where do I get the AMCAS Letter Request Form?

Can someone enlighten me on the process? I want to have all my ducks in a row when I request my LOR. Thanks.

 

[lstone13]

So where do I get the AMCAS Letter Request Form?

You won't be able to get an AMCAS letter request form until you begin your AMCAS application. Once AMCAS opens, you can start your application, and you can insert your letter writers and then print the accompanying form.

 

[bannie22]

i suggest using interfolio.

 

[marele86]

I requested my LORs before AMCAS opened.

The main lag with LORs is in getting the letter-writer to actually start and finish writing the letter, so that's the part that you want to get an early start on. You can do this before AMCAS opens, no problem.

Then once AMCAS opens and you register, you'll be assigned an ID and you'll write down who your letter writers are and AMCAS will generate a letter request form for each one. The important information in that form is your ID and the letter writer's ID (and how to upload/send their letter.)

So basically, all you can do now to get ready early is to have your letter writers get started. Once they're done and AMCAS opens, it shouldn't take more than a day or two to send them.

 

[rHinO1]

Thanks for all your help. I'm hoping to submit my app the first day possible. My MCAT is done so the only thing I can see holding me back is my LOR. Just to clarify, the LOR request form has to be submitted to the letter writer to submit along with the LOR? Even to interfolio since I will be forwarding them to AMCAS eventually?

 

[marele86]

Thanks for all your help. I'm hoping to submit my app the first day possible. My MCAT is done so the only thing I can see holding me back is my LOR. Just to clarify, the LOR request form has to be submitted to the letter writer to submit along with the LOR? Even to interfolio since I will be forwarding them to AMCAS eventually?

Mind if I ask why you're using Interfolio instead of just AMCAS directly? On AMCAS, the letter request form is only a helpful way for you to communicate to your writers your AMCAS ID number, etc. I only gave mine to one of my writers, because the others already knew the drill and just asked for my ID number and their letter number before uploading.

AMCAS is nice because letter writers can just upload the file directly to your application with no middle-man - it's instantaneous, no mailing or transfer time. Interfolio would have a lag in time, since the letter writers would have to get the letters to Interfolio, and THEN Interfolio would be sending them to AMCAS.

That said, if you're going to submit everything in early June, a lag is probably no big deal. The schools don't get the letters until they request them from you, and that's not until you're filling out secondaries.

 

[rHinO1]

Mind if I ask why you're using Interfolio instead of just AMCAS directly? On AMCAS, the letter request form is only a helpful way for you to communicate to your writers your AMCAS ID number, etc. I only gave mine to one of my writers, because the others already knew the drill and just asked for my ID number and their letter number before uploading.

AMCAS is nice because letter writers can just upload the file directly to your application with no middle-man - it's instantaneous, no mailing or transfer time. Interfolio would have a lag in time, since the letter writers would have to get the letters to Interfolio, and THEN Interfolio would be sending them to AMCAS.

That said, if you're going to submit everything in early June, a lag is probably no big deal. The schools don't get the letters until they request them from you, and that's not until you're filling out secondaries.

I want to use interfolio for 2 reasons. 1) One of the schools I want to apply to doesn't use the AMCAS LOR service. 2) The AMCAS LOR service doesn't save your letters for more than a year. I don't think I will need to apply becasue my app is pretty solid, but you never know. . . So I want my letters to be available in case I need them again.

I just want to do it the best way possible. If using interfolio seams like a bad idea let me know.

 

[marele86]

I want to use interfolio for 2 reasons. 1) One of the schools I want to apply to doesn't use the AMCAS LOR service. 2) The AMCAS LOR service doesn't save your letters for more than a year. I don't think I will need to apply becasue my app is pretty solid, but you never know. . . So I want my letters to be available in case I need them again.

I just want to do it the best way possible. If using interfolio seams like a bad idea let me know.

No, those are solid reasons. I was just curious. 👍

 

[rHinO1]

As if this process wasn't stressful enough. Why does the AAMC provide you with access so late?

 

[surfdoll23]

sorry I still have some questions about how these letters work.😕

Do you suggest waiting until AMCAS gives us the access codes to send the letters of rec? Did you request your letters beforehand and tell the writers to keep them on file until it was time to apply?

 

[medicalmatins]

sorry I still have some questions about how these letters work.😕

Do you suggest waiting until AMCAS gives us the access codes to send the letters of rec? Did you request your letters beforehand and tell the writers to keep them on file until it was time to apply?

It sounds like a few of those above requested before AMCAS opens. I just finished requesting my letters, and I'll give my pre-med advisory committee the form when it's available--they assemble the whole package (hurray for easiness!).