This is probably too much information because most applicants will have been guided by an advisor to use option one. But just in case no one has given you the heads up, there are a few ways to submit your letters of recommendation. Here they are:
1. Utilize your on-campus pre-health advisor. “They may be in the academic dean’s office, a science professor, or a counselor in the career services office,” says the AAMC. If you’ve been out of school for a few years, you can likely still use your alma mater’s pre-health office. AMCAS has a letter of recommendation service that allows letters to be directly uploaded to the AMCAS system. (Osteopathic schools accept LOR from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOMAS).) If your pre-health advisor works in a pre-health department, they’ll collect and submit all your letters in a "letter packet.” Your application will list this person as your only letter writer contact in the letters of recommendation/evaluation section on the AMCAS application. You must download a form from AMCAS so this person can upload your letter packet.
2. Access a pre-health advisor from the NAAHP. If you don’t know of a pre-health advisor on your campus, the National Association of Advisors for Health Professions (NAAHP) can find out if there is one. If your school does not have a pre-health advisor (they probably do) or does not work with alumni, the NAAHP can help you find a volunteer advisor
3. Ask your letter writers. For a reference to submit their letter directly to AMCAS, you'll need to download a letter submission form for each person and list everyone as "primary authors" in the letter of recommendation section on the AMCAS application.
4. Mail them yourself. You can mail your (unread) letters directly to AMCAS but follow up to confirm that they received them.
5. Use a service. Students who don't have access to a pre-health office can use services such as Interfolio and VirtualEvals. These companies will deliver them to AMCAS or directly to a school.
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1. Utilize your on-campus pre-health advisor. “They may be in the academic dean’s office, a science professor, or a counselor in the career services office,” says the AAMC. If you’ve been out of school for a few years, you can likely still use your alma mater’s pre-health office. AMCAS has a letter of recommendation service that allows letters to be directly uploaded to the AMCAS system. (Osteopathic schools accept LOR from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOMAS).) If your pre-health advisor works in a pre-health department, they’ll collect and submit all your letters in a "letter packet.” Your application will list this person as your only letter writer contact in the letters of recommendation/evaluation section on the AMCAS application. You must download a form from AMCAS so this person can upload your letter packet.
2. Access a pre-health advisor from the NAAHP. If you don’t know of a pre-health advisor on your campus, the National Association of Advisors for Health Professions (NAAHP) can find out if there is one. If your school does not have a pre-health advisor (they probably do) or does not work with alumni, the NAAHP can help you find a volunteer advisor
3. Ask your letter writers. For a reference to submit their letter directly to AMCAS, you'll need to download a letter submission form for each person and list everyone as "primary authors" in the letter of recommendation section on the AMCAS application.
4. Mail them yourself. You can mail your (unread) letters directly to AMCAS but follow up to confirm that they received them.
5. Use a service. Students who don't have access to a pre-health office can use services such as Interfolio and VirtualEvals. These companies will deliver them to AMCAS or directly to a school.
Follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn for more medical school school news, trends, and application tips!
