Asking for eLORs in advance

[superkelpie]

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Hey all,

I'm planning on applying in 2016, but I'm not going to be working at the hospital where I'm at after this summer, so I wanted to ask the vets for letters of rec at the end of the summer, when I'm still fresh in their minds. The problem is that I'll be applying to a bunch of schools with different applications (Tufts, Texas A&M, and some VMCAS schools). Specifically for Texas, I was told that I can't ask my evaluators to fill out the eval form (they don't accept actual "letters" apparently) in advance because the form might change, and they won't accept forms a year+ old... not sure if this policy is across the board.

Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this situation? I don't want to have to go back to my evaluators a year after they've filled out the old ones and ask them to fill out a new form, though that seems to be my only option right now. Also, is there any way to get a copy of the Tufts/VMCAS forms before creating an account so I can give them to evaluators in advance? And for those who applied to non-VMCAS schools, were you able to re-use eLORs or did they have to fill out a bunch of separate forms? Thanks so much!!

 

[epivetlove]

I can only speak for A&M, since that's the only school I applied to. This was my first application cycle, but I had been stalking A&M's vet med page for several years. From what I could tell, the Evaluation Form hasn't changed any, if at all, over the last few years. That certainly doesn't mean it won't--and you're right that they won't accept it if it has a date on it that falls in a previous cycle. If you're worried that the people you're working for now won't remember you as well (this is a good reason to leave a very good impression), have them fill out the Evaluation and the you keep it. When the time comes to apply, if you still want them to write you a recommendation, you can provide the original form you had filled out to kind of jog their memory. For the people I asked, even though I wasn't working with 2 of them any longer, I would make sure to pop by here and there. There's also a great deal of time between now and 2016, so I would be very shocked if you didn't foster new relationships with other DVMs, professors, etc. that would be happy to write you a recommendation when the time comes.

Good luck!

 

[WillowLeaf]

Maybe ask the vets if they would be willing to write you a letter in a couple years, and then they can decide if they want to write a full evaluation now or just write down some notes and specific examples of the qualities they want to talk about.

Maybe email VMCAS and Tufts, explain the situation, and ask if they could send you a copy of the forms? If that doesn't work, how about making an account on VMCAS and the Tufts website for the current cycle, see if it shows you a sample form, or send an evaluation request to your vets? And then don't fill out the form beyond that, don't pay the fees, and don't submit it. I'd just make sure that you or the vets never actually submit anything so that you don't create extra work for the admissions committees. I'm not aware of any problems that would be caused by creating an account and then not going any further, but if anyone sees a reason that that would be a bad idea, please correct my advice.🙂

I think that Tufts has an option for reapplicants that says you can use the previous year's evaluation, so they might not change the form too much between years. Then the vets could just copy/paste if you or they keep an electronic copy until then.

 

[szzygy]

I have a professor who is told me to write my own recommendation and he will edit it and send it. I don't know what to say, mainly because he doesn't know me personally so much, and I end up writing a boring dry LOR. This is not as easy as it seems.

 

[LetItSnow]

I think you still talk to them now and explain the problem exactly like you explained it here. Some of them will say "Oh, I'll remember you well enough to write it then, just come talk to me" and some will say "Let's write it now and then I can re-vise it when it's time to submit." Either way, the more power/flexibility you give them, the more appreciative they'll be of the options and the honesty.

 

[superkelpie]

Thanks for the advice everyone! My profs were super understanding and are going to write up the forms (all three of them, they're actually angels) and keep them on file until I apply.