thanks
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can someone please give me a summary of letter of recs?
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A common way that people submit letters to AMCAS is through something called Interfolio. It is basically a service where you set up an account and you can request letters from people. They submit them to Interfolio and then you have them uploaded onto your AMCAS application. Interfolio was running a promotion a while back with a free year of service. Here's a link to that thread, not sure if the code still works or not.
Interfolio Special Offer Code
Interfolio Special Offer Code
D
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Are you a traditional or non-traditional applicant? If you are the former, you should check to see if your UG institution has a committee letter process that needs to be taken care of before your application. Letter types as required by committees or schools vary, and you would need to verify with each of these institutions what they are exactly looking for before getting your recommenders lined up.*Edit*: When in doubt, read gonnif's postings.
Your cognitive neuroscience course sounds like it would be an acceptable source for a science faculty letter, although the department in which the professor works / how the course is listed could change this somewhat. But I think, as a rule of them, it seems to fit the criteria for a science letter. As for the bigger classes, most professors understand this process and would be willing to meet with you to get to know you a little better before writing your LoR (which is exactly what I did for my 300+ student strong physiology professor when I applied this past cycle).
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Ideally you want to have around 4-5 letters prepared:
2 science professor **
1 non-science **
[OR if your school offers a committee rec letter this replaces the 2sci/1 nonsci]
1-2 letters from professionals (volunteer coordinator/employer/research PI/physician you've worked closely with/etc.)
You want to get rec letters from professors who know you most and can speak to your academic abilities/ research/ involvement with campus or community. It seems like you already have a good one (cognitive neuroscience) but you'll need one more science. Also, when you go in to ask for these letters ask them if they can write you a STRONG letter of rec. The wording is important because you need the best letters you can get. Letters of rec can make a difference when it comes to receiving an II or getting that coveted acceptance. It would be awful if you received a rec letter with a professor saying they honestly didn't know you and only included your rank and grade in the class...
Also, AMCAS has instructions on how to submit the rec letter which you should print out and give to your writers. I made a personal guide on how to submit the letter out of a youtube video I found online. You should give your writers as much as you can to work off of, your personal statement, grades (this is if you want them to see your academics), resume/CV, and maybe include a page that says things relevant to your relationship with them.
Sorry...ALSO!! If you've gotten very close to a TA that knows you well, maybe you can talk to them about writing your letter alongside the professor. It could make for a strong letter!
2 science professor **
1 non-science **
[OR if your school offers a committee rec letter this replaces the 2sci/1 nonsci]
1-2 letters from professionals (volunteer coordinator/employer/research PI/physician you've worked closely with/etc.)
You want to get rec letters from professors who know you most and can speak to your academic abilities/ research/ involvement with campus or community. It seems like you already have a good one (cognitive neuroscience) but you'll need one more science. Also, when you go in to ask for these letters ask them if they can write you a STRONG letter of rec. The wording is important because you need the best letters you can get. Letters of rec can make a difference when it comes to receiving an II or getting that coveted acceptance. It would be awful if you received a rec letter with a professor saying they honestly didn't know you and only included your rank and grade in the class...
Also, AMCAS has instructions on how to submit the rec letter which you should print out and give to your writers. I made a personal guide on how to submit the letter out of a youtube video I found online. You should give your writers as much as you can to work off of, your personal statement, grades (this is if you want them to see your academics), resume/CV, and maybe include a page that says things relevant to your relationship with them.
Sorry...ALSO!! If you've gotten very close to a TA that knows you well, maybe you can talk to them about writing your letter alongside the professor. It could make for a strong letter!
