Can we send our letters from Interfolio to AACOMAS letter service?

[yes_sir_44]

I'm find some conflicting information. Can we send our letters stored in Interfolio to AACOMAS letter service? If so, how?

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[yes_sir_44]

bump

 

[Mavs88]

Hi there....here is the method that has worked for me and several others on SDN lately.

Go into AACOMAS and request a letter from Prof X as you usually would, but where they ask you for that prof's email, insert the email that interfolio creates for each letter you have.

You can find this email by going to the page of "documents" in interfolio. Click on where it says "Recommendation from Prof. X" and you will see something like: Document Email: [email protected]

Insert that email into the AACOMAS space for email. Remember that each interfolio email is specific to the right letter, so make sure to match them up correctly.

Once you do this, interfolio will email you within a day or two and tell you to log in and pay for the delivery ($4). Eventually, you will get email notifications that it is sent and also AACOMAS will email you once they receive it. Call interfolio if you feel there's been a delay. Didn't take me longer than 2 days to pay and then 2 days for aacomas to receive for all my letters.

 

[Cawolf]

@AlteredScale

Every other thread asks this question and @Mavs88 typed out a really nice answer above.
Can this be stickied or something?

Disclaimer: I have verified through Interfolio that the proper letter is sent, but not through AACOMAS that they won't "reject" these letters.

 

[asdf123g]

@Mavs88 :is any additional work requested from our letter writers using this process?

 

[AlteredScale]

@AlteredScale

Every other thread asks this question and @Mavs88 typed out a really nice answer above.
Can this be stickied or something?

Disclaimer: I have verified through Interfolio that the proper letter is sent, but not through AACOMAS that they won't "reject" these letters.

I'll go ahead and add it to the LOR thread.

 

[Cawolf]

@Mavs88 :is any additional work requested from our letter writers using this process?

Once your letter writer submits to Interfolio they are done with their part.

 

[Mavs88]

I'll go ahead and add it to the LOR thread.

Hey, this method may have hit a roadblock. I sent this to a Cawolf earlier in a PM:

I called AACOMAS this morning to confirm that my letters were received properly. Well, turns out all 5 of my letters sent via interfolio were "corrupt files" and could not be read. They told me to contact interfolio. Interfolio told me it all looked good and they sent the proper stuff. Called AACOMAS back now and they said they put in a request for tech support for re-open those letter requests and try to have interfolio send it again. AACOMAS said they haven't seen this error before...so I'm hoping it's some isolated tech glitch and not an interfolio/aacomas compatibility issue. AACOMS will take 1-2 business days to re-open all letter requests at which point I can add interfolio emails again or just go straight to letter writers.

Turns out, Cawolf had the same issue. Everyone that has done this method needs to call AACOMAS and find out if it's true for them. If so, we might not be able to use interfolio directly to AACOMAS.

I'll post updates on what happens if it re-opens. I think I will skip the interfolio deal and just have all my letter writers submit directly to AACOMAS. It's a hassle, but I don't want to be in the middle of this issue.

 

[AlteredScale]

Hey, this method may have hit a roadblock. I sent this to a Cawolf earlier in a PM:

Turns out, Cawolf had the same issue. Everyone that has done this method needs to call AACOMAS and find out if it's true for them. If so, we might not be able to use interfolio directly to AACOMAS.

I'll post updates on what happens if it re-opens. I think I will skip the interfolio deal and just have all my letter writers submit directly to AACOMAS. It's a hassle, but I don't want to be in the middle of this issue.

Okay no worries. I took it off the FAQ for now but just PM if you get any more details and I'll put it back in!

 

[yes_sir_44]

So is this method no good now?

 

[Doctoblast]

I sent an email to them and they said it was acceptable but to call the schools and make sure that they prefer getting letters from aacomas instead of interfolio. That seems kind of silly since they LORs would be through the application service instead of a 3rd party, but some schools might prefer the 3rd party?

 

[Prehealth001]

So can anyone confirm if this works?

 

[Gandyy]

Hmm, a lot of people have used this method. This would cause a huge problem for a lot of people. I guess each of us should call them and make sure then huh?

 

[Gandyy]

Ok, I think a lot of people's letters are corrupted.

I have a total of 3 letters uploaded to AACOMAS. The crazy thing is that 1 of the letters WAS DIRECTLY UPLOADED TO AACOMAS by my letter writer AND IT IS STILL CORRUPTED.

So...... yea....

I highly advise everyone to check their letters even if you had your letter writer directly upload them to AACOMAS.

 

[Doctoblast]

I sent an email to them and they said it was acceptable but to call the schools and make sure that they prefer getting letters from aacomas instead of interfolio. That seems kind of silly since they LORs would be through the application service instead of a 3rd party, but some schools might prefer the 3rd party?

Update to my previous post above: I emailed MSUCOM and although on their website it says they only accept letter from vitualevals or interfolio, they said in the email that they accept letters from AACOMAS, but to not send them in until we receive a secondary invite.

Ok, I think a lot of people's letters are corrupted.

I have a total of 3 letters uploaded to AACOMAS. The crazy thing is that 1 of the letters WAS DIRECTLY UPLOADED TO AACOMAS by my letter writer AND IT IS STILL CORRUPTED.

So...... yea....

I highly advise everyone to check their letters even if you had your letter writer directly upload them to AACOMAS.

How do you know this? Does AACOMAS give you a notification if the letters are corrupt?

 

[Gandyy]

Update to my previous post above: I emailed MSUCOM and although on their website it says they only accept letter from vitualevals or interfolio, they said in the email that they accept letters from AACOMAS, but to not send them in until we receive a secondary invite.



How do you know this? Does AACOMAS give you a notification if the letters are corrupt?

I called them directly and had them open up my letters to see if they looked normal or not.

AACOMAS says there hasnt been that many calls about this issue, but who in their right mind would check to see if their letters were randomly corrupted when it says "complete" next to your evaluations in the evaluations section.

This may hurt quite a few people down the road.

 

[Doctoblast]

I called them directly and had them open up my letters to see if they looked normal or not.

AACOMAS says there hasnt been that many calls about this issue, but who in their right mind would check to see if their letters were randomly corrupted when it says "complete" next to your evaluations in the evaluations section.

This may hurt quite a few people down the road.

Weird. I may just not upload letters to AACOMAS and send them through interfolio or wait till there is an official word on if the problem is fixed.

 

[Prehealth001]

So how do you know if letters are corrupt? Does it say corrupt or do you have to ask AACOMAS?

And do these letters carry over to the next application cycle?

Finally, my original question of if anyone can confirm this works?

Thanks!

 

[Mavs88]

So how do you know if letters are corrupt? Does it say corrupt or do you have to ask AACOMAS?

And do these letters carry over to the next application cycle?

Finally, my original question of if anyone can confirm this works?

Thanks!

Call AACOMAS and ask them to actually open them and look at them....that's the only way to know. I don't think this method works anymore.

 

[Prehealth001]

Call AACOMAS and ask them to actually open them and look at them....that's the only way to know. I don't think this method works anymore.

I think it can work. It seems like a logical process. However I am not comfortable with depending on someone else to know whether the letter is corrupt

 

[Mavs88]

I think it can work. It seems like a logical process. However I am not comfortable with depending on someone else to know whether the letter is corrupt

Just call them yourself and ask them and stop whining. Me and another member here experienced the exact same result. My letters and everything were checked and marked as received all that good stuff. Too bad AACOMAS doesn't actually open them to look.

 

[Prehealth001]

Nevermind

 

[Mavs88]

it would require multiple phone calls, seeing as many people on here have said they get mixed answers depending on who they speak too

No. It will take one call. Ask them "could you please open the files of my letters that you have received and tell me if they are readable." Now, if you want to ask them if you can do it beforehand, I'm sure you will get different answers. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Prehealth001]

Thanks

 

[Gandyy]

I do not understand why a simple phone call cannot be made to figure out if a letter is corrupt or not. If you are so worried that they will not be able to use their eyes to tell you if the letter is corrupt,
then call multiple times to confirm that various different AACOMAS representatives can open your file and see if its corrupt.

Very Important Point That I Will Reiterate Again: One of my letters was DIRECTLY uploaded to AACOMAS. It was STILL CORRUPTED. So just because you had all of your letters directly uploaded
to AACOMAS DOES NOT mean that your evaluations are OK. This new system of theirs is extremely buggy, and you basically have to call no matter what way you had your letters uploaded.

 

[Cawolf]

One of my letters was DIRECTLY uploaded to AACOMAS. It was STILL CORRUPTED.

That's interesting to note. So it likely isn't Interfolio's fault.

 

[Gandyy]

That's interesting to note. So it likely isn't Interfolio's fault.

No I highly doubt it is as the rep said everything looked great on his side, and he could actually read the letters that were sent on their end.

If letters are being corrupted that were directly uploaded to AACOMAS, I could see this severely upsetting the application cycle. I doubt I am the only one affected by this. Of course, I have some of the worst luck too.

 

[Gandyy]

I cannot stop thinking about this. Its the weekend, and I cant call Interfolio, my letter writers, or anyone else that could help me. This would happen during a long weekend.

 

[Stephanopolous]

I'm with you- I have to call tomorrow also. I think we at least have the saving grace in that most schools don't ask for letters until they send you a secondary.

 

[Gandyy]

I'm with you- I have to call tomorrow also. I think we at least have the saving grace in that most schools don't ask for letters until they send you a secondary.

Yea, thats literally the only saving grace. Im submitting my application as soon as this last transcript comes in.

This letter business is absurd.

 

[ahawke100]

I called in today. One of my letters sent from interfolio to AACOMS was received, but it is corrupt. The lady I talked with said this is an issue they're aware of and technical will deal with it. She said they will work on fixing it and contact interfolio to request that they re-send the letters after the issue has been fixed. It sounds like we'll eventually be able to use this method, but the only way we'll know for sure about our letters is if we individually call in to have the issue resolved.

 

[Gandyy]

I called in today. One of my letters sent from interfolio to AACOMS was received, but it is corrupt. The lady I talked with said this is an issue they're aware of and technical will deal with it. She said they will work on fixing it and contact interfolio to request that they re-send the letters after the issue has been fixed. It sounds like we'll eventually be able to use this method, but the only way we'll know for sure about our letters is if we individually call in to have the issue resolved.

I feel for the many who think their letters are fine when in fact many of them are corrupted. People are in for a rude awakening come in about 2 months, unless AACOMAS manually fixes the problem for every single applicant affected.

 

[ahawke100]

I feel for the many who think their letters are fine when in fact many of them are corrupted. People are in for a rude awakening come in about 2 months, unless AACOMAS manually fixes the problem for every single applicant affected.

Agreed. Hopefully the people on sdn can call in and get the issue fixed for themselves. Hopefully everyone else isn't planning on using AACOMAS for their letters haha.

I'll be paying extra to use interfolio until I'm sure my letters are good to go with AACOMAS.

 

[Gandyy]

Agreed. Hopefully the people on sdn can call in and get the issue fixed for themselves. Hopefully everyone else isn't planning on using AACOMAS for their letters haha.

I'll be paying extra to use interfolio until I'm sure my letters are good to go with AACOMAS.

Yea I'll be doing the same.

 

[Gandyy]

Ok, AACOMAS letter system is totally fail. I had another letter writer upload directly to the system and that letter was corrupt too.

The AACOMAS rep told me that its corrupt because my letter writer scanned the document after placing a written signature on the document..........

That is pathetic for so many reasons. I told him almost every med school requires a written signature. He told me that he "highly recommends" to not get a written signature then.

.............

 

[yes_sir_44]

I am done with AACOMAS letter service. Ugh! I will just use Interfolio for schools.

 

[KBee3]

If I am using Interfolio and sending directly to the schools later (especially after seeing the corruption issues and already having them on Interfolio), do I click "I am not adding any evaluations" or do I create the request? If I create a request, I don't want to have another request sent to my letter writers when they have already uploaded it to Interfolio. Maybe one way around this is to not click the Permission to Contact Reference? I would appreciate any help! Thanks!

 

[NVO]

Is it best to send letters directly to schools?

It seems like this will be a sure way for schools to receive them. How do I know which schools prefer to have them sent with the secondary?

Also, I'm assuming this will be a more expensive method ($4 per delivery to each school, vs $4 deliver to AACOMAS).

 

[TheCruelOne]

I'm still waiting for my committee letter to be uploaded, but I'm wondering whether anyone has tried this method out recently/had letter writers upload letters directly to AACOMAS and still had this corruption problem. Has this problem been resolved now?

 

[premedprincess26]

I've sent many letters already, but I have new one to send and I completely forgot how to do it. What if I don't want to wait the 2 days to get the reminder email? How do I send it through Interfolio immediatelY? Basically, what do i manually input as the address?

Hi there....here is the method that has worked for me and several others on SDN lately.

Go into AACOMAS and request a letter from Prof X as you usually would, but where they ask you for that prof's email, insert the email that interfolio creates for each letter you have.

You can find this email by going to the page of "documents" in interfolio. Click on where it says "Recommendation from Prof. X" and you will see something like: Document Email: [email protected]

Insert that email into the AACOMAS space for email. Remember that each interfolio email is specific to the right letter, so make sure to match them up correctly.

Once you do this, interfolio will email you within a day or two and tell you to log in and pay for the delivery ($4). Eventually, you will get email notifications that it is sent and also AACOMAS will email you once they receive it. Call interfolio if you feel there's been a delay. Didn't take me longer than 2 days to pay and then 2 days for aacomas to receive for all my letters.