Committee Letter ??

[catie_jane]

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I have my committee interview in a few weeks and I was just wondering how schools look at the committee letter. As part of my committee file I had to submit up to 10 LOR (3 science faculty, 3 non-science faculty, 3 non-faculty, and at least 1 MD letter).

They said that they way that they compile the letter is after the interview the head of the pre-health committee writes a composite letter using bits and pieces from all 10 letters along with the impression I give during the interview.

My question is.. when the schools get the letter do they only read the composite letter? Or will they read the 10 attached LOR as well? Im just wondering if I should submit a few of the 10 LOR that I acquired separate from the committee letter

 

[catchmoresun]

Depends school to school I think. At my school they send the committee letter in addition to the 5 required LOR they had me send to them.

 

[catie_jane]

Depends school to school I think. At my school they send the committee letter in addition to the 5 required LOR they had me send to them.

I know that my school with attach the 10 LOR I sent them, I am just not sure if the MD schools I send the letter to will read the 10 attached letters or only the committee letter

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

I know that my school with attach the 10 LOR I sent them, I am just not sure if the MD schools I send the letter to will read the 10 attached letters or only the committee letter

Assume if it is there, someone will see it and read it. Nothing you can do to change that, so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Goro]

We see committee letter plus the attached individual letters at my school.

I have my committee interview in a few weeks and I was just wondering how schools look at the committee letter. As part of my committee file I had to submit up to 10 LOR (3 science faculty, 3 non-science faculty, 3 non-faculty, and at least 1 MD letter).

They said that they way that they compile the letter is after the interview the head of the pre-health committee writes a composite letter using bits and pieces from all 10 letters along with the impression I give during the interview.

My question is.. when the schools get the letter do they only read the composite letter? Or will they read the 10 attached LOR as well? Im just wondering if I should submit a few of the 10 LOR that I acquired separate from the committee letter

 

[nwts]

I know that my school with attach the 10 LOR I sent them, I am just not sure if the MD schools I send the letter to will read the 10 attached letters or only the committee letter

If the 10 letters will be attached, then there is no need to send them any of those letters again. If you do, you'll just be clogging your application file with duplicate copies of things.

 

[catie_jane]

Assume if it is there, someone will see it and read it. Nothing you can do to change that, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I want them to read all 10 letters! I think they are all really good letters and each touch upon a different aspect of my personality. I was just making sure that they would read them or else I would have sent them in separate from the committee letter

 

[catie_jane]

This is how committee letters are done at the vast majority of UG schools. An evaluation based on internally submitted LOR/LOE and interview written up by the committee. Usually now the submitted LORs are attached and submitted as a single packet

Medical schools require either a committee letter or usually individual 3-5 letters. Trying to do both can cause differing issues based on how the school processes

1) Many have systems or processes in place that will consider your application complete when one of the those requirements is filled. So if a committee letter is received first and no other LORs are there, your application may be considered complete and go on to be reviewed in a static pdf or printed form. Additional letters may not be part of the file at that point.

2) If you have 3 letters show up and no committee letter yet, you may has the same as item #1 and it goes to be reviewed without it.

3) Some schools will wait for all letters that you have listed to be submitted which can delay review

4) Do you really want to make a reader go thru the committee packet and then provide redundant info

5) I have noticed a slight increase in the number of schools being strict about the letter requirement and numbers.

6) Do you really want to send all of this and make the reader wonder "can't this applicant even follow directions?"

Certainly don't want to be redundant, that is why I wanted to make sure that they read all the attached letters instead of just the single compiled committee letter. Thank you!

 

[nwts]

I want them to read all 10 letters! I think they are all really good letters and each touch upon a different aspect of my personality. I was just making sure that they would read them or else I would have sent them in separate from the committee letter

Whether or not they read it doesn't have anything to do with how many times you give it to them. If they don't read the letters, it is likely because:

1) They feel like 10 letters is just too many and they aren't willing to read that many letters for one applicant.
2) They are just skimming applications and don't have time to read every letter in its entirety.

 

[Goro]

We really don't want to read 10 letters. This is why schools place a premium on committee LORs.

I want them to read all 10 letters! I think they are all really good letters and each touch upon a different aspect of my personality. I was just making sure that they would read them or else I would have sent them in separate from the committee letter

 

[catie_jane]

With schools increasing "strictness" of LOR/LOE, including several schools now listing the maximum number of letters, sending 10 is problematic from both a processing and perception point of view. If schools have a max number of letters, say 5, the first 5 arriving may flag your application complete and send off to review without the other 5 making the file. Even if they come in later, many schools use static pdf or printed copies of materials for readers so updates after sent for review may not be seen

Well if they are attached along with the committee letter I can't do much about that. But I think most schools are either 1 committee letter -or- 5 LOR. I'm sure whichever way they look at my letter will be fine. My pre-med advisor who is writing the compiled on is amazing so I am sure his alone will be great

 

[catie_jane]

Anything attached to committee letter counts as part of a single letter. Sending 10 individual letters in to AMCAS yourself would be the issue

Not planning on doing that so no worries!