Confused-LOR process AND ERAS

[USMELL]

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I am about to submit my application but my LoR's are not in yet, when assigning documents do I check the finalized names, even though their is no letter yet. or do I assign my PS, USMLE transcript and wait for the letters.

so when the letters finally get posted to eras, I just go back to programs I applied to and transmit my letters? Cause even though they are finalized, it doesn't mean they will actually write the letter.

Also, ones I submit my application, then I have to select schools to apply to, for the schools to get the application and other documents right, or do you apply first, then submit the application.

sorry for the questions, I don't know why I am so lost about this process 🙁

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I am about to submit my application but my LoR's are not in yet, when assigning documents do I check the finalized names, even though their is no letter yet. or do I assign my PS, USMLE transcript and wait for the letters.

Either will work. If you assign the letters now, as soon as they are uploaded they will be available to programs for download. Or, you can not assign letters now, wait until the letters are available, and then assign them. Either way, I see exactly the same thing -- no letters until they are downloaded. I don't see "LOR -- Dr. X -- Missing" or anything like that.

so when the letters finally get posted to eras, I just go back to programs I applied to and transmit my letters? Cause even though they are finalized, it doesn't mean they will actually write the letter.

Yes, you can do this. If you were to assign a letter to my program, the writer never writes the letter, and then in 1-2 months unassign that letter and assign another letter -- I'll never know the difference. A new letter will appear in your file, and I'll never know that you swapped anything around.

This is VERY DIFFERENT from what happens if you de-assign a letter that's already uploaded. Then, I get a copy of that letter, and it will be marked as "inactive".

Also, ones I submit my application, then I have to select schools to apply to, for the schools to get the application and other documents right, or do you apply first, then submit the application.

Once you apply, I'll get whatever is available. Applying and submitting are the same thing. Not sure I understand your question here.

 

[fakin' the funk]

Also, ones I submit my application, then I have to select schools to apply to, for the schools to get the application and other documents right, or do you apply first, then submit the application.

Submitting your application means you are finalizing your CAF and CV and no further changes to those can be made. You must submit in order to apply to programs.

Applying to programs can only happen once you've submitted your app, and is the process where you choose a PS, LoRs, photo, transcript, etc, to be sent to programs. This is also when they charge you $$$.

Submitting is no good unless you apply; applying cannot happen before submitting.

Crystal clear? 😛

 

[goodies]

what? i didn't submit yet, but i chose all the programs i wanted. you can still select programs before you submit.

 

[Samoa]

You can select programs before you submit, but you can't apply to them.

According to the ERAS instructions I read, my Dean's office can't upload any LOR they have for me unless I've actually assigned it to a program.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

According to the ERAS instructions I read, my Dean's office can't upload any LOR they have for me unless I've actually assigned it to a program.

That was true last year.

From this year's instructions:

New for 2009: You can finalize your Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) before you apply to programs. In previous years, your designated dean’s office could not attach these documents to your electronic application until you assigned the LoR to at least one program to which you applied. This year, as soon as you finalize your LoR, your designated dean’s office will receive an update that allows them to scan your LoRs and make them available to programs when you apply.

 

[Samoa]

Our FAQ on the applicant site still says:

[FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica]Why is a Document, like a letter of recommendation (LoR) or personal statement, not listed when it should be?. [FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica]Files, such as a personal statement or LoR will not be listed if you have never assigned it to a program that you have applied to and paid for. To check this, please log into MyERAS, go to the Documents page and click Show Assignments after the document name..
[FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica]Your designated dean's office can not upload a LoR until you have assigned it to at least one program that you have already applied to. Therefore, letters may take a few days to be sent to the ERAS PostOffice for the first time..

 

[USMELL]

That was true last year.

From this year's instructions:

aprog thanks so much for all your help and answering questions

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Obviously, one part of the ERAS instruction website is out of date. I can't tell which from my end.

 

[Samoa]

My guess is that it's the student side, seeing as it's the program directors who get to choose whether or not to use ERAS, and we have to use whatever you use. So the higher priority would be to make sure your information was accurate.